WDIV20%
Ex-boyfriend who pleaded guilty to murdering Detroit teen London Thomas learns sentence 12%
By Samantha Sayles21% Jay Scott Smith33% Richard Estrada11%
7/31/2026, 9:08:42 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 11 faulty reasoning types, including Negativity Bias, Biased Writer Voice, and Pessimism Bias, with Appeal to Emotion as the most egregious example at 21.2% saturation with 117 hits. Analysis detected 377 faulty-reasoning hits from 551 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 24.2% and a BS Rank of 12% (22,326 of 25,294 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 88.30% of the article peer group.
WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – Jalen Pendergrass, the young man who admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend, London Thomas, will serve 25 to 50 years in prison.
Pendergrass was sentenced on Friday morning after pleading guilty to second-degree murder on July 2, while all other charges against him were dropped.
“The sentence agreement is for Mr.
Pendergrass to serve a maximum of 50 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and a minimum of 25 years,” Judge Paul Cusic said on Friday morning.
“I do believe that every minute of a 50-year sentence would be deserved in this case.”
Pendergrass admitted to strangling Thomas to death during an altercation at his home on Carlysle Street in Inkster on April 5, 2025.
The 23-year-old Pendergrass and the 17-year-old Thomas had been in a relationship, but it had ended by the time she arrived at the house.
Thomas was found dead three weeks later in Southfield on April 26, 2025 – two weeks after she had been reported missing to the Detroit Police.
Pendergrass was charged alongside his 49-year-old mother, Charla.
It was one of her friends who told the FBI that she asked him to move the plastic bin that unknowingly contained London’s body.
“This case is different than some of the other ones that I had,” Dominic DeGrazia, the Prosecuting Attorney, said during the sentencing.
“To the extent that the defendant’s pattern of deception and cold-blooded, cold-heartedness in this case really stands out.”
‘A Waste of Skin’
The family’s pain was on full display in the courtroom this morning.
Both of Thomas’ grandmothers, along with Jasma Bennett, Thomas’ mother, gave jarring impact statements.
“I ain’t never been able to have animosity in my heart for nobody,” Jestina Martin said.
“But I do for you, because you took a part of my life that never be filled.”
“You took a piece of me,” she said.
“Whatever you get, it’s what you deserve.”
Meanwhile, Barbara Bennett, Thomas’ maternal grandmother, attempted to show grace in mourning London but took a pointed shot at both mother and son for what they had done.
“I will always love London, always, until we meet again,” Bennett said.
“The only regret that I have is that Charla and Jalen Pendergrass are still walking this Earth, and London is not.
He is a waste of skin!”
London’s mother spoke through tears on the stand, saying that she has not known peace since her daughter was taken from her.
She quoted Bible verses and shared stories of missing the simple moments with her daughter.
“There is not a moment that you are not in my thoughts and prayers,” Jasma Bennett said.
“She had such a strong and beautiful, truthful, brave, fearless personality and energy.
“As I wake and when I sleep and when I try to live, this devastation will never, ever leave me,” she added.
“We would try, try to keep going.
She didn’t even have the opportunity to argue and fight and then to make it right.”
Jalen Pendergrass is off to prison; this case is not fully closed.
Charla Pendergrass is still facing first-degree murder, unlawful imprisonment and evidence tampering charges.
Her trial will begin on Oct.
26.
You can listen to the full sentencing hearing below:
Analysis
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