London Thomas murder: Charges dismissed against boyfriend's mother

INKSTER, Mich. (FOX 2) - At the request of prosecution, charges were dismissed Monday against a woman accused of lying to investigators during the investigation into the disappearance and death of London Thomas.

Charla Rashida Pendergrass, 48, was charged with lying to a peace officer for comments she made to police after the teen's suspected murder earlier this year. However, that charge was dropped after prosecutors noted that the person she allegedly lied to was a federal agent. According to the prosecution, a federal agent does not meet the definition of a "peace officer" under Michigan statute, so the case could not proceed.

However, the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that Pendergrass could be recharged in the future. 

The backstory:

Thomas was last seen on April 5 when her sister dropped her off at her 23-year-old boyfriend's Inkster home. On April 26, her body was found in Southfield.

After Thomas' body was discovered, the boyfriend's mother, Pendergrass, 48, was arrested and charged with lying to police. Pendergrass allegedly told an investigator that she saw Thomas leave the Inkster home where she was last seen on April 5, a fact that authorities say was a lie. 

Authorities say phone records and video confirm that she lied to investigators. 

Her bond was set at $50,000 cash/surety, and until Monday morning, she remained in custody at the Wayne County Jail.

Dig deeper:

Thomas' boyfriend was considered a person of interest in the teen's disappearance and murder. However, he has not been taken into custody, and police have not provided an update on the investigation. 

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