London Thomas murder: Hearing adjourned for woman accused of lying to police
Charla Rashida Pendergrass
INKSTER, Mich. (FOX 2) - A woman accused of lying to police about London Thomas, a teen girl who was found dead after being reported missing in April, had a court hearing adjourned Wednesday morning because the case is moving to another jurisdiction.
Charla Rashida Pendergrass' preliminary exam is now scheduled for June 25. The case, which was originally filed in Inkster, is being moved to court in Van Buren Township, where the alleged lying occurred.
The backstory:
Thomas, 17, 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, Pendergrass, 48, and another unnamed person were arrested. The unnamed person, who Michigan State Police previously said was still a suspect, was released, while Pendergrass was 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.
Mother of dead Inkster teen London Thomas: 'Like living the worst movie you can imagine'
"There’s no manual for this - (there's) no manual to be a parent - (there's) no manual to bury your child," Bennett said.
Her bond was set at $50,000 cash/surety, and she remains in custody at the Wayne County Jail.
Though the exact link between Pendergrass and Thomas has not been revealed, Pendergrass is connected to a home on Carlysle Street in Inskter, the same street where Thomas was last seen alive.