DETROIT (WXYZ) — A judge has sentenced Jalen Pendergrass, the ex-boyfriend of 17-year-old London Thomas, to 25 to 50 years in prison for the teen's 2025 murder.
Watch Randy Wimbley's video report below:
Pendergrass pleaded guilty to second-degree murder earlier this month before Judge Paul Cusick. The other charges of tampering with evidence, felony murder and unlawful imprisonment were dismissed.
Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report when Pendergrass pleaded gulity below:
At the sentencing Friday, London's mother, Jasma Bennett, spoke.
“That is what Judge Cusick has given him, but for me it would have been life or death. But at the end of the day, I have to take what I can take,” she said. "Losing London has been one of the most difficult events of my life. I know that London is with me everywhere that I go no matter what. She may not be in a body, but she will always be with me. Maintaining a sense of normalcy in our lives is nonexistent."
Hear from London Thomas' parents after the sentencing in the video below:
London's grandmother, Barbara Bennett, also gave a statement at the sentencing.
"London left me with beautiful memories. Though I cannot see her, she's always by my side," Barbara Bennet.
"It was overwhelming. It was justice long due. This has been a nightmare for us from beginning to now. We can finally start to kind of breathe and get back to some type of normalization, whatever that is," London's father, Darnell Johnson, said.
London went missing in early April of 2025 and was last seen in Inkster. Her body was found weeks later in Southfield.
“It's just reliving it every time we come here for over a year. Could you imagine losing someone in this way and then to every day open up the wound over and over again,” Jasma Bennett said.
Pendergrass' mother, Charla Pendergrass, is facing charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, felony murder and unlawful imprisonment in the case. Her pre-trial hearing was adjourned until Aug. 25.
Her jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 26.
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Jasma Bennett says Charla Pendergrass should plead guilty as well.
“I just don't see a need for her to continue because I know at the end of the day, whether you or your son killed my child, you were a part of it, you are aware of it and you should do exactly what is happening to him," Jasma Bennett said.
“This is your child. Do you think if London came to me and said hey, let's bury Jalen that I would have agreed and I would have done that? Like that is crazy. So, to see you sitting there saying oh, I knew about it, but I didn't do it and I don't deserve to go to jail is ridiculous,”
