London Thomas went missing from Inkster, Michigan, on April 5, 2025, after being dropped off at Jalen’s residence around 4 a.m. Her body was discovered on April 26 in a sealed plastic bin inside an SUV trunk, following a tip from a friend of Charla’s who helped transport it. An autopsy confirmed death by asphyxia, ruled a homicide.
Charges and Hearing
Initially charged in October 2025 with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, charges were upgraded after a January 22, 2026, preliminary hearing in Inkster. Judge Sabrina Johnson bound them over for trial on first-degree murder, plus unlawful imprisonment and evidence tampering. Charla has pleaded not guilty; Jalen’s records lagged in updating as of late January.
Key Testimony
Lanyja Wilkerson, Jalen’s ex-girlfriend, testified that he confessed to choking Thomas with a belt after a fight with his mother, who allegedly urged him to “get angry” and “kill her.” He reportedly sent her song lyrics about a body in a trunk post-disappearance.
