DETROIT, MI – A Michigan woman is facing extradition from Georgia after being accused of the brutal murder of her 9-year-old son, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave behind a Detroit home, authorities said.
The investigation began when Detroit police, responding to a landlord’s tip on January 6, unearthed the boy’s remains at a property in the 19700 block of Woodingham. A foot protruding from the ground led officers to the grave, where the child was found with hands and feet bound.
The boy has been identified as Zamar King III. Police believe his mother, 41-year-old Brandee Katrice Pierce, is responsible for his death, which occurred on October 24. Medical examinations revealed that he died from smothering and compression to the neck.
Following the alleged murder, Pierce fled Michigan for Georgia, only to encounter legal issues there in December. Her whereabouts attracted attention when a concerned citizen in Brookhaven, near Atlanta, spotted her 3-year-old son alone in a car. Local police found the child in distressing conditions but unharmed despite low temperatures. The discovery led to her arrest on charges of second-degree child cruelty after it was found they were living out of the car under unsanitary conditions.
After posting bail in Georgia, Pierce was detained once more on January 10 due to the Michigan murder charges, which include first-degree murder, felony murder, child abuse, tampering with evidence, and concealing a death. She is currently held in the Cobb County Jail, awaiting extradition.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy, who announced the charges, expressed her shock at the severity of the case, describing it as unparalleled in her lengthy career. “The alleged actions of the defendant are among the most callous I have seen and hope never to see again,” she stated.
As the legal process continues, the focus remains on bringing Pierce back to Michigan to answer for the accusations against her in court. The community grapples with the tragic and brutal nature of the crime, exacerbated by the vulnerable circumstances surrounding the surviving child.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive behind the actions attributed to Pierce, but the case continues to unfold, promising further scrutiny and legal proceedings.