(WXYZ) — Human remains that were found in the backyard of a Detroit home last month have been identified as a 9-year-old boy, officials said on Wednesday.
According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, the mother of the boy has been charged with murdering him sometime last year and burying him in the backyard of the home.
Watch below: January report after human remains found by construction workers
Brandee Pierce, 41, is facing several charges in the alleged killing of her son, 9-year-old Zemar King. Worthy said Pierce is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, first-degree child abuse and concealing and interfering with the death of an individual.
According to prosecutors, Pierce killed Zemar sometime in October 2024, and the cause of death was smothering and neck compression.
"It's alleged that she purchased a shovel, she bound him by tying his hands and feet together, and dug a hole in the back[yard] of the house," said Prosecutor Worthy.
Shortly after the killing, she allegedly fled to Georgia with her 3-year-old son. She is in custody in Georgia and officials will seek her extradition back to Detroit.
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, recalled an encounter with Pierce back in early November—she said she knew something was wrong. It was a month after authorities say Zemar was murdered.
"As a woman, I’m looking, I’m like, 'are you OK?' She’s like, 'yeah,' and then she would stand there and walk back, stand there and walk back. So, maybe something was wrong with her, I don’t know. Or maybe ... she was dealing with the issue of what she did," said the neighbor.
Watch below: Prosecutor announces charges against mother in alleged killing of 9-year-old son
Police were called to the home on Woodingham Drive near Outer Drive and Livernois shortly before 1 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2025. The landlord of the home called police after construction workers found a shallow grave in the backyard. While they were working to renovate the home, construction workers noticed damage including peeling to the garage. They then found the remains and called police.
When police arrived at the scene, officers found the remains wrapped and partially buried. Since part of the body was exposed, police on the scene were able to determine that the remains were human.
Officials say they have been in contact with the victim's father, but didn't go into more details.
