DETROIT – In a tragic turn of events, a Detroit woman found herself in court on Friday facing serious charges related to the death of her 9-year-old son. The child’s body was discovered buried in the backyard of a home they previously resided in on the west side of Detroit.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office reported that Brandee Pierce, aged 41, was denied bail and is being held in custody following her arraignment. Her next court appearance, a probable cause conference, is slated for March 7, followed by a preliminary examination scheduled for March 13. Pierce’s legal representatives have chosen not to comment on the situation.
Pierce stands accused of first-degree murder, felony murder, child abuse in the first degree, tampering with evidence, and the concealment of a deceased person. These charges stem from an incident in which the remains of her son, Zemar King, were unearthed on January 6 by their former landlord who was readying the property for new tenants.
Details surrounding the boy’s tragic demise indicate that he was smothered on October 24, as per statements by Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Subsequently, Pierce vacated their rental home on November 6, taking her 3-year-old son with her to Georgia.
In December, during an investigation by Brookhaven police near Atlanta involving the 3-year-old, Detroit authorities were alerted. Pierce was apprehended on January 10 in connection with Zemar’s death and was extradited back to Michigan from Georgia on Thursday.
Prosecutor Worthy expressed her dismay at the time charges were filed, stating, “As someone who has been prosecuting for many years, I often feel I’ve seen it all. However, the sheer brutality of this child abuse case is beyond comprehension. The alleged conduct of this defendant ranks among the most inhumane I have encountered, and I hope it is never repeated.”