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Mother Charged with Murder of 9-Year-Old Son in Detroit

Police tape marks the area around a home in Detroit where a tragic incident occurred.

News Summary

Brandee Katrice Pierce, a 41-year-old woman, has been charged with the murder of her 9-year-old son, Zemar King, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in Detroit. The mother faces multiple charges including first-degree murder and child abuse, with claims that she smothered her son and concealed his death. Authorities raised concerns about previous interventions by child protective services. Pierce is currently held without bond as her case unfolds in court, with her other son now in foster care.

Detroit – Brandee Katrice Pierce, a 41-year-old mother, has been charged with the murder of her 9-year-old son, Zemar King, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave behind a home in Detroit. The charges against Pierce include first-degree murder, felony murder, first-degree child abuse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the death of an individual.

Authorities allege that Pierce smothered Zemar to death, tied him up, and buried him in the yard of their rental property. The boy’s remains were discovered on January 6, 2025, when the landlord of the property, while preparing for new tenants, noticed a human foot protruding from the frost-covered ground and subsequently alerted the police. An autopsy confirmed that the child had died from smothering and compression of the neck.

Prosecutors believe that the murder occurred on October 24, 2024. Following that incident, Pierce left the rental home on November 6, taking her 3-year-old son to Georgia. Police in Atlanta contacted Pierce on December 20 regarding an unrelated issue involving her younger son. This interaction led to Pierce’s extradition back to Michigan, where she was arraigned via Zoom on February 28, 2025. A preliminary examination, initially scheduled for March 13, was postponed to allow for a competency evaluation.

On June 9, 2025, a competency review hearing was held, during which it was determined that Pierce is “incompetent but restorable.” A follow-up review has been scheduled for August 8, 2025. It is noted that prior to the tragic events, Zemar had reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) that his mother “wants to kill him.” Pierce had multiple prior interactions with CPS since 2015, with four of those instances specifically concerning her treatment of Zemar.

The 3-year-old son of Pierce is currently residing in foster care given the circumstances surrounding the case. If Pierce is convicted of felony murder, she is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. For the child abuse charge, the penalty could also be life in prison or up to five years for the other charges.

Pierce is being held without bond as the case progresses through the legal system.

The investigation into Zemar’s death has raised questions about previous interventions by child protective services. It underscores the challenges that authorities face in monitoring families with known issues, such as past abuse allegations. The case continues to unfold as the legal proceedings are set to take place.

As the community grapples with this tragic incident, local organizations and advocates are calling for further support and resources for families dealing with mental health issues and domestic violence, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to protect vulnerable children.