A woman has been charged with murder in connection with the death of her 9-year-old son, Zemar King, whose body was discovered buried in the backyard of their Detroit home. The remains were found on January 6, when the landlord was preparing the property for new tenants. At the time, police did not release details about the investigation, but confirmed they were looking into the case.
According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Zemar was smothered to death by his 41-year-old mother on October 24, 2024. The child’s death occurred two weeks before his mother left Michigan for Georgia, taking her 3-year-old son with her. The mother was arrested on January 10 in Cobb County, Georgia, on unrelated charges. She is awaiting extradition to Michigan to face charges of murder and additional crimes.
Prosecutor Worthy expressed her shock and dismay at the case, describing the alleged actions as among the most callous she has encountered in her long career. She emphasized the horrors of child abuse that the case represents. Interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison also remarked on the case’s shocking nature, noting that in his 27 years of law enforcement experience, he has never seen anything like it.
Zemar’s father was reportedly unaware of his son’s death until recently, further complicating the tragedy. As authorities continue to investigate the case, the community is grappling with the devastating loss of a young life taken in such a violent and cruel manner.
