Crime & Safety
Second Suspect in Burning Death Charged Friday with Accessory After the Fact, Tampering with Evidence
Jaylen Stringer, 18, is friend of Desean Maurice Smith, suspected in death of 31-year-old mother.
(UPDATE) WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — Police in West Bloomfield said Friday that they have arrested a second suspect in the murder of a 31-year-old mother. Jaylen Steven Stringer, 18, of West Bloomfield, was arraigned Friday on charges of tampering with evidence, punishable by more than 10 years, and accessory after the fact, punishable by 5 years and/or $10,000. Monday they arrested Desean Maurice Smith, 18, in the murder of Diana Pesserl whose body was discovered in a burned car in West Bloomfield Friday morning.
Smith was charged late Monday with open murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony in Pesserl’s death. Police say Smith was visiting Stringer the day of the murder.
Pesserl's fully clothed body was found in the burned-out car about 1:25 a.m. Friday in the rear parking lot of the former Pine Lake School, 3333 W. Long Lake Road, where they have discovered human remains in a burned-out car.