In early January 2025, a Detroit landlord was preparing his property for some new tenants when he discovered something that would make anyone think twice about living there. In the backyard of the home, he saw the foot of a child protruding through the dirt in a shallow, makeshift grave. The foot belonged to 9-year-old Zemar King III.
The landlord contacted police, who uncovered Zemar’s full remains. The body eventually led detectives to 41-year-old Brandee Katrice Pierce, Zemar’s mother and his alleged killer.
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Police believe Zemar died in late October 2024, the Daily Mail reports. On November 6, Pierce abandoned the house in Detroit, and fled to Cobb County, Georgia. There, she was struggling with homelessness along with her 3-year-old son. Police were able to track Pierce down after authorities in Brookhaven, Georgia, launched an unrelated inquiry into the well-being of Pierce’s younger son. During the investigation, Georgia police contacted detectives in Detroit. The collaboration eventually led to Pierce’s arrest.
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Pierce was arrested in Georgia on January 10, and awaits extradition to Michigan. Her 3-year-old is now in the custody of child protective services.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, shared the gruesome details of Zemar’s death during a press conference. Investigators determined that Pierce had bound Zemar’s hands and feet before smothering him. Afterward, prosecutors she buried his body behind the rental home before leaving the property days later.
A medical examiner ruled Zemar’s death a homicide. The examiner concluded that Zemar died from compression to the neck and smothering. “I have been a prosecutor for a long time,” Worthy said. “And I often say that I have seen it all. The horrors of this child abuse case defy that. The alleged actions of this defendant are among the most callous I have seen and hope never to see again.”
During that same press conference, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, assured the public that Zemar would receive justice. “We are confident there will be accountability for this,” he said.
Pierce faces several charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree child abuse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the death of an individual. If found guilty of the murder charge, she faces a mandatory life sentence.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
