As West Bloomfield Police piece together why someone killed a mom from their city, her friends are taking action to make sure her little boy is taken care of.
Diana Pesserl, 31, was last seen sitting in her car outside her home in West Bloomfield, listening to music. Her body was found in a burning car left behind the shuttered Pine Lake Elementary school.
When Crystal Marsh heard about the investigation into a woman’s murder, she never imagined it was her friend.
“Not in our wildest dreams would we think it would be someone we knew, let alone Diana,” said Marsh.
Police say the motive is unclear, but Diana appears to be a random victim.
Deshawn Smith, 18, of Detroit is in custody, charged in connection to the murder.
Police say he was wanted in Detroit for a carjacking, when he came to visit a childhood friend who lived near Diana. They found evidence tying him to the murder scene.
As police investigate, Diana’s loved ones are mourning the loss of someone they say lived life with kindness and grace.
“She is just a very caring, fun-loving person,” said Marsh.
Marsh says her friend was proud of her six-year-old son Emmett.
In her grief, Marsh says she is focusing on how to help him. She set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for whatever he may need.
She said it will be used to provide him with counseling or for his education.
"We want him to know there are good people in the world, who care about him and his future," said Marsh.
