The 24-year-old cousin of a Metro Detroit teen who disappeared 18 months ago has been charged with her murder.

Zion Foster, 17, left her home in Eastpointe on January 4, 2022, and never returned, WXYZ reported.

Police suspected Jaylin Brazier, Foster’s cousin, was involved in her death from early in the investigation. He was released from jail in January after serving 10 months of a 23-month sentence for lying about Foster’s disappearance.

At one point, he reportedly told police that he and Foster got high together and that she stopped breathing. He panicked, he said, and put her body into a dumpster, prompting a lengthy search at a Macomb County dump site.

Foster’s body was not recovered.

Brazier was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of first degree murder. He has also been charged with tampering with evidence.

“Our hearts go out to the family of Zion Foster. This case is a quintessential example of investigators and prosecutors who refused to give up on her homicide. For 18 months, investigators put together the evidence. Each piece of evidence in this case was examined and linked together,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy in a press release.

Brazier will return to court for a probable cause hearing on July 10. He is being held without bond.

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[Featured image: Zion Foster/handout]