ATLANTA — A judge denied bond Thursday for one of the suspects facing charges in connection with the disappearance and death of a 24-year-old woman named Allahnia Lenoir.
Nicholas Hendrickson is one of three suspects in the case. He is facing charges of concealing the death of another, tampering with evidence, false statements and hindering the apprehension or punishment of a criminal.
Lenoir was last seen on July 30, 2022, at a Midtown apartment complex at the 1600 block of Peachtree Street NE. Her family said she was supposed to be visiting friends. After she disappeared, the family handed out fliers -- hoping anyone would have information to help find their Lenoir.
Police released a missing person advisory on Aug. 1, 2022. During this same time, the family hired a private investigator to help with the search. The Atlanta Police Department updated the public on Sept. 20 of that same year, stating they believed she "was murdered and that her body was disposed of."
Now, over a year later, her body still has not been recovered.
The other two suspects, Diante Reynolds and Steven Oboite face murder charges in the case. Oboite is the only one who police are still looking for.
At the hearing on Thursday, Hendrickson's attorney argued that his client should receive a bond as he was the only one not charged with serious offenses and questioned the credibility of the evidence tying Hendrickson to the case. The attorney also said that Hendrickson posed no risk of failing to appear, would not intimate any witnesses or obstruct justice and was no danger to the community.
Lenoir's mother, Jannette Jackson, was also able to speak and express how she would not feel safe if Hendrickson received a bond and would be able to be released from jail.
"It's been 543 days since I last saw our daughter or spoke to her. That fact is an increasingly daily challenge," Jackson said.
She pleaded with the court to deny the bond and how nothing had been communicated or presented to reveal that Hendrickson would not endanger her or her family.
"I wish I could tell you that I'm a little less hurt and that I sleep better at night. I wish I could tell you I no longer have nightmares of the people who helped my daughter disappear," Jackson said. "And I wish that Nicholas' face was not imprinted in those exact fears. That's just not my life."
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jane Barwick denied the motion for reconsideration of the bond.
Hendrickson has had bond denied twice already, according to court records. The first time was in November of 2022, following his arrest, and the second was in February of 2023.
"I made a determination that was not easy on this already, and nothing changes that determination," Judge Barwick said.
