GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Soldiers of Christ members were in court on Thursday as they faced a Gwinnett County judge to learn if they will be granted bond.
Hyunji Lee, Juoonhym Lee, Gawom Lee and Joonho Lee appeared in front of the judge. The mother of Juoonhyum and Joonho, Mihee Lee, also appeared in court on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The members are accused of beating, starving and torturing a woman to her death in a basement. The alleged abuse and death happened anywhere between weeks before her body was found in a car's trunk outside a popular Duluth spa last month.
A total of seven suspects were eventually arrested in the case, including those mentioned above, Eric Hyun and a teen.
Hyun, was already granted a $100,000 bond after his attorney advocated for his innocence in this case. Hyun's attorney claimed that he was a victim along with the woman found dead in the trunk of the car. He also claimed that Hyun was badly beaten and was taken advantage of financially. The attorney added that Hyun escaped with the woman's remains in the trunk on the night the body was found.
Hyun was not scheduled to appear in Thursday's hearing because his bond was already granted, according to court records.
According to Gwinnett County Police, earlier this summer a woman left her home in South Korea to join what she thought was a religious organization in Georgia, in Gwinnett County, a half-a-world away. She ended up at a home in Gwinnett where she was allegedly tortured to her death.
Around Aug. 3, police said, five people in their 20s and a teen -- calling themselves Soldiers of Christ -- imprisoned her in the basement, beat her, withheld food from her and she died.
Police said when they discovered the woman's body in the trunk, she only weighed 70 pounds.
Each suspect faces charges of felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of another and gang activity charges.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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