Current:Home > InvestSafeX Pro:6 people accused of torturing, killing woman lured into religious group -ValueMetric
SafeX Pro:6 people accused of torturing, killing woman lured into religious group
EchoSense View
Date:2025-04-10 19:33:30
A woman found dead in the trunk of a car earlier this week was allegedly lured to the U.S. from South Korea to join a religious organization,SafeX Pro then tortured in the basement of a Georgia home, police said.
Six people, including a 15-year-old boy, have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the woman's death, Gwinnett County police announced on Thursday.
The victim -- who is believed to be in her 20s to mid-30s -- is believed to have moved to the U.S. sometime over the summer to join what the suspects referred to as "Soldiers of Christ," police said.
"Apparently the victim was subjected to beatings, malnourishment -- which subsequently resulted in what the medical examiner's office believes was the cause of her death," Cpl. Juan Madiedo, a spokesperson with the Gwinnett County Police Department, said during a press briefing on Thursday.
Police believe the victim starved for several weeks and died sometime in late August. She weighed approximately 70 pounds when she was found on Tuesday, police said. Her body was also burned and wrapped in a blanket, according to the arrest warrants.
MORE: Man charged with murder of 2 women at same address, 7 months apart
The exact cause of death is still under investigation.
A relative of one of the suspects found her body in the trunk of a car parked in a shopping center parking lot in Duluth Tuesday night and called 911, police said. The suspect -- Eric Hyun, 26 -- allegedly asked the family member to retrieve an item for him from the car while he was in the hospital for unspecified injuries, police said.
The ensuing investigation led detectives to a house associated with Hyun in Lawrenceville, where evidence of the beatings was found in the basement, police said.
MORE: Arrest made in 1994 cold case murder of Virginia mother after DNA testing, confession: Police
In addition to Hyun, four other adults -- Gawom Lee, 26; Joonho Lee, 26; Juoonhyum Lee, 22; and Hyunji Lee, 25 -- and a 15-year-old were arrested and charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another, police said.
Police said Friday that they have also secured multiple criminal street gang warrants for each of the suspects.
Georgia law describes a criminal street gang as "any organization, association, or group of three or more persons associated in fact, whether formal or informal, which engages in criminal gang activity," police said.
An attorney for Joonho Lee told ABC News he has no comment at this time. ABC News has reached out to the attorneys for Gawom Lee and Hyunji Lee for comment.
Online court records did not include any attorney information for Hyun and Juoonhyum Lee.
Three of the suspects are brothers, while Hyunji Lee is the girlfriend of one of the suspects, Madiedo said. All live at the home except for Hyun, who at one time lived there, Madiedo said.
Detectives do not believe there are any other victims or suspects, Madiedo said.
The victim was not publicly identified by police, who said Thursday that her family in South Korea had not yet been notified of her death.
veryGood! (731)
Related
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- Japan’s government asks a court to revoke the legal religious status of the Unification Church
- Michael Kosta, Desus Nice, Leslie Jones among new guest hosts for 'The Daily Show'
- Graphic novelist Daniel Clowes makes his otherworldly return in 'Monica'
- Sonya Massey's family keeps eyes on 'full justice' one month after shooting
- Timeline: How a music festival in Israel turned into a living nightmare
- AP Week in Pictures: Asia
- Man pleads guilty, gets 7 years in prison on charges related to Chicago officer’s killing
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Arkansas Supreme Court upholds procedural vote on governor’s education overhaul
Ranking
- How breaking emerged from battles in the burning Bronx to the Paris Olympics stage
- Court hearing to discuss contested Titanic expedition is canceled after firm scales back dive plan
- The Golden Bachelor's Most Shocking Exit Yet: Find Out Why This Frontrunner Left the Show
- Unpublished works and manuscript by legendary Argentine writer Cortázar sell for $36,000 at auction
- A New York Appellate Court Rejects a Broad Application of the State’s Green Amendment
- America can't resist fast fashion. Shein, with all its issues, is tailored for it
- More than 85 women file class action suit against Massachusetts doctor they say sexually abused them
- Taking the temperature of the US consumer
Recommendation
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
'A Man of Two Faces' is a riveting, one-stop primer on Viet Thanh Nguyen
AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean
Israel’s military orders civilians to evacuate Gaza City, ahead of a feared ground offensive
Blake Lively’s Inner Circle Shares Rare Insight on Her Life as a Mom to 4 Kids
What is Friday the 13th? Why people may be superstitious about the day
An Israeli team begins a tour against NBA teams, believing games provide hope during a war at home
European Union launches probe as Musk's X claims it removed accounts, content amid Israel war