GWINNETT COUNTY, Georgia- Six individuals, including a minor, are facing murder charges following the discovery of a malnourished and beaten woman’s body in a car trunk, according to local law enforcement. The deceased woman, a South Korean national who arrived in the U.S. this summer, was reportedly part of a religious group self-identified as the ‘Soldiers of Christ.’
The woman’s identity has not been released to the public. The cause of her death is still under investigation, but authorities believe that malnutrition may have played a significant role. Arrest warrants suggest that the woman had been subjected to weeks of starvation and physical abuse. The timeline of her ordeal is unclear, but investigators believe the starvation began around August 3.
The accused individuals include Eric Hyun, 26, of Suwanee, Georgia, and Gawom Lee, 26, Joonho Lee, 26, Juoonhyum Lee, 22, and Hyunji Lee, 25, all from Lawrenceville, Georgia. They are charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, and concealing the death of another. A 15-year-old has also been charged in connection with the case. As of Thursday night, it was not known if they had legal representation.
The investigation was initiated on Tuesday when Hyun allegedly parked the vehicle containing the woman’s body at a business in Duluth that offers services for Korean spas. The business is not believed to be linked to the woman’s death. Hyun was later taken to an Atlanta hospital for treatment of unrelated injuries. A relative, asked by Hyun to retrieve a personal item from the car, discovered the body and alerted the police.
The discovery led to a search warrant being executed at a Lawrenceville house associated with Hyun. Investigators believe the basement of this house was the crime scene. All suspects are believed to be in custody.