Mother of Suspects Arrested in Connection with Murder of South Korean Woman
CNN – The mother of three suspects charged with murdering a South Korean woman, who was beaten and starved in Georgia by members of a religious group called the ‘Soldiers of Christ,’ has been arrested in connection with the woman’s death, authorities said.
The victim, 33-year-old Seehe Cho, weighed roughly 70 pounds when she was discovered in the trunk of a car parked outside of Jeju Sauna, a popular South Korean spa located in Duluth, about 25 miles north of Atlanta, the Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release.
Two days after her body was found, police said six people were arrested and charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of another, and false statements. Among the arrested individuals is a 15-year-old, who has been charged as an adult but not named by CNN.
Mihee Lee, the mother of three of the suspects, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of another, and false statements, according to court documents.
The investigation revealed that Cho had been subjected to beatings and malnourishment for weeks. Detectives believe she moved to the United States from South Korea earlier this year to join the religious organization. The group allegedly beat and kept Cho in a home until her death, although the exact date of her death has not been determined.
In September, police found the victim’s body in a car parked by one of the suspects. Authorities then searched a home associated with that car and discovered evidence implicating members of the ‘Soldiers of Christ’ religious group.
One of the suspects, Eric Hyun, claims that he was a victim of the Lee family and their religious extremism. Hyun’s attorney stated that his client and the victim were trying to escape the group and that if Hyun had not escaped, he may have also died.
Attorneys for three of the other suspects did not respond when contacted by CNN for comment, and CNN was unable to locate attorneys for the remaining two suspects. Hyun’s attorney reported that his client underwent extensive injuries and can barely walk due to being tortured as part of the group’s religious rituals.
The Gwinnett Police Department confirmed that Hyun was booked into county jail after being released from the hospital, where he had spent two weeks receiving treatment for his injuries. The police department stated that they are aware of the allegations made by Hyun’s attorney and that the investigation is ongoing.
The tragic death of Seehe Cho has shocked the community, and authorities are working to bring justice to those responsible for her murder.