The Lee family, accused of the heinous imprisonment and murder of a South Korean woman, continues to unfold in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Mihee Lee, 54, and her 15-year-old son, Junyeong Lee, have declared their innocence by entering not guilty pleas to charges of murder, false imprisonment and other felony counts. The case has captured public attention as new details emerge about the religious group known as Soldiers of Christ, with which the family is affiliated.
Reports from FOX5 Atlanta reveal that the family allegedly kept Seehee Cho captive in their basement, where she endured beatings and starvation before her death. The accused include not only the matriarch and her youngest son, but also two other sons of Mihee Lee, 22-year-old Juoonhyum Lee and 26-year-old Joonho Lee, and three additional defendants – all of whom have pleaded not guilty.
According to WSBTV, the victim, See Hee Cho, was lured from South Korea to the so-called "house of horrors" with promises of religious fellowship. The ordeal that followed resulted in Cho weighing just 70 pounds at the time of her discovery in September 2023. Furthermore, Mihee Lee faces additional charges for making false statements in connection to the case.
Among the seven, Eric Hyun stands out as a recent addition to the group, 26, claims through his attorney, David Boyle, that he too was subjected to brainwashing and torture. In a desperate bid for escape, Hyun took Cho's body to the JeJu Spa, leaving the deceased in the trunk before seeking aid. "He (Hyun) eventually decided to escape with Cho's body in the back of a car," Boyle told WSBTV.
Legal counsel for the defendants is now tasked with reviewing a substantial list of 77 witness names and extensive evidential documents. Many of these documents are in Korean and require translation, postponing the setting of a next court date. As the case progresses, the court awaits to determine the true extent of the involvement of the Lee family and Hyun in this tragic series of events.
