In a troubling case that has shaken Rhode Island, eight individuals find themselves facing serious charges linked to the tragic death of Erica Bader, a 24-year-old woman from Central Falls. Her body was discovered in a wooded area in Pawtucket, leading to a complex investigation and subsequent arrests.

The legal proceedings have cast a spotlight on the accused, with five of them—Andrew Cornell, 28; Joshua Brunelle, 35; Elizabeth Durand, 41; Stephanie Bletzer, 37; and Brittney Terpening, 34—charged with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. Meanwhile, three others—Christopher Kordalewski, 22; Joanne Miller, 26; and Cheryl Blakely, 36—face charges of kidnapping, conspiracy, and failure to report a death, as reported by WJAR.

All eight individuals made their initial appearance in Providence District Court last week. The five facing the most severe accusations have been denied bail and are scheduled for another court appearance on Tuesday. The remaining three were granted bail set at $30,000 each.

Details emerging from the investigation paint a harrowing picture. According to WJAR, Erica Bader had been residing with several of the accused at the time of her death. Her stepmother, Crystal Smith, shared heart-wrenching insights into Bader’s plight, revealing that she was effectively trapped and unable to escape the confines of the house where she lived.

“She tried to run away one time, she didn’t get far,” Smith recounted. “They dragged her in, pulled her in that house and held her hostage, basically.” The chilling account underscores the gravity of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding Bader’s untimely death.

“She tried to run away one time, she didn’t get far. They dragged her in, pulled her in that house and held her hostage, basically,” said Smith.

Police have not confirmed that information. Pawtucket Police said Bader’s body was found in the woods, and investigators believe she was killed elsewhere and dumped there.

Officers conducted a welfare check on Bader in April but couldn’t find her.

The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed 46 cats and four dogs from the same home earlier in November, saying they wree living in horrid conditions.

Bader’s family said she was pregnant at the time of her death, but police have not confirmed that information either.