The four Dodge County teens arrested and charged with the murder of an elderly couple in Chester are making their first court appearance.
According to the GBI, the four teens arrested and charged with murder are: Kojak Thomas Jr., 19, Gary Pennamon, 17, and two unnamed 16-year-old boys.
A fifth teen was charged in connection with the case, but not with murder. He is Alija Pennamon, 19, and he is charged with theft by receiving stolen property.
Chief Magistrate Lonnie Parkerson held two different proceedings for the three teens considered adults and the two teens considered juveniles.
Several family members and friends were in the courtroom, one woman in the front row was crying before court started at 3pm on Friday.
Parkerson explained the charges to each of the teens and told them of their right to counsel.
Thomas repeatedly shook his head while in the courtroom.
The two juveniles declined signing the document saying they acknowledged the charges against them and their right to counsel. One of the juveniles asked a question about bond, but Parkerson told him a decision on wether or not to offer bond would be discussed in Superior Court.
District Attorney Tim Vaughn says the grand jury next meets in June and all five teens would be charged as adults.
Amy Jackson says she is the birth mother to one of the two juveniles and named her son.
She says her son, Martez Gordon, needed mental help before the crime allegedly took place and her heart went out to him and the victims' families.
Neither the GBI nor District Attorney Vaughn would confirm that Gordon is one of the unnamed juveniles.