ST. LOUIS — Three men now accused of holding a young woman captive at Mount Of Olives Ministry in south St. Louis appeared in court Monday.
Grace Kipendo, his cousin, Mmunga Fungamali and Pasi Heri are each charged with kidnapping and assault.
"I have a hard time believing that this case is still under investigation," said Defense Attorney Chris Combs, who represents Kipendo.
The woman told police last month the men kidnapped, beat and held her against her will in a room at the church on Marseau Avenue.
Prosecutors say they have "lots of evidence," including police bodycam video that shows the woman "identified the suspects as the men who attacked her" the night a 30-day fasting service was underway at the church.
"It is now my understanding that the woman did in fact live there and that police did not go inside the church and find this woman being held captive. Somehow she escaped, ran to a neighbors house and the neighbors called police," Combs said.
The woman told police she was bound with ropes, only given water and had to use a bucket as a toilet.
She's now in protective custody at a hospital.
Combs calls it "a case of mistaken identity."
"I've spoken to a ton of people that have not been contacted by law enforcement who are giving me a name of who did it. That person also lived in the church, so it doesn't make a lot of sense," said Combs.
In court Monday, an assistant circuit attorney called the jailed suspects a threat to the victim and the community.
In the end, all three men were denied bond.
"I can't fathom that they are guilty," said Pastor Arlie Singleton from Friendship Assembly of God, which is less than a mile from Mount Of Olives Ministry.
Pastor Singleton was in court today for Grace Kipendo's hearing.
He sent a letter to a judge supporting Kipendo, who is an Army second lieutenant, married and expecting his first baby with his wife.
"I want the truth come out and I want whatever's wrong to be made right, that's justice," said Pastor Singleton.
Chris Combs says last May the family of the woman moved her from Kansas City to St. Louis "to go to the church for healing."
"I believe it will come out that these men had no involvement in what happened to this woman," added Combs.
The woman's mother, who also supports the three suspects, was also in court today.