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FARMINGTON —- The Layton mother who allegedly killed her two children continued to receive support from Utah's Korean community at a court appearance Monday.
Sun Cha Warhola, 44, smiled and waved at the roughly two dozen supporters as she left a 2nd District courtroom after a brief hearing in which her attorney, Ed Brass, asked for a month to gather information about the case.
Police believe Warhola strangled her son James, 8, and her daughter Jean Marie, 7, on Sept. 8 in a bedroom of the family's Layton home. Brass was appointed to represent her because he is qualified to handle potential capital punishment cases. Warhola is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, but prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty.
Outside the courtroom, Nan Davis, a member of the Korean-American Women's Association of Utah, said she and others came because "we want to let her know she is not alone." She said KAWA is made up of more than 100 Korean women who are married to Americans.
Soon Boke Smith, who said she has known Warhola for 18 years, said her friend's marriage to Kenneth Warhola was her second. Kenneth Warhola discovered his wife with the children's bodies after pushing his way into the barricaded bedroom, according to police.
Smith said she had last spoken to Sun Cha Warhola about three months ago but saw no warning signs. Neighbors have said signs of domestic tension in the family were obvious, and police had been called to the home many times in recent weeks.
"She was a good aunt to my daughter and a good sister to me," Smith said. "I cannot believe what happened."
Smith said Warhola was always kind to her and picked her up whenever she saw her waiting for a bus. She said her friend worked at a hospital to save money for her kids to go to college.
Warhola's next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18.
E-mail:pkoepp@desnews.com
