'We miss her': Supporters continue to rally for Bergen woman charged in her baby's death
HACKENSACK — Even though the hearing was short, people packed a Bergen County courtroom Wednesday to show support for Grace Yoo Chan.
The River Edge mother is accused of abusing and killing her 3-month-old son, Elliot, in May 2022. The baby was found unresponsive in March 2022 when police responded to a report that a child was not breathing.
Chan has two other children, Elliot's twin and a daughter.
In addition to filling the courtroom, over 200 friends, family members and community leaders held a rally outside.
During the hearing before Judge Kevin Purvin, Brian Neary, one of Chan's attorneys, said there is a pending motion regarding Chan's statement and her attorneys plan on asking that she be released from jail. He told the community members gathered outside the same thing.
"We may and will ask this judge to please reconsider ... that during her period of defense ... she be allowed to be free to be with her family, with her other children, with her beloved husband, William, and her parents and in-laws," Neary said.
The Prosecutor's Office said doctors at Hackensack University Medical Center found a number of injuries to the infant, including severe head trauma, brain bleeds and multiple fractures of his ribs, legs and arms in various stages of healing.
Chan's supporters pointed out that the baby had numerous health issues from birth. Matthew Jeon, one of Chan's attorneys, said the baby was only 3 pounds when he was born and had a vitamin D deficiency that caused rickets disease, which would make his bones brittle and easily susceptible to breaking.
The prosecution and the defense team are expected to argue motions on March 7 at 10 a.m.
Chan's mother, Young Yoo, burst into tears when Chan was marched into the courtroom in handcuffs, dressed in teal prison clothes with a crucifix around her neck.
Chan's husband, William, did not speak at the rally, but her father, Jae Yoo, did. Much of the rally was spoken in Korean, with chants to bring Chan home and to get justice for her. Eugene Noh, a family friend, also spoke, saying the community misses Chan.
"She just needs to be home with her babies," said Chan's tearful sister-in-law, June Tang. "It's been two years. We just want her home, where she should be."
Noh said it is likely Chan will have another outpouring of support for the March 7 hearing.
"Grace is going to have a lot of support because we miss her. We miss her. We want to see her," Noh said. "Ideally, we'd have her back home, but if we need to come up to this courthouse every month for the next few years, we'll do it."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: River Edge NJ woman receives support while awaiting trial
