A Georgia courtroom is the stage for a complicated portrait of a teenager accused of committing an unthinkable crime. On Tuesday, a Carroll County judge denied bond for 17-year-old Sarah Grace Patrick, who is charged with killing her mother and stepfather earlier this year.

Patrick, arrested in February, faces two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault in the deaths of her mother, 41-year-old Kristin Brock, and her stepfather, 45-year-old James Brock. Both were found shot to death in their Carrollton home.

At the bond hearing, the testimony wasn’t limited to the facts of the crime. It painted a picture of a young woman who, according to her pastor, was searching for belonging and faith even while facing some of the most serious charges imaginable.

Ben Bonner, the lead pastor at Catalyst Church in Carrollton, testified that Patrick remained connected to her church even after her arrest. “She didn’t just show up on Sundays, she came during the week as well, asked questions, served, invited others, including her boyfriend at the time, and clearly found a place where she felt at home,” Bonner told the court. He added that Patrick had called from jail multiple times and continued to seek out spiritual guidance.

Supporters of Patrick showed up to the hearing wearing shirts reading, I Stand with Sarah. One friend described her as a hardworking student who graduated a year early.

But the judge also heard from family members of James Brock, who spoke forcefully about their fears. “The defendant has financial resources provided by the immediate family that would enable her to flee,” said Kim Bowling, Brock’s sister. She warned that Patrick’s “manipulative behavior” could pose a danger to the community if she were released.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Parrish underscored the gravity of the case. “We don’t just have a murder case here. We don’t just have a double homicide. We have a double homicide of the defendant’s mother and stepfather,” he said.

Patrick’s defense attorney, LaToya Williams, pushed back, arguing that the teen has no prior record, doesn’t even have a driver’s license, and deserves pretrial release.

In the end, Judge Dustin Hightower denied bond, acknowledging the painful divisions in the courtroom. “No matter what decision was made, someone is going to feel as though justice was not served today. That’s just the truth,” Hightower said. He added that his focus now is on giving Patrick a swift trial, scheduling it to begin in early January if the case moves forward without delays.

The case was expected to go before a grand jury later Tuesday, with arraignment set for September 22.