BAY COUNTY -- Three men were officially charged in connection to the murder of 27-year old Lonnie Houston of Bay City in a Bay County court room Thursday afternoon.
More than two dozen family and friends of Houston packed the courtroom with another dozen waiting outside the court room.
20-year-old Steven Ashley, 20-year-old Caleb Rosin and 21-year-old Brett Vaughn are each charged with a number of murder, conspiracy and weapons charges; some of which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Houston's mother sat quietly as the judge read the charges to to the suspects via video conference. The suspects showed no emotion and only spoke to answer the judge's questions.
Investigators say the three men shot Houston multiple times in the head and then moved his body to Saginaw County, where they burned his body in his mother's car.
Houston's charred remains were found near the Zilwaukee Bridge Monday morning.
The suspects were denied bond and are currently being held in the Bay County Jail. They are due back in court December 1st.
Houston's mother did not want to comment, but Houston's niece told NBC25 she can't believe anyone could harm such a loving person.
"We will never have him back. They took him away from us. It hurts. We won't sleep until justice is served."
