JOHNSON COUNTY, Tenn. -- Not much was said in the courtroom Tuesday, but five suspects are now charged with murder.

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Carlton Edmondson disappeared seven months ago. On that early morning, Edmondson called his mother asking for money. It was a ransom call where she could hear others around him. When she said she didn't have the money they hung up. That was the last time they heard their son's voice.

“I think they should also be charged with a hate crime. They treated my son like he was a dog,” said Edmondson's father. “I don't think they were ever going to give him back. I think that was a form of torture to him and me.”

Robert Littleton, Leigh Katherine Mina, Brittany Arnold, Michael May and James Combs all stood in front of a judge on Tuesday. They are charged with murder after Edmondson's disappearance.

As the suspects left the building, one yelled "not guilty" while another made a rude gesture.          

It's a case that has led investigators to two different states. Officials say Edmondson was kidnapped in Burke County over a drug deal. According to warrants, when Edmondson didn’t have as much meth as the suspects wanted, they allegedly took him into the Tennessee woods and beat him with brass knuckles on camera. It is unclear what happened to Edmondson after that.

A sixth suspect, Valerie Dollar, is charged with kidnapping.

Dollar is in a different correction facility facing charges of separate incidents. It is expected that she will be brought to Tennessee soon.

Another court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 2.