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District Attorney plans to file appeal after suspects in New Mexico compound case granted bond

Officials have not confirmed that the remains found at the New Mexico compound belong to the missing Clayton County boy.
Credit: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY
A broken child's bike, a stroller and piles of trash sit on the ground near a moving truck used as a makeshift dormitory for several people found living in a fortified compound in Amalia, New Mexico.

TAOS COUNTY, N.M. -- The Taos County district attorney is planning to file an appeal after suspects arrested on a New Mexico compound for child abuse charges were granted bond.

The father of a missing Georgia boy along four other adults were taken into custody during a raid. Authorities said 11 children were found in what authorities called a "third-world" like living conditions.

Subhanah Wahhaj, Hujrah Wahhaj and Jany Leveille along with metro Atlanta residents Lucas Morten and Siraj Ibn Wahhaj were taken into custody.

Siraj's son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, was reported missing by his mother in December. She claimed Siraj took the then 3-year-old and never returned. Abdul-Ghani was not found among the 11 children.

However, days later, authorities found a child's remains on the property. The remains have not been positively identified yet.

Although the suspects were each granted $20,000 signature bond following a four-hour hearing on Monday, Siraj is being held because he is wanted here in Georgia.

RELATED | Father of missing 4-year-old won't get out of New Mexico jail after all

MORE | New Mexico suspects granted bond as dark details about rituals involving missing 4-year-old emerge

District Attorney Gallegos says he plans to appeal the bond decision.

Statements given to police in New Mexico indicate the boy, Abdul-Ghani died during a ritual there last February. Officials said due to decomposition, it could take weeks before the results come back with a positive identification.

During Monday's hearing, prosecutors presented evidence which said the children were taught how to load and fire assault weapons at the compound. Officials presented additional evidence which included manuals on how to build untraceable weapons.

READ | 5 new things to know about the New Mexico compound case

Various weapons and types of ammunition were found at the compound during the August 3 raid. They also said at least one of the children was armed at the time of that raid. Since the raid, the 11 children found there, ranging in age from 1 to 15, have been placed in state custody.

According to testimony from an FBI who interviewed two of the 11 children, rituals were performed on the 3-year-old which began in Georgia to allegedly expel demons from Abdul.

One of the children reportedly told the FBI agent that the boy's heart stopped beating during one of these rituals in February, and that his body was later buried at the compound.

New Mexico State District Court Judge Sarah Backus who made the decision about the bond, also said the defendants would have to wear ankle monitors. She also says any visits with children by any of the defendants would have to be supervised.

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