VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A woman accused in connection with the disappearance and death of a man in Virginia Beach will be staying in jail. 

Ashley Walton was in Virginia Beach Circuit Court and is charged with concealment of a dead body in the case surrounding 42-year-old Martrell Lamar. She appealed her bond, which was initially denied in late November. In court, Lamar’s friends and family heard what they wanted to hear from a judge for a second time: bond was denied. 

Lamar has been reported missing since July 15. He has not been seen or found, and his family is still looking for answers. His older sister said reliving it over again in court is never easy the second time around. 

“Nobody wins in this situation,” said Kanisha Harris, Lamar’s sister. “My brother didn’t deserve it. I mean, we know that he’s not coming back. But just not to have him is just worse. And I love him and I miss him dearly.”

Walton told authorities Lamar left earlier in the month after the two got into an argument, and she had not seen him since. 

But court documents tell a different story, with phone records showing the two at the Pungo Ferry Bridge boat ramp. His sister said that despite getting the answer they wanted from the judge, it won’t bring him back. 

“It’s just hard because we have to keep going through this,” Harris said, “living through this day after day, and just not knowing. It was just the worst thing ever. We’ll never see him smile again. We’ll never see him joke. He doesn’t have any kids.”

According to court documents, Walton called a man, the suspect, who allegedly showed up and shot Lamar. They said the body was then put in Walton’s car, and she is accused of driving his remains. 

In circuit court Thursday, attorneys said that Walton’s vehicle was a positive hit for a dead body by a cadaver dog. 

The family believes he is dead. Without a body, however, they are unsure what they should do for his burial. 

“I hope we find him so we can have a proper burial for him,” Harris said. “I just wish he could come home, but that’s never going to happen.”

Walton has a preliminary court hearing scheduled Feb. 14.