Natalie McNally's family have released a statement thanking people for their support after just hours after a man appeared in court charged with her murder.
32-year-old Natalie was stabbed to death in her home in Lurgan on December 18. She was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her violent death.
A man, Stephen McCullagh, 32, was remanded in custody after appearing before a district judge at Lisburn Magistrates' Court to face a murder charge in relation to the young woman's death.
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McCullagh, from Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, was previously arrested on December 19 but released and ruled out as a suspect. He was rearrested on January 31.
During a remand hearing that lasted almost an hour, the court heard McCullagh, who has a YouTube channel, staged a live broadcast on the night of the killing, with footage appearing to show him playing the video game Grand Theft Auto for six hours.
District judge Rosie Watters heard that while McCullagh denies involvement in Natalie’s murder, he has conceded in police interviews that the purported live stream was pre-recorded by him days earlier.
It was also claimed that the accused left his phone in the home of Natalie’s parents and recorded 40 minutes of audio.
Her parents, Noel and Bernie and brothers Declan, Niall and Brendan were in court as this evidence was outlined.
In a statement issued through the PSNI on Thursday afternoon, the McNally family said: "Over the past six weeks we have opened our home and our hearts to the media, politicians, church leaders, campaign groups and the wider public.
"We did so in our determined quest for justice for our Natalie and baby Dean. We have also used our platform to call for an immediate end to violence against women and girls.
"We cannot thank you all enough for your steadfast support that has carried us through. We welcome the latest development in the case. Information remains key and we continue to call for any and all information to be brought forward to the PSNI or Crimestoppers.
"We would now request some privacy to allow us to grieve privately as a family."
McCullagh was remanded in custody to appear before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on February 24 via video link.
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