In a brief ceremony Friday, the family of a dentist slain in his Glen Burnie office and the Korean Society of Maryland thanked police, prosecutors and other Anne Arundel County officials who worked to bring the four-year-old homicide case to a recent indictment.

"It's a good thing for the detectives — they did a good thing and they are working very hard — to show our appreciation," said Dr. Charles Kim, a brother-in-law of the victim, Dr. Albert Woonho Ro. "It is good for police to have encouragement and to show people, even with a cold case, it can be solved," Kim said at the unusual courthouse ceremony, during which more than two dozen citations were issued by the Korean society, County Executive John R. Leopold, Sheriff Ronald Bateman and others.

Ro, 51, was found fatally beaten the night of Sept. 26, 2006, in his satellite office in the Chatham Executive Office Park on Crain Highway. His death stunned the region's Korean's community, in which he was widely known. His longtime main office was in Lutherville.

Ro's former office manager, Shontay Joyner-Hickman, 35, and a relative of hers, Dante Jeter, 23, both of Baltimore, were indicted in July on first-degree murder, robbery and related charges. No trial dates have been set.

Prosecutors have said they suspect that Joyner-Hickman had been stealing from Ro for months and that additional charges may be brought.

"We will do everything in our power to bring a just end to this case," State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee said.

andrea.siegel@baltsun.com