SYCAMORE – The family of a DeKalb woman accused of strangling her boyfriend in 2016 plans to hire a psychologist whose testimony will show that the woman had suffered trauma from repeated abuse, her lawyer said Wednesday.

Kela M. Moss, 27, of 419 S. First St., DeKalb, was charged Nov. 14, 2016, with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her boyfriend, 25-year-old Brendon Brown, who lived with her in the apartment. If convicted, Moss could face 20 to 60 years in prison.

On Wednesday, Moss’ attorney, David Camic, told DeKalb County Judge Robbin Stuckert the family plans to hire an expert witness.

Moss’ parents were in attendance and stood inside the courtroom throughout the hearing. “There is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was an abused woman,” Camic told the Daily Chronicle after Moss’ hearing Wednesday. “We just need a psychologist to play it all out in front of the court.”

Moss’ former lawyer, Robert Nolan, said the killing was an act of self-defense after a long period of domestic abuse, a claim which Brown’s family has disputed. Camic, of Camic Johnson Ltd. in Aurora, was hired by Moss on March 28.

According to court records, police said Moss went to the DeKalb police station Nov. 14, 2016, to report an incident and gave officers permission to go inside the apartment she and Brown shared, where they found Brown dead. An autopsy report indicated that Brown had been strangled.

Moss has been jailed since November, unable to raise bail. Stuckert twice has denied Moss’ request to reduce bond from $750,000 to $50,000. Bond was initially set at $5 million.

Moss’ parents raised $5,000 to get her out of jail, which would have been the amount she needed to pay if the $50,000 bond was approved. Instead, she is required to post $75,000. Camic said the family does not have the means to raise $75,000.

Camic did not say how much money the family plans to spend to hire the psychologist, but did say they plan to have the money raised by Moss’ next court date.

She is due back in court at 9 a.m. Dec. 5.