NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The court hearing for accused serial killer Bruce Mendenhall on Thursday resulted in the Davidson County District Attorney's Office seeking the death penalty in the case.

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The family of Sara Hulbert, who Mendenhall is accused of killing at a Nashville truck stop, said they know it will be a long process, but they're happy with the district attorney's decision.

"We're going to stand behind her. We're going to be here the whole way through. No matter how long it takes, we'll be behind her," said Kathy Allen, Hulbert's aunt.

Hulbert's body was found June 26 at a truck stop along Interstate 24 in Nashville.

Mendenhall, of Albion, Ill., pleaded not guilty.

Jury selection for Mendenhall's trial in the killing of Hulbert was set to begin Jan. 26.

Mendenhall is also charged in the June 6 shooting death of Symantha Winters, 48, who had also been shot and her body stuffed into a trash can at a truck stop in Lebanon, Tenn., about 25 miles east of Nashville along Interstate 40.

Authorities in Birmingham, Ala., have charged Mendenhall in the killing of Lucille "Gretna" Carter, 44. Her body was found July 1 next to a trash bin on a service road.

An Indiana prosecutor charged Mendenhall with murder in the July 12 slaying of Carma Purpura, 31, whose body was not found.

This is the second time in two weeks the Davidson County district attorney announced a new death penalty case.

Last week prosecutors said the death of a soldier who was killed during an automatic teller machine robbery will be a capital case.