(CNN) -- One of eight people killed in a southeast Georgia mobile home last month recently had been awarded $25,000 in a civil lawsuit, officials said. 

Guy Heinze Jr. faces eight counts of first-degree murder in last month's killings in a Georgia mobile home. 

Guy Heinze Sr., 46, was granted the award by the McIntosh County, Georgia, Magistrate Court in a suit over a mobile home that he owned, court officials said. He had not received the money as the ruling was under appeal. 

Heinze was found dead August 29 in his Brunswick mobile home along with six others. An eighth person died later at a hospital. 

Police said all of the victims died from "blunt force trauma," but they did not provide any further details. 

Heinze's son, Guy Heinze Jr., 22, faces eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths. Police suspect he acted alone, according to a statement from the Glynn County Police Department. 

The younger Heinze has made his initial court appearance via closed-circuit television from the Glynn County Detention Center, his attorney, Ron Harrison, said Tuesday. His preliminary hearing likely will come next week, Harrison said. 

The elder Heinze told relatives about the award days before his death, family members said. Court officials said the ruling was issued August 11, and an appeal was filed six days later. 

Harrison said he was aware of the award in the lawsuit but would not comment on it. 

Police also are aware of it, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said, but he declined comment on whether it is being explored as a possible motive in the slayings. Watch hints of a possible motive » 
How many died with him?
 six