Prosecutors in northwestern Indiana have charged a man and a woman in the death of his 13-year-old son who relatives say was kept locked in a dog cage.

Lake County police say Riley Choate and Kimberly Kubina were charged Tuesday with murder, battery, neglect and criminal confinement. Court documents allege Riley Choate regularly beat Christian Choate and kept him caged for months on end without regular meals. Authorities say Kubina lived with the Choates at the time.

Earlier Tuesday, Riley Choate pleaded not guilty to charges that he moved his son's body and failed to notify authorities.

The boy's body was found last week in a shallow grave in a mobile home park in Gary

Defence attorney Randy Godshalk says there appear to be inconsistencies in some witnesses' stories.

Source: The Canadian Press