The man charged with killing a four-year-old Richlands, Virginia boy entered not guilty pleas in a Farmington, Utah court his week.

Nathan Sloop is charged with brutally beating and killing Ethan Stacy. Sloop was Stacy's stepfather.

Ethan's mother, Stephanie Sloop, is also charged in his murder. She is expected to appear in court on July 31st.

According to authorities, Ethan lived in Richlands, but a judge had approved a visit with his mother in Utah between April 29th and May 8th of 2010.

Autopsy results showed that he was severely abused. The Sloops say they found him dead in the room they locked him in before they went to get married.

Ethan's body was found in a remote location in Utah. Police say his face was disfigured from the abuse and dog food was sprinkled over his body.

Nathan Sloop waived his preliminary hearing and is scheduled to be back in court October 31st. At that point, a judge will decide if he should face the death penalty.