Parents charged after boy found dead in septic tank

DUBLIN, Va. — The parents of a 5-year-old boy found dead in a septic tank have been charged with abuse and neglect, authorities said.

Paul Thomas, 32, and Ashley White, 30, were charged Thursday with two counts of abuse and neglect of children, according to the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. Their son, Noah, was found dead March 26, five days after he was reported missing.

"It came to a point where the evidence that we had we felt was sufficient to arrest them for probable cause," said Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Fleenor of Pulaski County, who has been gathering evidence since Noah's body was discovered.

A 6-month-old baby was removed from the parents' custody the day after Noah's body was found, officials said. Dublin, in southwest Virginia, is about 240 miles southwest of the District of Columbia.

Authorities have said Noah was watching cartoons around 8 a.m. ET March 22 when White went to take a nap with her infant. When she awoke about 10:35 a.m., Noah was missing.

Results from Noah's autopsy are expected to take weeks to become available. Officials say his cause of death will be the critical information in the case.

The defendants each face two charges — one involving Noah, another linked to the infant. They're being held without bond in New River Valley Regional Jail.

It was unclear whether they had a lawyer who could comment on the charges.

Contributing: The Associated Press