FARMINGTON, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Prosecutors announced that charges were still pending against Nathan and Stephanie Sloop, who are accused of abusing, killing and burying Ethan Stacy.
The announcement was made at a press conference held outside the Davis County courthouse on Friday.
The Sloops were arrested on Tuesday after police say they perpetrated a ruse to cover up Ethan's death, apparently from head injuries sustained from being beaten.
Police allege that the Sloops desecrated Ethan's body in an attempt to hide his identity.
Davis County Prosecutor Troy Rawlings announced that Stephanie Sloop was now being held on suspicion of aggravated murder.
Stephanie Sloop, Ethan's mother was arrested under suspicion of child abuse obstruction of justice and desecration of a body. She was not previously held with probable cause for murder.
Stephanie's husband Nathan faced the same charges upon his arrest.
Rawlings said police delayed the release of a probable cause statement to the media on Wednesday out of sensitivity to Joe Stacy, Ethan's father.
Rawlings announced that prosecutors planned to formally charge both Nathan and Stephanie with aggravated homicide, but that charges had not yet been filed.
Rawlings said the planned charges could carry the death penalty.
Rawlings said the reason for the delay in filing charges was because of the ongoing investigation, which included evidence still being gathered by the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office as to the exact cause of Ethan's death.
Rawlings also discussed the outpouring of emotion, compassion and anger from the community concerning the death of Ethan Stacy.
Rawlings said the Sloops will appear in court later Friday and again on the May 28.
