Joseph Walsh and Kristen Bury have both been charged with first-degree murder in the death of their infant son, whose body was left to decompose in his crib for days, investigators in Florida say.
The 9-week-old baby, Chance, was found buried in the forest on Oct. 15 by investigators almost a month after he went missing.
Chance died on Sept. 16 after he was allegedly struck repeatedly by Walsh, his 36-year-old father.
Bury, 32, told police the couple was fighting the morning Chance died. She said Walsh hit the child as she yelled "you are going to break his fucking neck," according to a police incident report.
Bury also told police that Walsh said he was going to bash the child's head into the ground.
Bury said she did not call 911 because she did not want to lose both of the people she loves in the same day. Neither her nor Walsh made any attempt to seek medical assistance after Chance was beaten, authorities said.
After Chance's death on Sept. 21, Bury posted a picture of the baby on Facebook that made it appear as if he's still alive. That same day, she posted a message to her husband: "No matter what life brings, good or bad, know that I will always love you with all of my heart. Joseph Walsh."
After Chance died, he was placed in his crib where he was left for a week as his body decomposed, according to authorities.
As the stench became overwhelming, Bury told Walsh that he needed to do something about the body. He then allegedly wrapped the baby and placed the remains in the bedroom closet.
On Sept. 24, the couple allegedly drove under the cover of darkness to Elliot Court in North Port, Florida, where Walsh dug a shallow grave, Bury told police. The couple then went home and retrieved Chance's body, before returning and burying him in the hole, according to the investigative report.
Three days later, they drove to Hardeeville, South Carolina. The couple told police they left Florida because they planned to start a new life somewhere else.
The couple are longtime drug users, and the baby was reported missing by Bury's mother, Sally Susino, on Oct. 4 after she became worried about her grandchild's welfare, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in Florida. The grandmother also said family members had been told conflicting stories by Bury and Walsh about what had happened to Chance, adding to the suspicion.
When investigators searched the couple's home, they found blood splattered on the walls. Bury finally told investigators on Oct. 15 where Chance's body was buried.
Each parent is being held in lieu of $150,000 bond for charges of first-degree murder and child neglect.
Chance is not the first child the couple has lost. Another son, Duane Walsh, died suddenly in April 2014 when he was just two weeks old, according to North Port Police criminal records.
The elder Walsh also has an extensive criminal record, according to the Sarasota County Clerk's records. The Florida Department of Children and Families also said they have removed seven children from his custody, Fox 13 News reported.
BuzzFeed News has reached out to the Florida Department of Children and Families for additional information.