WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) – We are learning more about a couple charged in the death of a southern Kentucky child.

Adam Hayes and Brittany Slaughter both face multiple charges in connection with the death of four-year-old Chloe Darnell in Whitley County.

The child died late last year.

The two men responded to the new accusations in court on Monday.

The case dates back almost exactly a year and follows a disappearance case.

No one had seen Darnell or Slaughter, but the child’s body was later found buried near a cemetery. Slaughter was later arrested along with Hayes. the little girl was partially in Slaughter’s care. Both were re-indicted.

The new details of the case against the two men resulted in a superseding indictment, which occurs when there is evidence of a different or additional crime. Hayes is now charged with first-degree criminal abuse and persistent criminal offender. Slaughter is charged with criminal abuse and failure to report a change in order to receive benefits. At a preliminary hearing, evidence was revealed that Darnell had suffered severe corporal punishment and that she had several broken bones in her face, head and ribs.

“We’re trying to move the case forward,” said Joshua Price, Commonwealth’s Attorney. “There is an old adage in the justice system that the wheels of justice move slowly and, as you and your viewers know, high-profile or priority cases move more slowly.”

Attorneys discussed collecting and exchanging findings, which constitute evidence in the case, and a pretrial hearing was set for January. A trial date has not yet been set.

Both Hayes and Slaughter remain in the Whitley County Detention Center.

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