WEWOKA, Okla. – A couple accused of abusing and killing a 9-year-old boy have pleaded not guilty to their charges.
Rex and Rebecca Clark appeared in court Thursday, 10 years after their young nephew Colton Clark disappeared.
DHS placed Colton with Rex and Rebecca because his biological parents had issues with drug abuse.
“They have maintained their innocence from Day 1,” said defense attorney Robert Butler. “I think they’ve been pulling their hair out for years trying to find that young man.”
According to an arrest affidavit, Rex and Rebecca used a cattle prod to shock the genitals of Colton and his brother, Homer.
The affidavit also states the aunt and uncle brutally beat their nephews and made them drink their own urine.
Butler disputes that testimony, questioning the integrity of the accusers.
The defense plans to look for witnesses who can testify to seeing Colton Clark when he initially disappeared.
“It kind of begs the question, where is he?” Butler said. “You know, that’s what the state’s got going for it. Where is he? We’d kind of like to know ourselves.”
Investigators initially looked into the disappearance as a runaway, but those that followed the case said things were suspicious from the start.
Investigators reopened the cold case in April, searching the Clarks’ property for evidence.
The Clarks are due back in court for a pretrial hearing at 2 p.m. Oct. 6.
