Couple charged with killing newborn

By Staff
A Lacey's Spring woman and her common-law husband have been charged with the death of their infant son whose body was found in a clothes basket.
James Robert Hill Jr., 31, is was arrested last week and held without bond in connection with the death of his son. Hill was indicted on capital murder charges by a Morgan County Grand Jury.
His wife, Christian Celia Atchley, 21, was indicted by the same grand jury on Monday on a charge of endangering her child by using drugs. The charge she faces is a Class A felony because authorities said drugs contributed to the infant's death.
Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett said the newborn's body was found in a clothes basket at the mobile home on Dry Creek Road Hill shared by the couple. Sheriff's department officials believe Hill's wife gave birth to the 7 pound six ounce baby boy around Oct. 29, 2006. An autopsy showed the infant died of blunt force trauma and was strangled with the umbilical cord.