EVANS, Colo. -- A woman and her boyfriend have been arrested in connection with the death of a 7-year-old child in Weld County.

Police arrested Genevieve Barea and Dan Partch on Wednesday. Both are from Evans. They are being held for investigation of child abuse resulting in death.

Barea's 7-year-old niece, Loreyna, was found dead in her aunt's home on March 9.

The affidavits allege that Barea and Partch starved and beat her.

An autopsy found the girl's body was covered with contusions and abrasions and showed signs of severe dehydration, prosecutors said Thursday.

Loreyna weighed 34.8 pounds when she died, placing her below the third percentile for her age, prosecutors said. Investigators said she was emaciated and her hands, feet and knuckles twisted downward.

"She had multiple contusions and abrasions all over her body," said Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. "Based on the coroner's report that we saw yesterday, we filed charges of child abuse resulting in death."

Court documents show the little girl suffered 68 contusions and abrasions. The documents said she was so thin, one "could see her hip joints, knee joints, ribs, rib cage and back bones."

"(When) the parents just let a kid like this starve to death and not get medical attention -- it's particularly sad," Buck said.

Berea was raising her niece and four nephews. Their mother died in February as a result of a traffic crash.

Loreyna's four brothers, who ranged from 6 to 13 years old, have been placed in foster care.

Neighbors said they rarely saw the children who were home-schooled.

"I heard them in the back yard once in a while, but like I said as far as getting in the car and out of the car, that's all I ever saw of them," said neighbor Denise Hess.

"It's awful that kids have to deal with that," said Evans resident Wendy Guthman. "That they can't just enjoy life and have adults who take care of them."

Barea and Partch are being held on $500,000 bond. They are due back in court on May 30.