DENVER -- The trial of an Evans man accused of starving a child to death is now under way in Weld County.

Dan Partch, 47, and his girlfriend, Genevieve Barea, 45, were arrested last March after the death of 7-year-old LoReyna Barea. She was Barea's niece.

The girl was found dead in Barea's home last March. Autopsy results show she died of severe dehydration. The 7-year-old girl weighed only 35 pounds and was so emaciated that when she was found, her hands, feet and knuckles twisted downward, investigators said.

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

Partch and Barea have been charged with felony child abuse resulting in death. Both have pleaded not guilty. They said the girl was ill before she died and was recently in a bicycle accident. She was riding a bicycle when she fell off, they said.

If convicted, Barea and Partch could each face up to 48 years in prison.

Barea was raising her niece and four nephews and was their legal guardian for at least two years. Their mother died in February 2006 as a result of a traffic crash.

Partch and Barea told investigators ever since they obtained custody, they did not take the children to a doctor for regular checkups.

LoReyna's four brothers, who ranged from 6 to 13 years old, were 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.