GREELEY, Colo. -- The jury deliberating the fate of Dan Partch determined that he was not guilty of killing his girlfriend's niece.

Earlier in the day, the jury informed the judge that they were at an impasse but the jury was told to go back and continue deliberating and to try again to reach a verdict.

About two hours later, they returned to the courtroom and said Partch, 47, was not guilty of child abuse resulting in death.

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

Autopsy results showed LoReyna Barea 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."

If convicted, Partch could have faced up to 48 years in prison.