(GOSHEN) – Elkhart County Court officials say jury trials have been set for an Elkhart County father and stepmother charged with the murder of a 6 year old boy.

The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office officially charged 29 year old Franklin Elmore Jr. and 27 year old Cheyenne Elmore with murder in the death of Franklin’s son Justin.

The couple appeared for a hearing Thursday by video call from the Elkhart County Correctional Facility. At that time, a joint trial was requested by Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker who is accusing the Elmore’s of being complicit in torturing and killing the child. The trials were set for November 3.

A police investigation says that the Elmore’s were both home with Justin at 8:45 PM August 3, when Franklin allegedly attacked his son in his playroom. Justin reportedly became unresponsive, and was taken to an area hospital where he later died. The Elmore’s told police that Justin had hit himself but hospital employees says that some of the boy’s injuries were not self-inflicted, including a punctured lung and a traumatic brain injury.

Further investigation by police uncovered that the Elmore’s would hit Justin with their hands and a belt, and would also force him to go through lengthy physical exercises.

A pre-trial conference for the Elmore’s is scheduled for September 11 and a status hearing is set for October 9.