MARION, Ill. (AP) -- A southern Illinois man has been charged with first-degree murder after police found a body buried in his yard.

Jimmy Dean is an assistant Williamson County state's attorney. He says 46-year-old Elmer Atkins Jr. of Marion was charged with one count Wednesday in the death of 51-year-old Matthew Lutchen. Atkins' mother, 63-year-old Edna Atkins, also was charged with concealing a homicidal death.

Both were held on bond and appointed public defenders, who were not immediately available for comment.

Authorities say the two were arrested Tuesday after police found the body in a shallow grave a few feet from the Atkins' mobile home. Lutchen had been dead at least four months but investigators don't yet know how he died.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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