PORTAGE, Wis. -- The leader of a group of drifters and his girlfriend both pleaded not guilty to charges that they killed one of their own, buried her and abused her son.

Michael Sisk and Candace Clark are both facing a litany of charges, including being a party to homicide, hiding a corpse and child abuse.

Sisk, 25, and his girlfriend, Clark, 23, are charged with killing Tammie Garlin, 36. Her body was found buried behind their rented Portage apartment in June. The couple also is accused of torturing Garlin's then 11-year-old son, who was found locked in a closet. They allegedly beat Garlin's son with extension cords and pots and pans, burned him with hot water and forced him to sleep naked in the closet.

Both appeared in court Friday via video conference from jail.

Clark's attorney, David Geier, entered not guilty pleas for her on all counts. Sisk's attorney, Ronald Benavides, did likewise.

Mark Frank, the attorney for a third member of the group, Michaela Clerc, appeared with her via video conference as well. A judge entered not guilty pleas for her after Frank said she was standing mute.

Last month, prosecutors dropped murder and hiding a corpse charges against Clerc, 21 -- who was Garlin's alleged lover -- in return for her waiving a preliminary hearing, but she still faces a number of charges.

According to a criminal complaint, the boy told detectives everyone in the group except his mother tortured him.

The 11-year-old will be able to testify via videotape.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.