article: The parents of a 5-year-old boy whose body was found inside a septic tank in Virginia last month have been charged with felony child abuse and neglect. Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis announced the arrests of Ashley Jennifer White, 30, and Paul Thomas, 32, Thursday afternoon – a week to the day after the tragic discovery. Their 5-year-old son, Noah Thomas, went missing from their home in rural Dublin on the morning of March 22 as his mother slept with her infant daughter. Parents in custody: Ashley Jennifer White (left), 30, and her partner Paul Thomas (right), 32, have been charged with child abuse and neglect in the death of their 5-year-old son, Noah, last month . Tragic: Noah Thomas, five, was last seen watching cartoons March 22 at home in Dublin, Virginia. Police confirmed his body was found in a septic tank near the family home March 26 . From left; Virginia State Police Lt. Ed Murphy, Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis, Pulaski County Commonwealth Attorney, Mike Fleenor, during a press conference Thursday announcing the arrest of White and Thomas . After an intense-five days search, the child's body was found in a septic tank on White and Thomas' property. 'It came to a point where the evidence that we had we felt was sufficient to arrest them for probable cause,' said Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Fleenor of Pulaski County, reported Indianapolis Star. The couple's 6-month-old daughter was removed from their home and placed in the custody of social services the day after Noah's body was recovered. White and Thomas were each charged with two counts of neglect and abuse involving Noah and his baby sister. During their arraignment via teleconference Friday, both suspects objected to the presence of reporters in the courtroom. 'This is the saddest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life,' White was quoted as saying. 'I don’t feel people should be able to enjoy it over dinner.' Her boyfriend sounded a similar note, saying that he doesn't want his life to be a news story. The judge, however, allowed members of the media to stay in the room. They are being held in jail without bond pending a court hearing scheduled for August 12. Investigators are now waiting for the medical examiner's office to release the results of Noah's autopsy to shed light on the cause of death, which could take weeks, if not months. Search crews have looked around the boy's house. His mother could not find him after she woke up at 10 . Investigators said search dogs stopped near the road near Noah's house, which is 'never typical' White said Noah, pictured left with his dad and right, was a cautious child who would not have run away . Noah Thomas was last seen alive sitting in his parents' living room and watching cartoons at 9am March 22. His mother took her baby daughter, Abigail, to another room and settled in for a nap. More than an hour later, she woke up to find the back door open and Noah gone. Nearly five days later, an FBI-backed search concluded with the discovery of Noah's lifeless body in a septic tank near the family home. Police and more than 100 volunteers who signed up to look for Noah in the small town had covered about 3.3 square miles after the 60lb red-headed boy was reported missing. Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis said at the time that authorities have no evidence of foul play in his disappearance, and that the family have cooperated with authorities. Investigators said search dogs stopped near the road adjacent to Noah's house, which is 'never typical'. No suspicious vehicles were seen in the area. Crews used helicopters in the search in the area, which is mostly residential with farmland and a woods by the boy's house. Ashley White, who called police at 11am after searching for her child on her own, said that the boy was cautious and had no history of running away. Stephanie Ide Hudgins, Paul Thomas' sister, described her brother and his partner as 'the best parents, hands down,' reported Roanoke Times. High school sweethearts: White and Thomas (pictured left and right) met in junior high school but did not start dating until high school . Touched by tragedy: The couple lost a good friend in a deadly abduction in 2000, and White's father was later murdered . Proud dad: Thomas' sister said her brother and his partner were very excited about having a baby togehter. Thomas pictured here with Noah not long after his birth . Hudgins, a mother of four, said she would often call Ashley if she had any questions about child-rearing. Noah's aunt detailed how Thomas and White met in junior high school but did not start dating until high school. The couple have been touched by tragedy in the past. A friend who helped arrange their first date, Tara Rose Munsey, disappeared in January 2000 from her job at a Taco Bell. Her body was discovered in a ravine two weeks later. She was 16 years old. Some years later, White's father was murdered and her mother became gravely ill. Before the mother's passing, White and Thomas decided to have a baby together. 'They were so excited to have Noah,' Hudgins said. 'Noah was special anyways, before he even came into this earth.'
highlights: Ashley White, 30, and Paul Thomas, 32, charged with child abuse and neglect .
  Couple's son, Noah Thomas, 5, from Dublin, Virginia, was last seen alive March 22 .
  Mother went back to sleep, child was missing at 10am when she woke up .
  After FBI search, Noah's body was found in septic tank on family's property five days later .
  Thomas and White's 6-month-old daughter was removed from home a day later .
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