Court delayed for parents of NC teen tied to tree

TARBORO, N.C. -- A judge has delayed the court hearing for a couple facing murder charges after their 13-year-old son died when he was left tied to a tree. Brice and Sandra McMillan were scheduled to appear in an Edgecombe County court Tuesday, but a busy court schedule moved their hearing to Wednesday. They also face child abuse charges. Brice McMillan told authorities he and his wife left Tyler McMillan tied to a tree and forced him to sleep outside June 10 because he was being disobedient. He also was tied up the next night. The boy's stepmother found him unresponsive the following afternoon. An autopsy report said his body temperature was 105.6 degrees when he arrived at the hospital. He suffered a number of insect bites and likely died from dehydration, heat stroke or both. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)