A Peoria couple accused of starving their infant son to death will remain behind bars without bail.

21-year old Tracy Hermann and 23-year old James Sargent made a brief appearance in Peoria County court this afternoon.

Both are charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of five-month old Benjamin Sargent.

State's Attorney Kevin Lyons says state law allows for no bail because both suspects face natural life in prison if convicted.
After cour,t Lyons told reporters, "It is one of those things where I think people say to themself, it didn't happen quite so dramatically. Surely, the baby was not as deprived as it seems to be. But for eight days there was no attention and no nurturing. Those are the allegations and that is precisely what we think happened."

Peoria Attorney Tim Penn has been appointed public defender to represent Hermann and Sargent.

Both suspects are being housed separately in the Peoria County Jail.