Alabama Man Accused of Killing 2 Kids to Plead Not Guilty

MOBILE, Ala. -- An attorney says a man charged in the slayings of his two young children who authorities say were buried in the woods will plead not guilty to murder charges.

The attorney, John Thompson, said at a bond hearing Friday that 27-year-old John DeBlase plans to plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. A judge ordered DeBlase held on $500,000 bond -- $250,000 for each murder count.

DeBlase's primary attorney, Jim Sears, was out of town and did not attend the hearing. He has said that DeBlase maintains that he is innocent and that his common-law wife killed the children.

His common-law wife, Heather Leavell-Keaton, was on her way back to Alabama from Kentucky, where she had been jailed on child abuse charges.