February 11th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports Summer Lynn McDaniel and Joseph Allen Christy were convicted recently of involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of their 26-day-old son who was found buried in a shallow grave in the George Washington National Forest in Hardy County this past summer. Initially, the couple and four other children were stopped following a high-speed chase on Interstate 79 between Morgantown and Fairmont after authorities responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Sabraton. During questioning, Christy, 33, admitted to burying their son on July 4 and led police to the location. A Hardy County jury deliberated for four hours before convicting McDaniel, 27, according to the Hampshire Review. She is to serve less than a year on the involuntary manslaughter charge, not less than three years or more than 15 for child neglect resulting in death, and not less than one year or more than five for other charges. Christy will be sentenced at a later date. McDaniel’s home was listed at the time of the crime as Maryville, Mo. Christy was an escaped fugitive from Colorado who had stolen the vehicle in Iowa, police said. An autopsy of the infant was inconclusive about manner of death.