Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Murdering 11-Year-Old Boy

A murder trial started Tuesday in Tulsa District Court in a rare case where the body of the victim has not been found.

11-year-old Orlando Hugger Jr. was killed, and the remains were burned, according to prosecutors, who laid out their case against John Miles, the boyfriend of Hugger's mother.

Orlando Hugger, the victim's father, testified first about the months he spent trying to get Camille Lewis, the boy's mother, to let him contact his son or take him for visits.

Hugger described often going to the house to see if he could get them to answer the door. Prosecutors say Miles and Lewis briefly buried Hugger before digging him up to burn the remains in a trash can in their yard. Investigators never found indications of a body, except for a hit by a cadaver dog in a garage, where other children in the house told investigators they believed the body may have been.

Prosecutors have charged Miles with murder and child abuse and neglect for the treatment of Hugger’s sister, who is expected to testify in the trial.

Camille Lewis, the mother of Hugger, also faces charges but is expected to testify against Miles before her own trial.