Police believe they’ve found the individual responsible for the death of a Chateaugay man: His son. Dale Jarvis Jr. pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of second degree murder. Our Cara Thomas has more on the investigation.

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MALONE, N.Y. -- What began as a missing person's case quickly turned into a homicide investigation as pieces of evidence began to surface in July. Friends and family hadn’t seen Dale Jarvis Sr., 48, since February, but were waiting to report his disappearance, as it was common for him to leave home for long periods of time. It wasn’t until a search warrant was executed that Jarvis’ body was found.

“His body was approximately five feet behind the residence, buried approximately five-and-a-half feet deep,” said Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne.

After further investigation and questioning, it didn’t take long before Jarvis’ son became the main suspect. Champagne says Dale Jarvis Jr. changed his story multiple times during the investigation, which sent up red flags.

Police say evidence shows that Jarvis Jr. beat his father over the head with a blunt object and then using an excavator or other machinery, buried his body in the back yard. He also buried a variety of personal items that his father would have normally taken with him while traveling, such as his license and other documents.

“Subsequently, the investigation revealed that Dale Jarvis Jr. was the one who was exclusively operating a backhoe on the property. You know, obviously putting the case together, it didn’t take a genius to necessarily figure out what had occurred in this particular matter,” said Champagne.

Dale Jarvis Jr. was arraigned in Malone’s Town Court on Monday. He was officially charged with second degree murder and pleaded not guilty.

Jarvis Jr. is being held in the Franklin County Jail with no bail set. Champagne says he believes the judge's decision was warranted considering the seriousness of the crime.

He said, “There’s no higher crime in our society than taking a life, so especially, in a crime like this where there’s no hint of self defense, no hint of a true mitigating factor, I think that’s an appropriate bail.”

District Attorney Champagne says he believe the case will be turned over to county court in the near future.

Champagne says Jarvis Jr. does have a criminal history. He was already being held in the Franklin County Jail for a pending criminal contempt charge after a domestic dispute.