VALLEY CITY, ND -- A North Dakota couple is accused of allowing an infant boy to die of starvation. Marcus Thompson's mother, Michelle Noch, says "he was very content, happy baby."

But the last time Marcus Thompson's mother, Michelle Noch saw her son she was very concerned.

Michelle says "his rib cage was showing, his little skin was hanging off his arms and legs."

Noch says Marcus was living with his father in Valley City because she was being treated for a stress disorder. She thought her baby was losing so much weight because, she says, he was going to be tested for cystic fibrosis.

Michelle says "I had concerns, but he was supposed to go to the hospital for more blood tests. He used to weigh 20 pounds, chunky, all of a sudden, he was skinny"

Marcus died on September 15th and weighed 13-and-a-half pounds during the autopsy. Marcus' father, James Thompson, now faces the highest possible charge in the state, double-a felony murder.

His live-in girlfriend, Cassandra Riediger, is fighting the same charge. Valley City Detective Mark McDonald says "she resides at the house... she is the caretaker of that child."

As for Noch, she says the cause of death is also a big surprise to her. Michelle says "I had no idea it was starvation."