From left, Gregory A. Casto, his attorney Bill Merriman, attorney George Cosenza and his client Martha Stephens stand in Wood County Circuit Court Monday. Casto pleaded not guilty to murder and concealment of a deceased human body, and Stephens pleaded not guilty to accessory after the fact to murder. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG – The man indicted in the 2014 murder of Cindy Ball and the woman charged as an accessory after the fact pleaded not guilty at their arraignments this morning.

Walker resident Gregory A. Casto, 56, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, and Martha Jane Stephens, 66, of Waverly, appeared before Judge J.D. Beane in Wood County Circuit Court.

Neither spoke except to answer questions from Beane and enter their pleas of not guilty.

Both were arrested last week following their indictment by the Wood County Grand Jury. Casto is charged with murder, which carries a potential life prison sentence, and concealment of a deceased human body. Stephens is charged with accessory after the fact to murder, which has a maximum sentence of five years.

Stephens was released after her arrest on a $10,000 bond.

Casto is being held without bond. A bond hearing was set for Nov. 17, during which Beane will also consider a motion by Casto’s attorney, Bill Merriman, to dismiss the case.

Read more in Tuesday’s edition.