VALLEY CITY - A man and his girlfriend are facing murder charges in the death of the man's 14-month-old son, who authorities say was starved and dehydrated.

James Thompson, 26, and Cassandra Riediger, 18, turned themselves about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Barnes County authorities said. They are charged in the death of Thompson's son, Marcus.

Judge John Paulson set bail Wednesday at $500,000 cash for Thompson and $250,000 cash for Riediger. They asked for a court-appointed attorney.

Authorities said Marcus Thompson was found not breathing in his crib on Sept. 15, and they believe malnutrition and neglect contributed to his death.

The murder charge is a Class AA felony. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Barnes County prosecutor Brad Cruff asked for higher bail for Thompson, saying he is from Georgia and is a flight risk. He said Thompson and Riediger were being evicted from their Valley City apartment.

Authorities said Thompson called 911 on Sept. 15, to report his son was not breathing. An autopsy was performed two days later. Detective Mark McDonald said Thompson and Riediger surrendered "just through the course of the investigation."

McDonald said Riediger was charged with murder because "she resides in the house and she is the caretaker of that child."

Michelle Noch, the mother of Marcus, attended Wednesday's bail hearing. She said the last time she saw her son, he looked weak and his rib cage was showing.

Noch said she and Thompson are separated but she had agreed to let him have custody of the boy and his sister, who is about to turn 3 years old, because she was fighting a stress disorder.

"My husband never let me come over to the house," Noch said.

Marcus had been a "very happy baby," she said. "He always wanted to be held."

Authorities said the boy's sister is now in the custody of social services workers. They said James Thompson is unemployed.

The next court appearance for the couple is set for Oct. 9.

McDonald said Thompson had no criminal history that he knew of, and he was not aware of any earlier police calls to Thompson's home.