Miami ( CNN ) -- A Florida prosecutor told the court she intends to seek the death penalty in a case where a 10-year-old girl was found dead in the back of her father 's truck . Carmen and Jorge Barahona , the adopted parents of the girl , Nubia Barahona , have been charged with first-degree murder . In Florida , the prosecution must file a notice at the beginning of the legal proceedings if it plans to seek the death penalty . If that 's not done , the state waives the right to seek that sentence later in the case . Monday 's first appearance on the charges is just the beginning of the Barahonas ' criminal case . As it continues , the prosecutors will make it clear whether the death penalty will be sought . The Barahonas have also been charged with eight counts of aggravated child abuse and eight counts of child neglect . Jorge Barahona is charged with an additional count of mutilation or abuse of a dead body . They pleaded not guilty on Monday . In court , the couple sat apart from each other but next to their individual attorneys . Jorge Barahona was wearing a bulletproof vest that showed his bare arms , and Carmen Barahona was in a bright orange jail-issued outfit . Over the years the couple has been at the center of multiple complaints to Florida 's Department of Children and Families , with callers reporting that Nubia and her twin brother were locked in bathrooms for long periods of time or bound with tape , according to testimony given in family court . Nevertheless , the children remained in the Barahona home . This case prompted an independent review of the DCF . The panel recently released `` The Nubia Report , '' recommending changes the agency should make in training and technology . The report says when a call is made to the abuse hotline , `` DCF should work with law enforcement to ensure an appropriate joint response when children are not located quickly . '' That change is a result of a phone call to the abuse hotline four days before Nubia 's body was found in her father 's truck . The call was made by a therapist , saying that the granddaughter of Carmen Barahona told her that the twins were being abused , according to documents released in the case . A DCF investigator went to the house but did not see the children and did not notify the police . The pest control truck that Barahona was driving was found by a road ranger on the side of Interstate 95 in the West Palm Beach area on February 14 . Firefighters called to the scene found Barahona and Nubia 's brother suffering from burns and a chemical-related illness , said West Palm Beach Police Department spokesman Chase Scott . Hazardous material teams were called in to investigate fumes coming from the vehicle . `` The department of environmental protection went into the rear of the vehicle , moving aside some chemicals and located a body in a bag in the rear of the vehicle , '' said Scott . The body has since been identified by the Palm Beach medical examiner as that of Nubia Barahona . Jorge Barahona did speak to police after he was arrested , according to a probable cause affidavit for the aggravated child abuse charges . The document says that Barahona told police that he drove to West Palm Beach that day `` after he placed his deceased daughter in a plastic bag , which he loaded in the rear of his truck . '' When Jorge Barahona and his son were released from the hospital , the father went to jail and the child went to a therapeutic foster home . Jail is where both Jorge and Carmen Barahona will be staying , since they were denied bond , awaiting a resolution of their case .
Prosecutor files notice with the court that death penalty may be sought . Carmen and Carmen Barahona plead not guity the years to murder and other charges . They 're charged with first -degree murder in death of their 10-year-old adopted daughter . Case led to a review of West Palm Beach 's Barahonas .