A Detroit boy who was found in his own basement after a highly publicized search into his 11-day disappearance is said to have suffered physical and psychological abuse . Police found Charlie Bothuell V thin and hiding among boxes in his family 's townhouse home last June , a stunning turnabout in a search that involved local , state and federal officers . The discovery led to allegations that his father and stepmother forced him to go through rigorous twice-a-day workouts , kept him away from other kids , deprived him of proper food and abused him . Charlie Bothuell IV , 46 , and Monique Dillard-Bothuell , 37 , are charged with child abuse and torture and current hearings will determine if they stand trial . They have pleaded not guilty . Charlie Bothuell V , now 13 , was found in the basement of his family 's Detroit townhouse home after his 11-day disappearance . A doctor says the boy , who was found thin and with bruises , was the victim of abuse . Police investigators had already searched the basement ( pictured ) where Bouthell V was found . His father 's lawyer says that the boy is lying about his abuse . Dr Dena Nazer of Children 's Hospital of Michigan did n't examine Charlie or speak to him. , but she was allowed to testify based on a review of his medical records , photos and his statements to other medical staff . Dr Nazer said Charlie , 12 at the time , indicated that his stepmother sent him to the basement because he did n't do his twice daily workout . The routine allegedly involved doing 100 pushups , 200 situps , 100 jumping jacks , 25 arm curls with a 25-pound weight and thousands of revolutions on an elliptical machine . She said the boy had bruises on his chest and buttocks , which were consistent with his claim that he had been beaten with a PVC pipe . 'He was also threatened to be killed and told no one would know because he was home-schooled , ' Dr Nazer said . 'He was subjected to more than one kind of child abuse , ' Dr Nazer told a judge . 'He was subjected to child physical abuse and psychological abuse in terms of isolation and deprivation . ' Charlie Bouthell IV , 46 , and Monique Dillard-Bothuell , 37 , face charges of child abuse and torture that could lead to life prison sentences . Bouthell IV and Dillard-Bouthell , ( pictured ) would allegedly make their son undergo a strenuous workout routine twice daily , doing thousands of revolutions on an elliptical machine . The father famously found out that his son had been found in his basement while being interviewed by HLN 's Nancy Grace . The doctor 's testimony did n't reveal much new information . Authorities for months have alleged that Charlie was abused . The lawyer for Charlie Bothuell IV said that his client 's son 'is a liar ' and made up his abuse . ' ( The son ) lives in this fantasy world and that 's what this case is all about , ' attorney Shawn Patrick Smith said , according to the Detroit News . 'It looks staged , ' he said , adding that his client , a nurse , had been bankrupted by the proceedings . Investigators had been in Bothuell 's basement before with specially trained dogs but did not find the boy . Last year a neighbor showed Daily Mail Online a tunnel from the basement where he could have used a bathroom or escaped to the outside . Dillard-Bothuell 's attorney repeatedly asked Nazer if she was familiar with the exercise routine of young athletes , a suggestion that Charlie 's drills were n't unusual . The parents allegedly threatened to kill Charlie Bouthell V , according to Dr Dena Nazer 's testimony about suspected abuse . A neighbor near the Bouthell 's home in Detroit showed Daily Mail Online a tunnel ( right ) that the young boy could have used to go to the bathroom ( left ) or exit to the outside world . 'She 's not a sports coach . She 's a doctor , ' Judge Shannon Holmes said , stopping the questions . Charlie now is 13 and in the custody of his biological mother . He is expected to testify after hearings resume on April 14 . Torture in Michigan carries up to a life prison sentence on conviction . Second-degree child abuse is punishable by up to four years in prison . Charle Bothuell IV was told that his son was found in his basement during a television interview with HLN 's Nancy Grace . 'The FBI checked my basement . The police checked my basement . My wife checked my basement . I 've been down there several times . We 've all been checking , ' he said at the time . The father has since terminated his parental rights .
Charlie Bothuell V was in father 's basement after 11-day search . Charlie Bothuell IV , 37 , and Monique Dillard-Bothuell , 46 , face torture charge . Doctor said that boy had bruises consistent with being beaten by PVC pipe . He was threatened with death and made to do strenuous exercise routine . Bothuell IV 's lawyer said that client 's son made up his abuse .