The mother of 10-year-old Seth Ireland and her boyfriend appeared in court Tuesday to face charges related to the boy's death.

Seth died after being beaten, allegedly by Rena Ireland's boyfriend, LeBaron Vaughn.

Ireland was charged with 2 counts of child abuse, and Vaughn was charged with murder and two counts of child abuse.

Both pleaded innocent to the charges in court.

Meanwhile, Seth's biological father, Joseph Hudson, said at a news conference today that he reported that he saw bruises on his son to Child Protective Services last September and that he received a letter from Seth's school in November reporting that Seth had bruises.

He feels CPS and the court system failed to do enough and that Seth's death could have been prevented.

Police say Vaughn confessed to severely beating Seth.

Also today, the Fresno County' Sheriff's Department revealed that several days before the beating, Ireland and Vaughn tried to abandon Seth and his 7-year-old half-brother Javron Ireland, at the Fresno County jail.

The two showed up on December 26th and said they were told by a social worker to take their children to the jail if they got out of control.

A Sheriff's Department spokesperson said the children were calm and seemed to not have any medical issues and eventually Ireland took her children back home.

Also today, Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea called for an independent investigation of the county's Child Protective Services office.

Questions have been raised because there had been reports to CPS in the past that Seth was being abused, but he was left in his mother's care up until the fatal beating.

For the full story, including team coverage with Preston Phillips and Lindsey Pena, click on the video link above.