Abuse of a corpse, assault with a deadly weapon, and child abuse resulting in death were among the 60 charges Aaron Thomspon faces in the death of his daughter, according to the grand jury indictment released this afternoon.

Shely Lowe, Thompson’s live-in girlfriend who died last year, is also named in the indictment resulting from the lengthy investigation into the disappearance of Aarone Thompson.

Lowe and Thompson had long been called "persons of interest," but both declared their innocence in a previous interview with the Rocky Mountain News.

Early today an Arapahoe County district court judge agreed to release the grand jury indictments but without the names of the alleged victims and the details of the investigation that led to the charges. Thompson was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police had him under surveillance in anticipation of charges being filed.

The abuse of a corpse charge does not identify the victim, but notes that the body was treated "in a way that would outrage normal family sensibilities."

The charge of child abuse resulting in death is listed as occurring from May 12, 2002 to Aug. 31, 2004. The reason for those dates is not specified, and again the alleged victim’s name is not stated, although it may be Aarone.

There are nine counts involving assault with a deadly weapon over various dates.

Thompson was informed this morning of the charges against him during his "first appearance" in court.

The most serious of the charges he faces, according to Arapahoe County Distrist Attorney Carol Chambers, is child abuse resulting in death. That charge, by itself, could result in a sentence of up to 48 years in prison.

Not all of the charges are limited to Aarone, who was 6 when her father reported her as a runaway, Chambers said, but she declined to elaborate.

Chambers said she was withholding specifics in the indictment because there are significant facts that have not been broadcast or published. She told reporters during a news conference this morning that those facts should remain withheld until trial so that the case could be tried here.

Aaron Thompson reported his daughter missing on Nov. 14, 2005. But within days, Aurora police called off the search and said the child had been murdered up to 18 months earlier. Aarone's body has never been found.

Aurora Police Chief Daniels Oates today praised his department for the tenacity is showed in the investigation. He said that for the past year and a half, Thomspon and his defenders have professed his innocence and criticized police for not treating the little girl’s disappearance as a missing person’s case. Oates said the arrest of Thompson was a "great thing" for a department that has "been absolutely dedicated to finding out what happened to Aarone."

Oates also said he does not expect more arrests in the case.

During his court appearance, Thompson, 39, wore an Arapahoe County orange jail jumpsuit and was shackled around his waist, with his hands attached to the chains at his sides.

He remained calm, almost expressionless, throughout the hearing.

He spoke only twice, saying "yes," when asked if he wanted a public defender appointed, saying "no," when the judge asked if he had any questions about bail.

He was told his bail has been set at $500,000.

Thompson has been represented by private attorney David Lane, who indicated that he would like to remain on the case but only if the court would provide funding for investigators and other expenses related to Thompson's defense. The court declined Lane's request.

Chambers said it was too early to discuss whether she would offer Thompson a plea deal in the case.

When asked how she felt about the fact that the indictment does not include a charge of murder, the prosecutor said, "We charge what the evidence supports."

Outspoken activist Alvertis Simmons, who initially spoke out on behalf of Thompson but later rescinded that support, said this morning that he believes Aarone's death was an accident. Speaking outside the courtroom, Simmons said he believes Lowe was actually responsible for the death but that Thompson covered up for her.

"I don't think Aaron was responsible ? I think it had something to do with Shely. I think he's just covering up for her," Simmons said.

Simmons said Lowe told him Aarone was not enrolled in school because her birth certificate had been destroyed when it accidentally went through the washing machine.

Acen Phillips, a controversial preacher who has stood as Thompson's most ardent, consistent supporter, did not attend the hearing.

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