OGDEN -- Eric Millerberg appeared in court Friday for the first time on charges against him in the drug overdose death of his baby sitter, Alexis Rasmussen.
In a short hearing over video hookup between Weber County Jail and 2nd District Court, Millerberg was formally read the charges against him of child abuse homicide, obstruction of justice, unlawful sexual activity with a minor and abuse or desecration of a body, all alleged to have happened Sept. 11.
Rasmussen's body was recovered Oct. 18 near the Weber River in Morgan County.
A status conference was scheduled for Millerberg for Feb. 14 before Judge Scott Hadley. Randall Marshall was appointed Millerberg's public defender.
Millerberg's wife, Dea, charged with the abuse or desecration of a body related to the attempt to hide the remains, is scheduled for a Feb. 22 status conference before Judge W. Brent West.
In announcing the charges Tuesday, officials declined to release details such as what drug the 16-year-old Rasmussen died from in the Millerbergs' North Ogden home or elaborate on the sexual offense. The formal complaint, however, lists the same victim initials as the homicide charge.
In search warrant affidavits, police say the Millerbergs had an ongoing relationship with Rasmussen beyond just baby-sitting that included partying and her selling prescription drugs to school friends, supervised by Dea Millerberg.
Eric Millerberg is currently in prison on unrelated drug probation violation charges filed the first week in October.
Dea Millerberg also was arrested that week on prescription drug charges, for which she made bail and awaits trial.
Days after their arrest, a search warrant was executed at their home by police as the search for the missing Rasmussen had become a homicide investigation.
Sometime after the Oct. 9 search of the home, Dea Millerberg was charged with child endangerment after hair-follicle tests done on the couple's infant daughter showed positive for methamphetamine exposure.
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