York County parents plead not guilty in beating death of son adopted from Russia

LARA BRENCKLE,

In a quick and quiet arraignment this morning, husband and wife Michael Craver, 45, and Nanette Craver, 54, pleaded not guilty to all charges against them in the beating death of their 7-year-old son, adopted from Russia. The Cravers, of Carroll Township near Dillsburg in York County, are charged with criminal homicide, child endangerment and conspiracy. They adopted the child, Nathaniel (formerly named Ivan Skorobogatov), and his twin sister in 2003 from an orphanage in Russia. Nathaniel died in August of brain injuries and deprivation, and his parents were charged in February. The girl is in foster care.

At today's arraignment in York County Court, the Cravers said nothing other than their not-guilty pleas. Shackled and accompanied by their respective lawyers, they didn't speak to each other except for a thin-lipped "hi" from Michael to Nanette. Both recently were appointed new lawyers certified to handle death-penalty cases after prosecutors announced last month they were seeking the death penalty against the Cravers.