This undated identification photo provided Monday, March 26, 2012 by the St. Johnsbury, Vt., police shows Melissa Jenkins. (AP Photo/St. Johnsbury Police Department)

This undated identification photo provided Monday, March 26, 2012 by the St. Johnsbury, Vt., police shows Melissa Jenkins, who went missing Sunday night, March 25. Police said her 2-year-old child was found alone in her car a short distance from her home. (AP Photo/St. Johnsbury Police Department)

This Wednesday, March 28, 2012 booking photo released by the Vermont State Police shows Patricia Prue, 33, of Waterford, Vt., arrested with her husband Allen Prue and charged with murder in the death of Melissa Jenkins of St. Johnsbury, a teacher who went missing Sunday night. (AP Photo/Vermont State Police)

This Wednesday, March 28, 2012 booking photo released by the Vermont State Police shows Allen Prue, 30, of Waterford, Vt., arrested with his wife Patricia Prue and charged with murder in the death of Melissa Jenkins of St. Johnsbury, a teacher who went missing Sunday night. (AP Photo/Vermont State Police)

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont snow plow driver and his wife have pleaded not guilty to second degree murder charges in connection with the strangling of a prep school teacher whose 2-year-old son was found in his mother's idling car on a remote back road.

Thirty-year-old Allen Prue and his 33-year-old wife Patricia Prue, of Waterford, appeared separately in court in St. Johnsbury on Wednesday where they were ordered held without bail for their roles in the death of Melissa Jenkins.

Police say the Prues were arrested early Wednesday after a two-day investigation into Jenkins' death.

Following the Wednesday court appearance, Allen Prue's mother, Donna Prue, says her son has never been in trouble with the law before and she has faith he didn't commit the crime.

Associated Press
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.