Kansas City, Mo. ? A judge entered not guilty pleas Tuesday for the mother and stepfather charged with killing a girl found beheaded in Kansas City four years ago.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Margaret Sauer entered the pleas for Michelle M. Johnson, 30, and Harrell Johnson, 25, both of Muskogee, Okla., during their first court appearance in Missouri after being charged with killing the girl, who had been known as Precious Doe.

They each face one count of second-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child, who was identified Thursday as Erica Michelle Marie Green.

During the brief hearing, Harrell Johnson waived his right to a preliminary hearing and an arraignment date was set for Monday. Michelle Johnson did not waive her right to a preliminary hearing, and her next appearance also was set for Monday.

Sauer ordered Harrell Johnson held without bond. She set Michelle Johnson’s bond at $500,000.

Harrell Johnson’s public defender, Bill Raymond of Kansas City, couldn’t be reached for comment following the hearing. Michelle Johnson’s public defender, Anthony Cardarella of Liberty, declined to comment.

Both Johnsons acted reserved during the hearing. As he was led out of the courtroom, Harrell Johnson briefly looked back at his wife, sitting in the jury box awaiting her turn before the judge.

More than a dozen neighbors and others who had spent years searching for clues as to the little girl’s identity attended the hearing.

“You really want to see what kind of person could have done something like this, especially to their own child,” said Marcie Williams, of Kansas City. Williams said she was angry that the two were so calm during the hearing. “I’ve seen people with lesser crimes covering up their head with a T-shirt. It was like nothing to them.”

The couple were returned to Missouri earlier Tuesday from jail in Muskogee, where they had been held since being arrested in the girl’s death Thursday.

The child was almost 4 when her headless body was found in a Kansas City park in April 2001. Her body was found near an intersection in Kansas City and days later, her head was found nearby, wrapped in a trash bag.

Police have said Harrell Johnson admitted that he was under the influence of alcohol and PCP when he kicked Erica in the head and threw her to the ground, leaving her unconscious. After she died, he said he used hedge clippers to sever her head, police said.