The father of a missing California boy whose body was found Friday was set to plead not guilty in his son’s murder, according to his lawyer. Armazd Andressian Sr. was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in the death of his 5-year-old son, Armazd Andressian Jr.

The 35-year-old’s lawyer Ambrosio Rodriguez said he would plead not guilty during the appearance Monday and said he would ask for a 30-day continuance in order to have more time to prepare the case.

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“To say it’s a difficult time for him is an understatement,” Rodriguez said Saturday, according to KNBC-TV. “To be in custody, to be accused of something like this, is something that would break anyone. There has been a rush to judgment.”

Andressian Jr.’s body was found in a recreation area in Santa Barbara County Friday after a two-month search, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. An autopsy was set to be conducted in the coming days in order to determine the cause of death. Because the child had been there for two months, authorities said they needed to use dental records and x-rays to officially confirm his identity.

The boy was last seen with his father leaving Disneyland April 21. His father was found unconscious the next day at a park in South Pasadena with no information about where his son was. The car was covered in gasoline and a prescription pill bottle was found inside.

Andressian Sr. was arrested June 23 and charged with the murder of his son. Sheriff’s homicide lieutenant Joe Mendoza said the boy’s death was “pre-planned” and that Andressian Sr. had been uncooperative and gave false information to investigators. Menzoda alleged the father murdered his son in a revenge plot against his estranged wife and attempted suicide in the car before going to Las Vegas in an attempt to flee the country and avoid extradition. Officials said in a news conference after his arrest that he and his wife were going through a “tumultuous divorce.”

Andressian Sr. had been living in a Las Vegas hotel for 47 days and had shaved his beard, lightened his hair and was “socializing,” according to ABC News. Authorities cited the conduct as inconsistent with that of a grieving parent.

“He was taking part in activities and displaying mannerisms that were not consistent with a grieving parent,” Mendoza said Monday.

Andressian Sr. had previously been arrested in the case right after his son went missing on suspicion of child endangerment and child abduction but was released on a lack of evidence. Investigators at the time said the father had a “selective memory” when it came to what happened to his son.

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“His story was all over the place,” South Pasadena Police Chief Art Miller told the Los Angeles Times at the time.

Andressian Sr. was being held on $10 million bail and was considered a flight risk. Should he be convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

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