MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – A Manhattan man has pleaded not guilty in the death of a man whose body was found along a dirt road last December.

Nineteen-year-old Michael Layne entered the plea Tuesday to a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 31-year-old Steve Freel.

The Manhattan Mercury reports Layne also pleaded not guilty to aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

Police have said they believe Freel and Layne committed several armed robberies together but had an argument that led to Freel being driven to a rural area and shot.