Man pleads not guilty to killing dad with bat

BUTTE — A former Butte man charged with killing his father more than five years ago by beating him to death with a baseball bat has pleaded not guilty.

 Adam Hatfield, 24, entered the plea Thursday in Butte District Court to a charge of deliberate homicide in the late 2008 death of 49-year-old Matt Hatfield.

Court documents say Adam Hatfield killed his father at a cabin south of Butte.

Authorities say the top of Matt Hatfield’s skull was found near a campground north of Butte. The rest of the body is still missing.

Investigators say a search of the cabin in 2008 found splattered blood and an apparent attempt to cover up a violent confrontation.