LITTLE ROCK—A man accused in the 1999 disappearance of his 14-year-old niece has pleaded guilty to conspiring to make false statements to the FBI.

Charles Richart, 54, also admitted helping his wife bury the body and hide the murder of Christina Richart, who came to live with her aunt and uncle after the death of her father.

A grand jury indicted Charles and Wanda Faye Richart, 50, of Kingsland earlier this year. The federal indictment accuses the Richarts of lying to FBI agents who were investigating the disappearance of Christina Richart.

According to the indictment, Christina and her two brothers went to live with their aunt and uncle in 1997 after the children’s father, who was Charles’ brother, died and the children’s mother couldn’t take care of them. Two years later, the Richarts moved to Ozark after one of the boys was removed from the home, the indictment says.

Between July 27 and Sept. 14 of 1999, Wanda Richart and Christina got into an argument at the house and Wanda Richart forced the girl into the bathroom, the indictment says. Charles Richart and others in the home, who weren’t identified, heard the girl screaming for help as her aunt ran water in the bathtub. Minutes later, Wanda Richart opened the door to the bathroom and Christina’s lifeless, wet body was on the floor, the indictment says.