The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died of complications from untreated diabetes last month have both been charged with second-degree reckless homicide, according to Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad.
...In a statement released at a 1 p.m. news conference, Falstad said the parents' actions meet the standard of the charges.
"Second-degree reckless homicide has two elements," Falstad said. "The first element is that the defendant caused the death of another. The second element is that the defendant caused the death by criminally reckless conduct.
"In this case, that conduct was the failure to seek medical intervention. The failure to seek medical intervention created unreasonable and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm to Kara and the Neumanns were aware of the risk."
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The investigation into the death of Madeline Kara Neumann continues.
WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- Police are still reviewing the diabetes death of an 11-year-old rural Weston girl whose parents tried to heal her with prayer instead of taking her to the doctor.
Madeline Neumann died last Sunday of the undiagnosed by treatable condition.
...Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin says he expects to have his investigation done Monday or Tuesday and then send the information to the district attorney.
The chief says he won't make any recommendation on charges, leaving that up to the D.A.
The story of Kara Neumann's came to mind when I read this story about a 15-month-old's death:
A grand jury indicted an Oregon City couple accused of failing to seek medical treatment for their gravely ill daughter who died this month.
Carl Worthington, 28, and Raylene Worthington, 25, surrendered late Friday to face charges of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment, said Detective Jim Strovink of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
They were held on $250,000 bail each and their first court appearance was scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The couple's daughter, 15-month-old Ava, died at home March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and infection. A deputy state medical examiner said Ava's medical problems were treatable with antibiotics.
The Worthingtons belong to Oregon City's Followers of Christ Church. According to church tradition, when members become ill, fellow worshippers pray and anoint them with oil.
Dozens of children have been buried in the parish cemetery over the past 50 years, and a 1998 analysis by The Oregonian newspaper found that many of the deaths could have prevented with medical care.
The 1999 Oregon Legislature eliminated the state's "spiritual-healing defense" in cases of second-degree manslaughter, first- and second-degree criminal mistreatment and nonpayment of child support. Legislators were prompted by the death of 11-year-old Oregon City boy whose diabetes was left untreated. His parents were members of the Followers of Christ Church.
I think the Oregon Legislature got it right.
Practicing one's religion should not be considered an excuse for endangering the life of another person, especially in the case of a parent neglecting a child.
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