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Prayer Death Investigation Continues Save Email Print
Posted: 2:30 PM Mar 29, 2008
Last Updated: 2:30 PM Mar 29, 2008

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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.

Authorities have taken three of her siblings from the home to stay with other relatives. Police have also removed computers, journals and other items in a search of the family's home.

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. He says there was no intent for the child to die, and the parents thought they were doing the right thing because they were convinced she would get better through prayer.

He says new information indicates the girl's health deteriorated more quickly than they originally thought. But her grandmother told investigators that by last Saturday the girl couldn't walk or talk, and she urged her daughter to take the girl to the doctor. She didn't.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Posted by: Elric Location: Arizona on Mar 31, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Another innocent dead due to religious extremism. What is wrong with people?

Posted by: Rob Location: Michigan on Mar 31, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I think people should not only have to pass an IQ test, but also a test for emotional stability before being allowed to have children. Prayer is great, they could prayed their hearts out while their daughter was being given medical attention.

Posted by: Suika Location: This party's gettin Craaaazy on Mar 30, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Prayer: How to do nothing and think you're helping.

Posted by: Mike Location: Chippewa Falls on Mar 29, 2008 at 04:07 PM
When you choose to have and raise a child, you take on the responsibility to learn how to raise it properly. This includes not forgoing well-known scientific principles on health and nutrition in favor of superstition. History is mostly the story of people who "thought they were doing the right thing." It's not a problem if it just involves the person doing the "thinking"; it's a pathetic excuse to harm or kill someone else. The law needs to reflect this. It's unfortunate that the difference between religiously-inspired and psychotic behaviors is often defined by the popularity of the beliefs driving them, and not by submitting either to a scientific or otherwise logical test. It's the 21st century, let's learn from the previous ones.

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