WJJQ LOCAL NEWS
Parents in prayer death get probation, jail term
A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin couple to ten years
probation and 30 days a year in jail for the next six years for praying instead
of seeking medical care for their dying 11-year-old daughter, but the jail term
was stayed pending appeals.
Marathon County Judge Vincent Howard sentenced Dale
and Leilani Neumann on Tuesday.
The Neumanns were convicted at separate trials of second-degree reckless
homicide in Madeline Neumann’s March 2008 death from undiagnosed diabetes and
could have received up to 25 years in prison.
Prosecutors contended the parents should have rushed
the girl to a hospital because she couldn’t walk, talk, eat or drink. Madeline died on the floor of the family’s
rural home as people surrounded her and prayed. Someone called 911 when she stopped breathing.
The Neumanns say they believe all healing comes from
God. Their attorneys have said the
convictions will be appealed.
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