Parents' Prayers Could Not Save Daughter

Investigation Launched Into 11-Year-Old's Death From Treatable Diabetic Condition

(CBS/AP)  Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl's death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to pray for her rather than take her to a doctor.

An autopsy showed Madeline Neumann died Sunday of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said.

She had probably been ill for about a month, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness, the chief said Wednesday, noting that he expects to complete the investigation by Friday and forward the results to the district attorney.

Vergin says they're still just beginning to determine if the course of action the parents took was reasonable, or if more could have been done to save their daughter, reports CBS News affiliate WSAW-TV in Wasau.

"Our job is to determine the facts and send them to the District Attorney," said Vergin. “If there were criminal charges, it would likely be negligent homicide, but we're far from that point yet."

In a posting on the Web site, UnleavenedBreadMinistries.org, David Eells that he was contacted by a ministry elder Saturday, March 22 saying Dale and Leilani Neumann requested that he pray for their daughter, Madeline

Eells says he called them that night, the first time he had spoken to the Neumanns outside of a few e-mails over the past few years.

Also in the posting, Eells says the Neumanns told him the girl started getting sick in the past day - not over the course of 30 days, reports WSAW-TV.

Leilani Neumann said that she and her family believe in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but that they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.

She insisted her youngest child, a wiry girl known to wear her straight brown hair in a ponytail, was in good health until recently.

"We just noticed a tiredness within the past two weeks," she said Wednesday. "And then just the day before and that day (she died), it suddenly just went to a more serious situation. We stayed fast in prayer then. We believed that she would recover. We saw signs that to us, it looked like she was recovering."

Her daughter - who hadn't seen a doctor since she got some shots as a 3-year-old, according to Vergin - had no fever and there was warmth in her body, she said.

Dale Neumann, a former police officer, said he started CPR "as soon as the breath of life left" his daughter's body.

Family members elsewhere called authorities to seek help for the girl.

"My sister-in-law, she's very religious, she believes in faith instead of doctors ...," the girl's aunt told a sheriff's dispatcher Sunday afternoon in a call from California. "And she called my mother-in-law today ... and she explained to us that she believes her daughter's in a coma now and she's relying on faith."

The dispatcher got more information from the caller and asked whether an ambulance should be sent.

"Please," the woman replied. "I mean, she's refusing. She's going to fight it. ... We've been trying to get her to take her to the hospital for a week, a few days now."

The aunt called back with more information on the family's location, emergency logs show. Family friends also made a 911 call from the home. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes and immediately called for an ambulance that took her to a hospital.

But less than an hour after authorities reached the home, Madeline - a bright student who left public school for home schooling this semester - was declared dead.

She is survived by her parents and three older siblings.

"We are remaining strong for our children," Leilani Neumann said. "Only our faith in God is giving us strength at this time."

The Neumanns said they moved from California to a modern, middle-class home in woodsy Weston, just outside Wassau in central Wisconsin, about two years ago to open a coffee shop and be closer to other relatives.

Leilani Neumann said she and her husband are not worried about the investigation because "our lives are in God's hands. We know we did not do anything criminal. We know we did the best for our daughter we knew how to do."

[bunnybaum]

I think it is ridiculous not to seek treatment when you know your child has an illness. I pray, and I believe in God very, very much also. But I also believe that God gave the doctors the know-how to treat these illnesses. They should have seeked medical treatment as soon as their daughter was diagnosed with the illness. I feel compassion for the family, but also a little bit of "shame on them". There is nothing I wouldn''t do for my children - especially when it concerns their health.

[venkata4--2008]

"I think it is ridiculous not to seek treatment when you know your child has an illness. I pray, and I believe in God very, very much also. But I also believe that God gave the doctors the know-how to treat these illnesses. They should have seeked medical treatment as soon as their daughter was diagnosed with the illness. I feel compassion for the family, but also a little bit of "shame on them". There is nothing I wouldn''''t do for my children - especially when it concerns their health.

Posted by bunnybaum at 09:42 AM : Mar 28, 2008"

I agree with you. This is a treatable disease and treatment is available. What made these parents to deny treatment for their child. One has to do human effort first before asking GOD for help. Poor child.

[mgsmom2004]

I am so angry at these people I can hardly see straight. How could they let their beautiful daughter die - just sit there and watch her die from something that could have been treated?? I just don''t understand this at all. Another life, wasted, by neglect. And that is what it is - neglect. If you as a parent don''t do everything within your power to keep your child safe from harm, then you have not fulfilled your duties - you have neglected them. I hope they take the other three kids away from them lest they too become sick and be allowed to die. Disgusting....

[barbaraf4]

God also invented medical science.

[jimtapp]

If consenting adults want to choose superstition over science, and die in the process, that should be their right. But these morons sacrificed an innocent child to their own ignorance and arrogance, and they should be punished for it. The time has long passed when this kind of barbarism should be tolerated in the name of "respect" for religion. Somebody explain to me why this kind of idiocy deserves any respect.

[bikermomx2]

Hello people...did you read the article. She didn''t have drastic signs of sickness. She just wasn''t feeling good. I don''t take my kids to the doctor every time they don''t feel good. They did not know she had anything seriously wrong until the autopsy!!

[iknowbest-2009]

Home schooling - there you go. Not mentioned till the very end, of course, because the RepubliKKKans support it. It should be banned, and parents that take children away from public school should be jailed. How many more will die until home schooling is show to the be crime that it truly is?

[fibonacci_]

Oh you Christians knew I would have a field day with this one. Good job, religion.

[fibonacci_]

"And she called my mother-in-law today ... and she explained to us that she believes her daughter''s in a coma now and she''s relying on faith."

- They didnt know something serious was wrong, huh?

[khanghi-2009]

Recently, I celebrated three years cancer free(!)

Did God almighty cure me? Yes. But God needed the hands of some pretty incredible doctors here to work His miracle!

I thank God every day for my life and add names to those I pray for all the time. I''m not "religious" in the conventional sense of the word, but I know a miracle when I see one. I shave that miracles face every morning!

[fibonacci_]

Praise the lord, singinrich. I am glad that the therapy paid off and that you are now happily (and openly) living with Kevin.

[republic1776]

The Parents should be charged with a crime.
Would they have suffered for a month like they impossed on their daughter?

[fibonacci_]

I think it is unbelievable that they are having to "think long and hard" about whether to charge these idiots. Makes it clear to me they have some lord-believers in that prosecutors office...little too much sympathy for believing Christianity would solve the problem. Hey - maybe they should have prayed to Allah?

[barbaraf4]

"They did not know she had anything seriously wrong until the autopsy!!" Posted by Bikermomx2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, the child had to die to receive an autopsy.

[rasabaka]

How could they not know something was wrong with her...she had been sick for over a month...nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness... she was probably also severely dehydrated too...duh!!! They should be punished.

[jumkey]

"Parents'' Prayers Could Not Save Daughter"

From CBS News "duh" file.

I''m not a law-and-order type but a little slap at the magical thinkers is necessary here - jail time for the parents will do nicely. The religious nuts actually respond to reality quite well when it kicks them in the a$$, which leads me to believe their "belief" is less than sincere.

It''s remarkable that the right-to-lifers are mute on this issue. What 11-year-olds are now less human than a fertilized embryo?

Interesting.

[bpai99]

The parents without question should be prosecuted. Imagine the potential for abuse if they were not - malicious parents could deny their children needed care, food, whatever - and get away with it by claiming it was because of their religious beliefs.

[irliberal]

"Leilani Neumann said that she and her family believe in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but that they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors."

Lets see. These "parents" let their daughter die a lingering death due to diabetes, an easily treated, common ailment. They felt that "god" would heal her. Pretty much any way you stack that up, they huge freaks in my book. Obviously they haven''t looked up the definition of the word "fanatic" lately.

[DaveGress]

bpai99 - I agree. This is the same thing as ''assisted suicide'' only the person didn''t want to die.

[mgsmom2004]

Hello people...did you read the article. She didn''''t have drastic signs of sickness. She just wasn''''t feeling good. I don''''t take my kids to the doctor every time they don''''t feel good. They did not know she had anything seriously wrong until the autopsy!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Bikermomx2

I agree to an extent Bikermomx2. I don''t take my daughter to the doctor everytime she has a sniffle or a fever, but if it goes on for a few days, it''s time to go see the doc - I think you would agree with that. Especially when vomiting is a symptom. It is too easy for kids to become dehydrated quickly. There is no excuse for what these parents did....and they should pay.

[DaveGress]

singinrich - LOL. You are too funny!

[random_radar]

Obviously they haven''''t looked up the definition of the word "fanatic" lately.

Posted by IRLiberal at 11:27 AM : Mar 28, 2008

"A fanatic is one who can''t change his mind and won''t change the subject"--Winston Churchill

In my book, IRLiberal definite fits the profile of a fanatic.

[DaveGress]

God also invented medical science.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by barbaraf4 at 10:03 AM : Mar 28, 2008

You religious never give HUMAN BEINGS credit for anything.

Wake up!!! Have faith in PEOPLE.

[fibonacci_]

Yea, Id like to see some Christian come in here supporting what the parents did here because of the "power of prayer." Bring it on little Christians.

[DaveGress]

FloydZepp - Shrub only cares about GOO!

[mollydtt]

"She''s in a coma now, and she''s relying on faith" And the parents said she was "just a little tired" so they didn''t think anything was wrong. I fear for the other kids. And I wonder if they are afraid of their parents. Of course, the parents know they did nothing wrong and feel no guilt, so I think the other kids should be very afraid.

[antoniof123]

My kids go to the doctors if they sneeze my god these freaking wing nuts are getting out of hand.

[oleander8]

They prayed to their god to heal their daughter and what did it get them - a dead daughter. Even in their bible, that they believe in so ferverently, their god says he ''helps those who help themselves''.

I don''t believe there is a god - but if I was proven wrong I would say he has a lot to answer for.

[mswolfestock]

Child neglect in the name of the parent''s religion is still child neglect. The parents can choose prayer over medical attention but the kids did not have the choice to make for themselves, and that is why the parents should go to jail and the other kids should be cared for by anybody who is more sophisticated and less fanatical about their religion.

[fibonacci_]

Wow singinrich, you have REALLY change. That is so cool that you can now live a life totally free of delusions. I am very happy for you and Kevin.

[fibonacci_]

For the most part I can understand that Christians really just aren''t smart enough to know any better. It is hard to blame unintelligent people for being that way - but this has gone too far. Throw them in jail for a couple years. Let them pray to be let out.

[jacenda23]

What happens when the couples'' 17 year-old is involved in a car accident and could be laying on the pavement with broken bones and internal bleeding? Leave them in the middle of the road and pray? Give me a break, these parents do not deserve to keep custody of their 3 other children!

[beader59]

I always thought if the parents knowingly let their child die that this is a crime. I don''t see where there is any issue here. They committed a crime. Forget about the religious aspect, that should have nothing to do with the welfare of a child or anyone else.

[fibonacci_]

Exactly. Religion is just a bunch of hocus-pocus anyway. The real issue is the crime here.

[displeased]

Studies comparing religious belief and I.Q.

In 2006, a self-published study was undertaken to investigate, on a country-by-country level, the possibility of a link between the importance of religion to citizens and their average IQ. The study found that the strength of religious belief in countries was inversely related to their average IQ. The countries with higher IQs on average had significantly lower levels of religious belief than those with lower average IQs.

In 2007, Danish newspapers reported that a study conducted by controversial intelligence researcher Helmuth Nyborg estimated that atheists'' IQs were on average nearly 6 points higher than believers''. " I''m not saying that believing in God makes you dumber. My hypothesis is that people with a low intelligence are more easily drawn toward religions, which give answers that are certain, while people with a high intelligence are more skeptical," says the former professor.

[fibonacci_]

"39 studies since 1927 have found that the more educated a person is, and the higher one''s intelligence, the less likely someone is to hold religious beliefs. It shows that those with a degree in science are less than half as likely to believe in God as the general populace, and eminent scientists are nine times less likely."

[fibonacci_]

- or believing that even though we hold 99% of DNA in common with chimps, that someone they just disappear while we go to "heaven" or "hell"

bogus baloney

[usbrit-2009]

I agree with, I think, all of the posters here that the parents should be punished and the other kids taken away. Interesting there''s no support or comment fom our well known Christian friends. I remember a few years ago Law & Order had and interesting take on a tragedy like this. Parents let a kid die of a treatable disease. During the trial, the mother stuck to her guns in saying she had absolute faith in God''s will, but dad admitted to having some doubts. The outcome was that the mother was found innocent and the father, because of the doubts was found guilty. I hope we hear what happens in this case.

[fibonacci_]

LOL the Christians are really staying away from this one. For news stories about Israel, Iraq, Dinosaurs they are all over the boards. Not here...gee, I wonder why?

[terribayless-2009]

I am sorry, but everyone believe in something. Just because some people take things too far does not mean everyone who believes in God are stupid. That is just stupid. You all know better. Most christians know that we pray for a miracle while we do everything we know to do at the same time. Only then can we say that the outcome was God''s will.

[fibonacci_]

Interesting.

[fibonacci_]

Imagine if an atheist couple had a kid and when the child went into a coma, they decided that the power of hope could heal the child. So they just sat around and hoped. Afterwards, they said they did nothing wrong, because they believed in the power of hope.

[rational_1]

LOL the Christians are really staying away from this one. For news stories about Israel, Iraq, Dinosaurs they are all over the boards. Not here...gee, I wonder why?
Posted by fibonacci_ at 01:38 PM : Mar 28, 2008

Ya, I''ve been wondering where singinrick was at. If ever there was living proof that evolution does not occur, it''s these unevolved backwards parents. And he''s not here to point that out.

[displeased]

This reminds me of the vegan couple that starved their infant to death a few years ago and they are now spending life in prison. Some people have no business having kids.

[fibonacci_]

Sad that kids cant choose their parents. Imagine having singinrick for a dad - or much worse, these people.

[terribayless-2009]

I am right there with you. And if a handfull of atheists chose to do that - it would not mean that all atheist were dumb. It would mean that those few people were negligable, just like I believe these people were.

[fibonacci_]

I actually do agree that a small percentage of Christians are intelligent, although the apparently lack an ability for critical thinking in the particular area of religion and belief in the supernatural/supersition. No offense to you personally, terribayless...you dont sound like singinrick. I have a good friend finishing up his doctorate in composition (music) who is religious. I just think they are very far in between...look at those scientific studies we quoted earlier, it is no accident that less intelligent people tend to go towards religion more.

[terribayless-2009]

fibonacci_ I am really not able to argue one way or the other on that. I do however believe that there has be a decline in critical thinking throughout this country. I feel this country is trying to dumb down its people. But actually, imho I could see more Christians being those with less education than others. Once people are full of knowlege, education, money, they start to believe they got where they are because of only themselves and forget God. It''s harder to be humble when you don''t need anyone''s help. It''s easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. Meaning he can''t get there by buying his way or work his way there. Sorry - I don''t usually respond like this. Thanks for listening.

[fibonacci_]

I definately agree with you that the general level of critical thinking in the USA has declined. I find it ironic that the USA is a culture composed of people whose ancestors originally came from many, many different cultures, and now many Americans cant even find those countries on the map. Or some think Europe is a country...etc. etc.

[grammawhamma]

I find it interesting that CBS hid this article under "Health" and didn''t print it until today. This was front page news on all other news sites 2 days ago.

I live where this happened. The other 3 kids have been taken to the doctor and are healthy. They are living with extended family members for now. If you are interested in this story google wausau daily herald for detailed information.