Wisconsin Couple Sentenced in Death of Their Sick Child

[groovedaddy]

CHICAGO — A Wisconsin couple were sentenced to jail time on Tuesday for failing to seek medical attention for their ill daughter, renewing a debate in some circles over whether states should allow parents to practice spiritual treatments.

The parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, were ordered to spend 30 days in jail each year for the next six years and were placed on 10 years’ probation. Mr. Neumann, 47, and Ms. Neumann, 41, who live in Weston, in central Wisconsin, had been convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in August.

Their daughter, Madeline Kara Neumann, 11, died from untreated diabetes on March 23, 2008, the authorities said. When the girl became ill and could no longer walk or talk, her parents prayed for her instead of taking her to a doctor, prosecutors said.

Her parents could have faced as much as 25 years in prison. While on probation, the Neumanns must take the two surviving children who live with them to the doctor if they are seriously injured or sick, said Judge Vincent K. Howard of Marathon County Circuit Court, and the children must undergo periodic health checks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/us/08sentence.html?th&emc=th

[imdjh]

1. God damn it, it's 2009, when are people going to stop doing rain dances and offerings to gods?

Normally, I don't believe in making examples of people. Rather than making an example of someone, I think that each criminal should get justice, not be the vehicle for a societal message. But let's face it- why am I not dealing drugs right now to supplement my income? Because people go to jail for it now, people lose their houses and cars over it now.

This probably doesn't actually happen very often considering the size of the US population. But it's so sad when it does, because it's completely avoidable. God damn it, it's 2009, exactly when are people going to stop doing rain dances and offerings to gods?

[laconicsax]

2. Travesty of justice.

They willfully let their daughter die while pretending to do something about it.
-When she first got sick and had labored breathing, they thought she was just going through puberty.
-When she was fatigued and turning blue, they thought it was just a spiritual problem.
-When she got to the point where she couldn't sit up, they sent a prayer request e-mail to their church.
-When she couldn't communicate anymore or take water, they did nothing.
-When she became unconscious, they pretended she was just asleep.

The only (barely) sensible thing they did was invite another couple over. It was one of their guests who called 911. No doubt if the other couple hadn't been there, the only outgoing call would have been to a priest to arrange the funeral ceremony. (link to a pre-trial article with details.)

They should have been given the maximum sentence. Since they haven't, I hope everyone learns the lesson here--that if you see someone being beaten or raped, just walk on by and hope for the best; you've done everything you can.

[rd_kent]

3. Good. I hope they rot for inflicting such pain and suffering on their child.

Religion IS brainwashing, especially when forced on children.

[laconicsax]

4. 10 years of probation and 30 days per year for six years.

Six months of jail is apparently too harsh a sentence for murdering a child, so the judge limited it to 30 days a year for six years.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

5. This is a fucking joke

6 months of prison for a conviction for 2nd degree homicide? Is killing your own child more okay than killing someone during a drive-by shooting?

Fucking ridiculous, and this judge should be impeached or removed from office for a dereliction of duty and being a stupid fuck in general. AND he kept the other two kids with the parents after they killed the third?