Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help
WESTON, Wis. — An 11-year-old girl died after her parents prayed for healing rather than seek medical help for a treatable form of diabetes, police said Tuesday.
Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said Madeline Neumann died Sunday.
"She got sicker and sicker until she was dead," he said.
Vergin said an autopsy determined the girl died from diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment that left her with too little insulin in her body, and she had probably been ill for about 30 days, suffering symptoms like nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness. The girl's parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, attributed the death to "apparently they didn't have enough faith," the police chief said.
They believed the key to healing "was it was better to keep praying. Call more people to help pray," he said.
The mother believes the girl could still be resurrected, the police chief said.
Telephone messages left at the Neumann home by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.
The family does not attend an organized church or participate in an organized religion, Vergin said. "They have a little Bible study of a few people."
The parents told investigators their daughter last saw a doctor when she was 3 to get some shots, Vergin said. The girl had attended public school during the first semester but didn't return for the second semester.
Officers went to the home after one of the girl's relatives in California called police to check on her, Vergin said. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The relative was fearful the girl was "extremely ill, dire," Vergin said.
The girl has three siblings, ranging in age from 13 to 16, the police chief said.
"They are still in the home," he said. "There is no reason to remove them. There is no abuse or signs of abuse that we can see."
The girl's death remains under investigation and the findings will be forwarded to the district attorney to review for possible charges, the chief said.
The family operates a coffee shop in Weston, which is a suburb of Wausau, Vergin said.
Wisconsin Parents Didn't Expect Daughter to Die During Prayer
The mother of an 11-year-old girl who died of untreated diabetes said Wednesday that she did not know her daughter was terminally ill as she prayed for her to get better. Madeline Neumann died Sunday from a treatable form of diabetes.
Her mother, Leilani Neumann, told The Associated Press that she never expected her daughter, whom she called Kara, to die. The family believes in the Bible, and it says healing comes from God, but they are not crazy, religious people, she said.
The girl's father, Dale Neumann, a former police officer, said he has friends who are doctors. He started CPR "as soon as the breath of life left" his daughter's body, he said.
Other family members called 911 to seek emergency help, Leilani Neumann said.
"We are remaining strong for our children," she said. "Only our faith in God is giving us strength at this time."
The couple has three other children.
Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin has said an autopsy determined Madeline died from diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment that left her with too little insulin in her body.
She had probably been ill for about 30 days, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness, he said.
But Leilani Neumann said her daughter, a straight A student, was in good health until recently.
"We just noticed a tiredness within the past two weeks," she said. "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 had no fever and there was warmth in her body, she explained. The family does not belong to an organized religion or faith, Leilani Neumann said.
"We just believe in the Bible, that's all," she said. "This is our faith."
Her husband added that, "We believe the word of God and live according to its precepts."
Leilani Neumann said the family is not worried about a police investigation into her daughter's death 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."
Vergin said he expect the investigation to wrap up by Friday and the findings to be forwarded to the district attorney to review for possible charges.
The family moved to Weston from California about two years ago to open a coffee shop and be closer to other relatives, the Neumanns said. They live in rural Weston, in a modern, middle class home in the some woods. A basketball hoop is set up in the driveway.
Officers went to the home after a relative in California asked police to check on the girl. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to Vergin, the parents told investigators Madeline last saw a doctor when she was 3 to get some shots. The girl had attended public school during the first semester but didn't return for the second semester, he said.
Mrs. Neumann said she deeply loves all her children and has nurtured them spiritually, emotionally and physically.
"Our lives are in God's hands and whatever we go through we are just going to trust him," she said. "We need healing. We are going through the healing process."
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Last edited by corduroy_blazer on Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:00 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:10 pm
Interweb Celebrity
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
homersheineken wrote:
Wouldn't a more appropriate headline be "Parents Don't Save..."
hey, they prayed. he didn't answer.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:15 pm
Interweb Celebrity
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
warehouse wrote:
no, everyone who believes in god is at fault here
no, just christian scientists.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:16 pm
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Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
corduroy_blazer wrote:
Vergin said an autopsy determined the girl died from diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment that left her with too little insulin in her body, and she had probably been ill for about 30 days, suffering symptoms like nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness.
well, at least she didn't suffer for her parents moronic beliefs.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:37 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:41 pm Posts: 7563 Location: Calgary, AB Gender: Male
i thought this was going to be another story about the Jehovas who let their kids die from illnesses that require blood transfusions, which are a no-no. Happens all the time here.
_________________ Straight outta line
Quote:
For a vegetarian, Rents, you're a fuckin' EVIL shot!
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:51 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:29 pm Posts: 6217 Location: Evil Bunny Land
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
_________________ “Some things have got to be believed to be seen.”
- Ralph Hodgson
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:03 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:41 pm Posts: 7563 Location: Calgary, AB Gender: Male
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
Who says you need a church to be religious?
_________________ Straight outta line
Quote:
For a vegetarian, Rents, you're a fuckin' EVIL shot!
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:09 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:29 pm Posts: 6217 Location: Evil Bunny Land
p911gt10c wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
Who says you need a church to be religious?
You don't need a church to be religious.
You can't do whatever the hell you want, at the expense of others' safety, in the name of religion, though. Especially if you aren't even part of one.
I can't get drunk and drive around and say "it's my religion. Stop persecuting me" if i sit by myself in my house praying to the god of alcoholics.
_________________ “Some things have got to be believed to be seen.”
- Ralph Hodgson
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:20 pm
Interweb Celebrity
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:22 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:41 pm Posts: 7563 Location: Calgary, AB Gender: Male
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
p911gt10c wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
Who says you need a church to be religious?
You can't do whatever the hell you want, at the expense of others' safety, in the name of religion, though.
Right, and the jeezus freaks totally understand and agree with that. Say, what's in that package sitting outside that abortion clinic over there?
_________________ Straight outta line
Quote:
For a vegetarian, Rents, you're a fuckin' EVIL shot!
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:24 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:29 pm Posts: 6217 Location: Evil Bunny Land
p911gt10c wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
p911gt10c wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
Who says you need a church to be religious?
You can't do whatever the hell you want, at the expense of others' safety, in the name of religion, though.
Right, and the jeezus freaks totally understand and agree with that. Say, what's in that package sitting outside that abortion clinic over there?
And THOSE people are prosecuted, too. What are you trying to say?
_________________ “Some things have got to be believed to be seen.”
- Ralph Hodgson
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:26 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:29 pm Posts: 6217 Location: Evil Bunny Land
corduroy_blazer wrote:
Are you trying to argue that there must not be a God because no God would let a little kid die? Perhaps that praying doesn't work because a little kid died?
Get some new material. These are the arguments of 11 year old kids.
_________________ “Some things have got to be believed to be seen.”
- Ralph Hodgson
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:26 pm
Faithless
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:34 am Posts: 2623
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
p911gt10c wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
Who says you need a church to be religious?
You don't need a church to be religious.
You can't do whatever the hell you want, at the expense of others' safety, in the name of religion, though. Especially if you aren't even part of one.
I can't get drunk and drive around and say "it's my religion. Stop persecuting me" if i sit by myself in my house praying to the god of alcoholics.
Not quite the same in this case, though. They had a bible study group. Bible. Which pertains to a religion.
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:28 pm
Faithless
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:34 am Posts: 2623
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
corduroy_blazer wrote:
Are you trying to argue that there must not be a God because no God would let a little kid die? Perhaps that praying doesn't work because a little kid died?
Get some new material. These are the arguments of 11 year old kids.
I think he was trying to show that: "Good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things. For good people to do bad things, that takes religion." Just another example.
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:28 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:29 pm Posts: 6217 Location: Evil Bunny Land
corduroy11 wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
p911gt10c wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
A) The title of this thread is stupid and has nothing to do with the actual article.
B) These parents should be evaluated for psychiatric problems and/or prosecuted. The religion argument doesn't hold a lot of water if they aren't even members of a church.
Who says you need a church to be religious?
You don't need a church to be religious.
You can't do whatever the hell you want, at the expense of others' safety, in the name of religion, though. Especially if you aren't even part of one.
I can't get drunk and drive around and say "it's my religion. Stop persecuting me" if i sit by myself in my house praying to the god of alcoholics.
Not quite the same in this case, though. They had a bible study group. Bible. Which pertains to a religion.
It's totally the same. If i had a group of people studying the Bible in my house, and we interpreted it to say that drinking and driving is OK, would i be exempt from the law based on religious beliefs? No. Every crime in the world could be excused because it's just part of someones' religion.
_________________ “Some things have got to be believed to be seen.”
- Ralph Hodgson
Post subject: Re: god doesn't save life of 11-year-old girl
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:29 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:29 pm Posts: 6217 Location: Evil Bunny Land
corduroy11 wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
corduroy_blazer wrote:
Are you trying to argue that there must not be a God because no God would let a little kid die? Perhaps that praying doesn't work because a little kid died?
Get some new material. These are the arguments of 11 year old kids.
I think he was trying to show that: "Good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things. For good people to do bad things, that takes religion." Just another example.
Right. Because good people that aren't religious never do bad things.
_________________ “Some things have got to be believed to be seen.”
- Ralph Hodgson
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