http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,341574,00.html

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.

this is madness for you

that is manslaughter period, they killed that girl.

and madness period not only for me, for whoever has a fuinctioning brain.

They should have had faith enough to pray that God got her to a hospital. God gave man the ability to sometimes heal.

Is it really manslaughter? I mean its the disease that killed her. Their religion believes that healing her with prayer is what they should have done. I don't really know the law so I can't say. I am curious to see how it turns out though.

stuff like this really ticks me off. Religion is fine. Faith is fine. Loving God is fine! But when you're kid is sick take them to the doctors. Thats neglect. Pure and simple. And their neglect led to their daughters death. My opinion? Those other kids don't belong in that home.

Just driving her to the hospital would have been enough to save her life from DIABETES!

That is just plain child abuse! I feel they should have done more than just "pray", It helps, but it alone is NOT the answer!

yep thats what i meant its my punctuation im rubbish at it...the parents need there other kids taken off them too

They should be put in jail. If that isn't child neglect I don't know what is.

yes if I leave my son bleeding to death while I wait for a miracle I am responsible for his death.
The disease is not lethal, but stupidity is.

and god gave the people in modern times..........common sense, yeah, that's it.....common sense.......

i hope they go to the big house!!!! AND I DON'T MEAN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!

if their religion has a foundation in faith healing

then the gov has no jurisdiction per the bill of rights

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

------

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,

or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

as sad as it is that she died

the govt has no right to hinder their exersizing their religious beliefs ***unless they want to finally admit the children do not belong to the parent but belong to the state and the parent is only their guardian

hhhhhmmmmmmm

and they may be ready to do that at this point

I am telling you, I think they are actually protected by law depending on their religion. If you don't believe in modern medicine ,say the amish, then I am not so sure they can legally charge you.

to be a "parent" you should at the least have the brains to keep your kids alive, don't you think? If you fail to do so you stop being a parent and are infact responsible for the kids death. and should be treated as such.

isnt that like jahova witnesses, they cant have medical treatment for certain things??

they refuse blood transfusions

but organ transplants are a personal choice

kinda weird there but to each their own

so are you saying the kids belong to the govt

and do you know for a fact

that modern medical care would have healed her

yes I know for a fact that modern medical care can save an 11 years old kid from Diabetes, where do you live in a cave?

And yes if you can't guarantee the survival of your kids you have no business being a parent, that's why foster care exists.
Not the best solution but I'm sure better than dying.