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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faith healing | 7/7 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_healing | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T09:19:41.997043+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Criminal convictions related to faith healing === In 2008, 15-month-old Ava Worthington of Oregon died of bronchial pneumonia and a bloodstream infection after her parents Raylene and Carl Worthington, members of Followers of Christ Church, allowed a cystic growth to grow on her neck for months while anointing her, giving her diluted wine, praying, and fasting over her. Her father was charged with manslaughter and eventually convicted of criminal mistreatment in 2009. In 2008, 11-year-old Kara Neumann of Wisconsin died of diabetic ketoacidosis stemming from undiagnosed juvenile-onset diabetes after her parents Leilani and Dale Neumann refused to take her to the hospital and prayed over her instead. Both parents, nondenominational Pentecostals, were convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in 2009. In 2009, newborn David Hickman of Oregon died of staph pneumonia after he was born at home to parents Dale and Shannon Hickman. The Hickmans watched the baby turn gray and struggle to breathe and did not seek medical intervention. Members of the Followers of Christ Church, both Hickmans were convicted of second-degree manslaughter in 2017 and were sentenced 6 years and 3 months in prison. In 2012, 16-year-old Austin Sprout Creswell of Oregon died of appendicitis after his parents Russel and Brandi Bellew prayed over him over the course of a week while his appendix deteriorated instead of seeking medical treatment. The Bellews, members of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born, pled guilty to criminally negligent homicide in 2012. In 2013, 12-year-old Syble Rossiter of Oregon died of Type 1 diabetes complications after her parents Travis and Wenona Rossiter refused to treat her condition. Syble's parents, members of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born, were both convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2014. In 2022, 8-year-old Elizabeth Struhs of Australia died of diabetic ketoacidosis after her parents Jason and Kerrie Struhs withheld insulin from their daughter for almost a week in accordance with their religious group's principles, choosing to pray and sing for her instead. Jason, Kerrie, and the rest of their religious sect known as The Saints were convicted of manslaughter in 2025. In 2023, 2-day old Hayden Edwards of Oregon died of acute bilirubin encephalopathy after his parents Blair and Taylor Edwards prayed over him after he suffered intermittent breathing problems over the course of a few hours; instead of seeking medical help, his parents, members of the Followers of Christ Church, prayed over him and anointed him with oil. Both parents pled guilty to criminal mistreatment in 2025.
== See also ==
== Notes ==
== References ==
== Bibliography ==
== External links == Media related to Faith healing at Wikimedia Commons