UPDATE: Parents Who Prayed Charged in Case

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UPDATE Posted Wednesday, May 7 --- 12:15pm

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has ordered the county to pay for an attorney for one of the parents accused of reckless homicide in their 11-year-old daughter's death from diabetes.

Dale Neumann will have a county-paid attorney.

His wife, Leilani Neumann, will have a private attorney that she will pay for with the couple's assets.

The couple are charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the Easter Sunday death of their daughter, Madeline, at the family's rural Weston home.

The parents are accused of praying for their daughter while she got progressively ill from undiagnosed diabetes instead of taking her to a doctor. Prosecutors say this was criminally reckless behavior.

Today's hearing before Marathon County Circuit Judge Vincent Howard was to determine whether the family was indigent and eligible for court-appointed attorneys.

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UPDATED Wednesday, April 30 --- 1:40pm

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has allowed parents accused of reckless homicide in their 11-year-old daughter's death to stay out of jail on signature and property bonds totaling $450,000.

Dale and Leilani Neumann are charged second-degree reckless homicide in the Easter Sunday death of their daughter, Madeline, at the family's rural Weston home.

Prosecutors say the parents prayed for their daughter while she got progressively ill from undiagnosed diabetes instead of taking her to a doctor.

The parents made their initial appearance Wednesday in Marathon County Circuit Court with their attorney, Gene Linehan.

Judge Vincent Howard set a preliminary hearing for June 10 and ordered the attorneys involved not to talk about the case.

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UPDATED Monday, April 28 --- 6:10pm

WESTON, Wis. (AP) -- Parents who prayed as their 11-year-old daughter died of untreated diabetes were charged today with second-degree reckless homicide.

According to the criminal complaint, the father considered the illness "a test of faith" and the mother never considered taking the girl to the doctor because she thought her daughter was under a "spiritual attack."

Dale and Leilani Neumann of rural Weston face up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the charges in the death of their daughter Madeline.

The girl died Easter Sunday at the family's home. An autopsy determined she died from undiagnosed diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment that left her with too little insulin in her body.

Court records say the girl likely had some symptoms of the disease for several weeks and months.

The Neumanns are due to make their initial court appearance Wednesday.

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Posted Monday, April 28 --- 1:20pm

WESTON, Wis. (AP) -- Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad says she will charge the parents who prayed as their 11-year-old daughter died of untreated diabetes with second-degree reckless homicide.

Dale and Leilani Neumann are being charged in the Easter Sunday death of their daughter, Madeline, at the family's rural Weston home.

Falstad announced the charges Monday during a news conference at Everest Metro Police Department with Chief Dan Vergin. She says the parents' failure to get medical care for their daughter created an unreasonable risk of death or great harm.

An autopsy determined Madeline -- called Kara by her parents -- died from an undiagnosed ailment that left her with too little insulin in her body.

Leilani Neumann has said the family believes in the Bible and that healing comes from God.

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Posted by: Brenda on May 12, 2008 at 12:28 PM
GOOD! Ihope the book is thrown at them. Set a presidence and an example there. So sick and tired of religion being an "easy out" for people. Give them life in jail.

Posted by: G Location: everywhere on May 7, 2008 at 02:10 PM
What freedom of religion? The only thing I've seen in the past 20 years has been...freedom to force religion on us. These people were brainwashed and are no different than the cult in Texas. There is no freedom of religion without free thinking. If your religious leaders do not allow for debate, you are in the wrong church. People need common sense to go with their faith. This combination obviously would have saved their daughter's life.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 7, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Sometimes religious people can be so selfish! "I believe this snf I don't care who suffers while I prove it!" MORONS!! I bet if they themselves were sick like that they would have gone to the doctor! They will hire an attorney. Why don't they just pray for the "Perfect Outcome." For, "Divine intervention!" MORONS! If they won't pay for a doc, why are they paying for an attorney? Oh, because they might have to sell some of their stuff if they are convicted. So let's see: Money is more important that their daughter. Their pride is more important than their daughter. How many commandments do we have to go?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 7, 2008 at 12:42 PM
They should make an example of these idiots right along with the county employee who just killed her baby. That crap makes me sick!

Posted by: Pete Location: Portage on Apr 29, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Its about time! However, the case will present some interesting legal issues involving freedom of religion.

Posted by: me Location: madison on Apr 29, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Holy roller freaks. What a load of garbage!

Posted by: Christian Location: wi on Apr 29, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Yes there is a GOD! I believe that God listens to our prayers and gives us doctors and medicine to heal. These parents made a bad choice and only GOD will be there final judge in the end!

Posted by: jj Location: pds on Apr 29, 2008 at 06:15 AM
I think there may be some mental illness in the parents. I'm not sure charging them is the right thing, I don't think there was intent. It certainly is a tragedy, but I still think there are real criminals out there that the courts need to focus on.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 28, 2008 at 06:36 PM
I prayed they would get charged-ha ha ha They should be charged

Posted by: C Location: Madison on Apr 28, 2008 at 04:40 PM
What the heck is 2nd degree reckless homicide?

Posted by: anonymous on Apr 28, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I believe that healing does come from God, but I think he gives us healing in the form of medicine. He gives people the knowledge to come up with cures or medicine for disease, and we should use them!

Posted by: D Location: Madison on Apr 28, 2008 at 04:14 PM
This is crap, they should not be charged. I thought we separated church and state a long time ago. They must smoke or something.

Posted by: Beth Location: Madison on Apr 28, 2008 at 03:33 PM
GOOD!!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 28, 2008 at 02:38 PM
lol there is no god. when will people learn that. no ones ever been healed by god or the lord. i hope they go to prison for a long long time. how u gonna just sit there and watch your child slowly die. thats disgusting.

Posted by: TIM on Apr 28, 2008 at 02:37 PM
They should! PERIOD! There is a fine line with praying and when a person needs medical attention. You get your medical attention first, Then you start praying. Anyone who thinks otherwise, I suggest you get yourself some help. Seek it!!