UPDATED Tuesday, June 9, 2009 --- 10:50 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- The mother convicted of reckless homicide for praying while her daughter became gravely ill and died of undiagnosed diabetes will be sentenced Oct. 6.

A Marathon County jury convicted 41-year-old Leilani Neumann, of rural Weston, of second-degree reckless homicide on May 22 for failing to rush 11-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann to a doctor.

The girl died of untreated diabetes in March 2008. Prosecutors convinced a jury the mother recklessly killed the girl by ignoring obvious symptoms until it was too late.

Judge Vincent Howard set the sentencing date during a brief court hearing Tuesday.

The maximum punishment for the conviction is 25 years in prison.

The child's father, Dale Neumann, is also charged with second-degree reckless homicide. His trial begins July 23.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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UPDATED Tuesday, May 26, 2009 --- 11:45 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- The mother convicted of allowing her daughter to die while the woman prayed for healing says the verdict shows how much more work needs to be done in her fight for religious freedom.

A Marathon County jury convicted 41-year-old Leilani Neumann, of rural Weston, of second-degree reckless homicide for failing to get medical help for 11-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann. The girl died of untreated diabetes in March 2008.

Neumann did not react following the verdict Friday, but issued a statement over the Memorial Day weekend.

Neumann says she did was she thought was lawful. She says "the real issue is our local and national government is turning more and more anti-God."

The child's father, Dale Neumann, will face his own trial in July on a charge of second-degree reckless homicide.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Saturday, May 23, 2009 --- 9:05 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — A jury in Wausau has found a mother guilty of reckless homicide of her 11-year-old daughter because she prayed instead of taking the girl for medical treatment.

Madeline Neumann died from untreated diabetes on Easter Sunday of last year.

Now her mother, 41-year-old Leilani Neumann of rural Weston has been convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in the death. The charge carries up to 25 years in prison.

No sentencing date is set. Neumann remains free on bond.

Jurors declined to talk with reporters. District Attorney Jill Falstad declined comment because Neumann's husband Dale faces trial on the same charge in July.

Defense lawyer Gene Linehan says there will be an appeal.

Neumann's stepfather, Brian Gordon of San Diego, says he's disappointed by the verdict and the jury was mistaken. He says his stepdaughter did nothing wrong in trusting in God to heal her daughter.

The courtroom was quiet and there was no outburst when the verdict was read. Leilani Neumann showed no emotion and walked out of the courtroom clutching her husband and declined comment.

Her three children sat in the front row looking stunned.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Friday May 22, 2009---4:45 pm

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A jury has found a central Wisconsin woman guilty of second-degree reckless homicide for praying instead of rushing her daughter to the doctor.

Forty-one-year-old Leilani Neumann was convicted Friday in her 11-year-old daughter Madeline's March 2008 death from untreated diabetes at their rural Weston home.

Prosecutors contend a reasonable parent would have known something was wrong with Madeline. They say her mother recklessly killed her by ignoring obvious symptoms, such as she couldn't walk or talk.

Neumann told a detective in a videotaped interview played Wednesday at her trial that the Lord was going to take care of her daughter and all she needed was prayer.

She faces up to 25 years in prison.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Friday, May 22, 2009 --- 11:10 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A prosecutor says a mother who prayed instead of seeking care for her dying daughter is a religious extremist.

Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad says 41-year-old Leilani Neumann allowed her 11-year-old daughter Madeline to die of untreated diabetes as a test of her faith.

Neumann has been charged with second-degree reckless homicide in Madeline's March 2008 death at the family's rural Weston home.

Defense attorney Gene Linehan says Falstad's claim is ridiculous. He says Muslim terrorists are religious extremists. He says the Neumanns are good Christians who tried to save their daughter and didn't know she was that ill.

The jury will begin deliberations Friday after receiving its instructions.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, May 21, 2009 --- 10:05 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- The defense has rested its case without calling any witnesses in the trial of a rural Weston woman who prayed instead of getting medical care for her dying daughter.

Forty-one-year-old Leilani Neumann has been charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the March 2008 death of her daughter Madeline from untreated diabetes.

Judge Vincent Howard ordered the trial to recess until Friday morning.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case earlier Thursday, calling as their last witness a pediatrician who treated Madeline after she was rushed to a Wausau area hospital.

Dr. Joseph Monaco says medical staff spent about 50 minutes trying to revive Madeline, even her heart had stopped. He says her diabetes could have been treated if she'd been brought in earlier.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, May 20, 2009 --- 10:34 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A woman who saw an 11-year-old girl just hours before she died of diabetes says she was shocked by the girl's condition but never considered advising the family to get her to a doctor.

Jennifer Peaslee testified Wednesday in the trial of Leilani Neumann.

Neumann is charged with second-degree reckless homicide for praying instead of seeking medical care for her daughter Madeline. The child died March 23, 2008, from untreated diabetes.

Peaslee says she saw Madeline that morning, laying on a bathroom floor unconscious. She says she knew the parents wouldn't take her to a doctor because they believe the Lord can heal.

Peaslee says she prayed with the family and read Scriptures around the girl and left convinced God was going to heal the child.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, May 19, 2009 --- 10:55 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A one-time friend of a mother accused of homicide for praying while her daughter died says the mother believed that people get sick because they are sinning.

Althea Wormgoor took the witness stand Tuesday in the second day of the trial of Leilani Neumann. She is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in her daughter Madeline's March 23, 2008, death in rural Weston.

Wormgoor testified that just before the girl died, Neumann put her arms in the air in prayer and praised God for being able to heal diabetes and cancer and make the girl 10 times better in the future.

Wormgoor says Neumann prayed that God was going to show his power in healing the child.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, May 18, 2009 --- 11:25 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A family member says that a day before an 11-year-old girl died of untreated diabetes, her mother felt the spirit of death in the home.

Susan Neumann was the first witness to testify Monday in the trial of Leilani Neumann, who is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in her daughter Madeline's March 23, 2008, death.

Leilani Neumann is on trial because she prayed for her daughter instead of seeking medical help for her. Susan Neumann is Leilani Neumann's sister-in-law.

Susan Neumann told the jury she talked to Leilani Neumann two days after Madeline died.

She says Leilani Neumann told her she felt the spirit of death when she came home from work March 22 and was relieved to touch her daughter and realize she was still alive.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Friday, May 15, 2009 --- 2:30 p.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A jury has been picked for the trial of a central Wisconsin woman accused of praying while her daughter died of undiagnosed diabetes.

Leilani Neumann is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in her daughter Madeline's Easter 2008 death. Prosecutors claim Neumann had a responsibility to take her gravely ill daughter to a doctor.

A panel of 14 jurors, including two alternates, was chosen Friday following two days of individual interviews. There are seven men and seven women.

Opening statements are planned Saturday. The trial is expected to last several days.

The 41-year-old mother has said the family believes in the Bible, which says healing comes from God, and she never expected her daughter to die.

Her husband is also charged with second-degree reckless homicide. His trial starts July 23.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Sunday, May 10, 2009 --- 5:55 p.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — Jury selection begins Thursday in the trial of a central Wisconsin mother accused of praying while her daughter died of undiagnosed diabetes.

Leilani Neumann is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in daughter Madeline's Easter 2008 death at their rural Weston home. Prosecutors say Neumann had a duty to take her sick daughter to a doctor.

The 41-year-old mother has said the family believes in the Bible, which says healing comes from God, and she never expected her daughter to die.

A jury from Marathon County is being picked and the trial is expected to last through the next week.

Clerk of Courts Diane Sennholz says questionnaires were sent to 250 potential jurors.

The girl's father's trial starts July 23.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Friday, April 3, 2009 --- 3:35 p.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- The attorneys for parents accused of praying instead of seeking medical care for their dying daughter are asking a judge to find Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad in contempt.

Attorneys for Dale and Leilani Neumann say the couple haven't been able to get their personal property back despite repeated requests. Authorities seized journals, computers and other items after their 11-year-old daughter died March 23, 2008, from untreated diabetes.

Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Howard had ordered the property returned by Tuesday.

But a motion filed Thursday says the couple's computers were still at the State Crime Lab in Madison on Tuesday and Falstad hadn't authorized other items' release.

The Neumanns have been charged with reckless homicide.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Friday, March 20, 2009 --- 10:30 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- The attorney for the mother accused of reckless homicide for praying instead of taking her 11-year-old daughter to a doctor says his client has run out of money to defend herself.

Attorney Gene Linehan told a judge Friday that Leilani Neumann of Weston has already spent $12,000 in donations on her legal expenses and can't hire needed expert witnesses for her May trial.

Linehan says all Neumann has now is a law book and Bible to defend herself.

Neumann and her husband, Dale, are charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the Easter death of their daughter, Madeline, from undiagnosed diabetes.

Judge Vincent Howard told Leilani Neumann to seek help from state public defenders and report back to him.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, December 22, 2008 --- 3:00 p.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has set separate trials for parents accused of reckless homicide for praying instead of taking their 11-year-old daughter to a doctor as she died of undiagnosed diabetes.

Marathon County Circuit Judge Vincent Howard on Monday set Leilani Neumann's trial to begin May 14 and her husband Dale's for July 23.

Jay Kronenwetter, an attorney for the parents, says both trials are expected to take at least a week.

The parents are charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the Easter death of their daughter, Madeline, at their home in Weston.

Prosecutors say the girl was too weak to speak, eat, drink or walk and the parents had a legal duty to seek medical care instead of just praying for her.

The maximum punishment for the charge is 25 years in prison.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, December 18, 2008 --- 7:30 p.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A judge says he's ready to schedule the trial of parents accused of reckless homicide for praying instead of taking their 11-year-old daughter to a doctor as she died of undiagnosed diabetes.

Jay Kronenwetter, one of the attorneys for Dale and Leilani Neumann, said Thursday that Marathon County Circuit Judge Vincent Howard's refusal to dismiss the charges on constitutional grounds will not be appealed.

Kronenwetter says the parents want a trial within 90 days.

Howard says a hearing with attorneys is planned Monday to schedule a trial.

The Neumanns have pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless homicide, which carries a maximum punishment of 25 years in prison.

Their daughter, Madeline, died at their Weston home on Easter after becoming too weak to speak, eat, drink or walk.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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UPDATED Sunday, November 30, 2008 --- 11:50 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A judge is expected to decide this week whether to dismiss reckless homicide charges against parents accused of praying instead of seeking a doctor's care as their 11-year-old daughter died of untreated diabetes.

Marathon County Circuit Judge Vincent Howard has said that courts in two states have tossed out similar cases while courts in two other states allowed them to go to trial.

Dale and Leilani Neumann have pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless homicide. Their attorneys want the charges dismissed on constitutional grounds.

Prosecutors say the couple's daughter, Madeline, died at their Weston home on Easter after becoming too weak to speak, eat, drink or walk. They claim the girl likely had symptoms for weeks that should have prompted the parents to seek medical treatment.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 --- 10:30 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A couple accused of letting their 11-year-old daughter die of untreated diabetes has pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless homicide.

Dale and Leilani Neumann did not speak during their arraignment Tuesday in Marathon County Circuit Court. Their attorneys entered not guilty pleas for them.

The Weston couple were charged after their daughter Kara died of untreated diabetes on Easter. The family had prayed for her instead of seeking medical care.

Leilani Neumann has said the family believes in the Bible, which says healing comes from God, and she never expected her daughter to die.

She and her husband face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

A judge recently ordered biweekly check ups for the Neumanns' three surviving children to make sure they get any needed medical care.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.