OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) Law enforcement officials are investigating the death of a child born Saturday (Sept. 26) to members of an Oregon City faith-healing church.
Authorities said the child died without receiving emergency medical treatment, a scenario that has played out many times among members of the Followers of Christ church.
The infant was born Saturday afternoon at a home near Oregon City and died there early Sunday morning, said Clackamas County sheriff’s office spokesman Jim Strovink.
The child lived for about nine hours. It is unclear what the child’s medical condition was, or how it may have changed, during that time. The cause of death was not disclosed, and the parents were not identified.
The death comes just days after a member of the church was released from jail after serving a little less than two months for second-degree criminal mistreatment in the 2008 death of his 15-month-old daughter.
Strovink would not say whether the parents of the latest child are Followers, but other law enforcement officials confirmed that they belong to the 1,300-member congregation, which is known for rejecting doctors and medical care in favor of prayer, anointing and the laying on of hands.
Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the death because it occurred at a home with no doctor or trained medical personnel present.
A key question for investigators is whether the infant would have survived if the family had called for emergency medical assistance. If the parents were medically negligent, they could face criminal charges.
An autopsy was performed Sunday, but the results have not been released.
Results of the investigation will be forwarded to prosecutors, who will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote said his office “is very involved in the investigation, and it’s going to be very thorough.” He declined further comment.
(OPTIONAL TRIM FOLLOWS)
Child deaths among church members became a high-profile concern a decade ago after news stories highlighted dozens of preventable deaths that occurred since the 1950s. Legislators eliminated Oregon’s “spiritual-healing defense” in 1999 in certain cases of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment.
This summer, Raylene and Carl Worthington were tried in the death of their 15-month-old daughter, Ava, who died of bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection.
Prosecutors said the Worthingtons ignored serious symptoms that would prompt any reasonable parent to call a doctor or 9-1-1. The Worthingtons said they believed Ava had a bad cold or the flu and that their prayers were effective.
A jury acquitted the Worthingtons of second-degree manslaughter but convicted Carl Worthington of criminal mistreatment. He was released from jail on Sept. 22.
Raylene Worthington’s parents, Jeff and Marci Beagley, face trial in January. The Beagleys are charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of their 16-year-old son, Neil, who died of an untreated medical condition a few months after Ava.
(Steve Mayes writes for The Oregonian.)
