Vergin: Neumann Investigation Complete, Case to Go to District Attorney's Office
Vergin: Neumann Investigation Complete, Case to Go to District Attorney's Office Save Email Print
Posted: 11:44 AM Mar 28, 2008
Last Updated: 4:06 PM Apr 28, 2008
Reporter: WSAW Staff

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The investigation into the death of an 11-year-old Weston girl from untreated diabetes is now complete, according to Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin.

The case is expected to go to the Marathon County District Attorney's office in the next few days.

Whether Madeline Neumann's parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, will be charged will be up to District Attorney Jill Falstad.

Part of the investigation included a search of the family's home.

In addition to laptop computers and several religious items, journals the family was keeping were taken, one of which is titled "Kara's Journal."

Kara was Madeline's middle name.

58 items were taken, according to a document provided to NewsChannel 7 by the Everest Metro Police Department.

Click here to read the entire search warrant and evidence list (note: file is large).

Neumann died the afternoon of Sunday, March 23 and was pronounced dead at the hospital after a relative in California alerted Marathon County that the girl may have gone into a coma.

According to police, the girl's parents had chosen to pray for her to get better instead of getting her medical help.

Friends at the girl's home then made a 911 call, telling a dispatcher the girl wasn't breathing.

Former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske says a possible criminal charge in the case could be second-degree reckless homicide, which requires proof of "recklessly causing the death of another human being."

But she says Wisconsin law says parents cannot be accused of abuse or neglect of a child if in good faith they selected prayer as a basis of treatment for a disease.

Virgin also says the parents' three other children - ages 13, 14 and 17 - are now staying with relatives.

He says the move was reached between the parents and social services experts.

The children have been checked out by doctors and are physically fine, according to Vergin.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Posted by: ken Location: stevens point on Apr 28, 2008 at 05:06 PM
the parent should be charged with 1st degree murder since they did not take the girl to the doctor

Posted by: Joel Location: Wash DC on Apr 10, 2008 at 11:46 AM
The most henious things in history have been cuased by the best intentions. These parents should at the minimum loose there children. I personally think they should both go to jail. Man 2 baby.

Posted by: A.C. Chase Location: US on Mar 31, 2008 at 09:33 AM
We are judged by our actions, not out intentions. The actions, or inactions, of the Neumanns directly resulted in the death of their daughter. Any truly moral society would defend Madeline Neumann and hold her parents accountable for their actions. Blind faith in the supernatural (see: God, religion, etc.) should not be allowed to be used as a defense for murder or allowed to trivialize our society’s system of law and general morality. An individual’s right to be superstitious ends where the rights of other begin. Madeline Neumann had a dangerous but very treatable illness and suffered for over a month because her parents were irresponsible and criminally negligent. They took here right to life and treatment by reasonable means away from their daughter and should at least be charged with involuntary manslaughter. You can believe any foolish thing you want until such point as it hurts others. It killed an 11 year old girl in this instance. To excuse this would be an outrage to reason.

Posted by: Steph Location: wausau on Mar 29, 2008 at 09:05 PM
I am a believer in God. I also believe that God can heal people even in life-threatening situations. In this instance I would have seeked medical attention personally for my children. However, I do understand people wanting to go about healing the natural way. I don't know the circumstances exactly so I am not going to judge them based on what I have heard, nor is it my place to judge. I have seen God perform miracles in my own life and have heard stories of miracles in other's lives. Just because God did not heal this girl doesn't mean he never heals anyone. God chose not to heal her for a reason, no one knows what that reason is, but it was part of his plan.

Posted by: Marcie Location: Wausau on Mar 28, 2008 at 11:56 PM
I think that what happened to this girl is terrible. (I am also diabetic) However, I believe that there are two sides to every story and that the media is not always forthcoming with all the details. I do not advocate their method of treatment but they should not be burned at the stake until all the facts are out. I am sure that they did not want her to die. It is not as if they knew what illness she had THEN decided to opt for prayer. Lets keep an open mind here.

Posted by: tracy Location: rothschild on Mar 28, 2008 at 07:43 PM
i am very sad for the girl that pasted away because there parents refused to get her medical help. i believe in god but I also know that god can not fix a disease. I think those parents should pay for what they did but of course because of there religion they will get away with killing there daughter. with medical help she would still be alive today. You have them one people go to jail for not feeding there animals but these people killed there daughter and that is ok? i have 6 kids and one of them that has to have heart surgery and i sure the heck am not going to sit here and say i will pray to make her better knowing that will not work.those parents are sick in the head and need help.

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