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NEW INFO: Marathon Co. Judge Sets Bond at $250,000 for Parents of Girl Who Died of Untreated Diabetes Save Email Print
Posted: 4:27 AM Apr 30, 2008
Last Updated: 1:02 PM Apr 30, 2008
Reporter: WSAW Staff

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A Marathon County judge has set bond worth $200,000 for the parents of the 11-year-old Weston girl who died of an untreated diabetic condition because they opted to pray over her instead of seeking medical attention.

Because Dale and Leilani Neumann do not have sufficient liquid assets, a $50,000 property signature bond was also set on one of their two homes.

Preparation of the property is to begin within 10 days.

The Neumanns made their initial court appearance Wednesday morning.

They are charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the death of their daughter, Madeline, on Easter Sunday.

Their three other children have been returned to their home, but Dale and Leilani have been ordered to abide by a child safety plan issued by the Department of Social Services.

The couple is also requesting separate attorneys to represent them - a hearing regarding this motion has been scheduled for May 7.

A preliminary hearing has been set for June 10.

If convicted, the Neumanns could be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison, be fined $100,000, or both.

Dale and Leilani are not allowed to leave the state of Wisconsin.

The judge also issued a gag order, meaning the attorneys cannot talk about the case to the media.

Court records say Madeline likely had some symptoms for several weeks or even months.

The criminal complaint says that as the girl's health faltered in the final days, the parents were convinced that prayer would cure her, but instead she died at their home. An autopsy found the death was from a treatable type of diabetes that left her with too little insulin in her body.

Click here to read the entire criminal complaint (Note: files are very large and may take a long time to load.)

A religious group called Unleavened Bread Ministries defends the Neumanns on its web site, saying state law exempts parents who provide treatment with prayer.

But prosecutors say the death could have been prevented with medical intervention.

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Posted by: ****** Location: Wausau on May 1, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I am very saddened by this story. It is such a sad thing that this little girl had to taken from her life so soon. I think that these parents should have been more concerned with their daughters life. Just because they say that their religion is to pray and not seek medical attention doesn't mean they shouldn't have. If they truly wanted their daughter to be healed they should have taken her to the hospital to seek medical treatment. I believe that the parents need to serve some time for what they did(or didn't do)because this little girl could still be living.

Posted by: Yolanda Location: Wausau on May 1, 2008 at 09:01 AM
What a sad story and such a waste that this poor girl had to die. Do these parents pray that God gives them their daily bread by having it suddenly appear on their table? No - God provides it by means. Someone had to grow the wheat, grind it, ship it, make it into bread and sell it. Our health is the same way, God provides us with people who can help us get well. Yes, miracles do happen, but it's a shame these parents didn't understand that God's hand provides the means for the things we need.

Posted by: Marie Location: Modesto, CA on Apr 30, 2008 at 12:59 PM
People have commented in other places that these people are being "persecuted." There is a help site set up to ask for donations for their defense. I don't understand that. By their own admission their daughter had been sick for weeks, eventually was laboring to breathe, the day before she died was unable to walk or talk then slipped into a coma the day of her death. Where was the help site for this little girl?! Would anyone say the parents were being "persecuted" if the girl had been a toddler who had slipped into a pool and was drowning and the parents sat by the side of the pool and prayed for God to rescue her instead of jumping in and getting her out? There is no difference. These parents sat and watched and prayed as their daughter slipped visibly into death when all they had to do was reach out for minimal, routine, easily found medical help to save her. They let her "drown" instead of "pulling her out."

Posted by: Renee Location: NY on Apr 30, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I was so upset when I read this story. My son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and at the onset he became so physically ill, and was originally misdiagnosed and almost died. As much as I prayed I knew he needed medical intervention...and I have no idea what kind of parent can watch their child die and now live with the fact that they did not do everything in their power to prevent it..... My heart and prayers go out to this young life taken way to soon. I have not slept in days just knowing how agonizing her death must have been for her.