Kara Neumann case
Encyclopedia
The Kara Neumann case was an incident in which parents of a sick child refused to treat her with anything other than prayer
, resulting in the child's death. The 11-year-old child, Madeline Kara Neumann, of Weston, Wisconsin
, died of undiagnosed diabetes on March 23, 2008 after Kara's parents, Leilani and Dale Neumann knelt in prayer beside their dying daughter instead of seeking medical help. The parents were charged with second-degree reckless homicide by the Marathon County
District Attorney.
Dale and Leilani Neumann were convicted by jury of second-degree reckless homicide
on May 22, 2009 and August 1, 2009, respectively.
They faced sentences of up to 25 years in prison. Their attorneys said they would appeal the verdicts.
On October 6, 2009 both parents were sentenced to 10 years of probation, with 6 months jail time stayed pending appeal.
Kara Neumann's case has sparked renewed discussion about faith healing
in the United States
.
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, resulting in the child's death. The 11-year-old child, Madeline Kara Neumann, of Weston, Wisconsin
Weston, Wisconsin
Weston is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, died of undiagnosed diabetes on March 23, 2008 after Kara's parents, Leilani and Dale Neumann knelt in prayer beside their dying daughter instead of seeking medical help. The parents were charged with second-degree reckless homicide by the Marathon County
Marathon County, Wisconsin
Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 134,063. Its county seat is Wausau.-Geography:...
District Attorney.
Dale and Leilani Neumann were convicted by jury of second-degree reckless homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
on May 22, 2009 and August 1, 2009, respectively.
They faced sentences of up to 25 years in prison. Their attorneys said they would appeal the verdicts.
On October 6, 2009 both parents were sentenced to 10 years of probation, with 6 months jail time stayed pending appeal.
Kara Neumann's case has sparked renewed discussion about faith healing
Faith healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.