UPDATE::Jury: Parents Guilty of Manslaughter | KEZI (w/ Petition)

An update to this story

Even just a few years ago this verdict may have been different or not come to trial at all. (Idaho has what are called "religious shield laws" that prevent prosecution of medical neglect by faith healing parents - see petition below.) I am glad that individuals and juries are beginning to see the damage that belief in a sky daddy can bring. More so when you consider how that belief can be perverted by men and women of the cloth

The Rossiters belonged to the Church of the First Born which shuns medical care as it is seen as a weakness in faith, that God will heal.Travis Rossiter admitted he believes it was a sin to see a doctor. Wenona Rossiter argued they were not aware that Syble had type one diabetes. And to be clear, Syble, died last year from diabetic ketoacidosis, a painful and agonizing means of death;. This girl wasted away for weeks with the parents knowing that medicines can save a life but chose belief in a fictitious sky daddy instead.

After four hours of deliberating Monday evening, a Linn County jury found both Wenona and Travis Rossiter guilty of manslaughter in the first and second degree.

The couple is accused of recklessly and negligently causing the death of their 12-year-old daughter Syble last year, who died from diabetic ketoacidosis. The state argues the parents should have been aware of the girl’s health problems, and that a reasonable person would have sought medical care. The Rossiters claim they thought their daughter had the flu, which is why they did not bring her to a doctor.

Jury: Parents Guilty of Manslaughter | KEZI

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS IMPORTANT PETITION:

Idaho Governor Butch Otter. Remove religious shield laws that prevent prosecution of child abuse due to medical neglect by faith healing parents. 

Children born into the Followers of Christ church in Idaho are dying. Over 12 children have died in less than two years due to faith healing. A death rate of approx. 30% higher than the rest of the state. Their only medical care is prayer and anointing with olive oil. Their deaths can only be described as ritualistic sacrifices. The children are permitted to die as a way to show the congregation how strong the faith of the parent is.To seek medical help is perceived to show weakness and is therefore not tolerated.

Adults simply stand by and watch until the last breath is taken.

There are no attempts to resuscitate.

I am only one of many children who have suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of this church. I personally have attended over 100 funerals of these members, about one quarter of the dead are children. The picture of the baby on the petition is only one of the dead. He is the first of four children to be buried by my aunt and uncle. He was stillborn. His mother never received any type of prenatal care.

Every day that the religious shield laws remain in the law books means another child will die. Help me save the kids.

UPDTAE::Opening arguments heard in faith healing couple's manslaughter trial

An update to this story.

Opening arguments were heard in Linn County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon in the jury trial of an Albany couple — who believe in faith-healing and shun traditional medical care — that are accused of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter for the death of their daughter.

Syble Rossiter, 12, a Calapooia Middle School student, died in February 2013 from diabetes complications.

While the prosecution portrayed Travis and Wenona Rossiter as unwilling to provide adequate medical care for their daughter under any circumstances, defense attorneys said the couple thought their child merely had the flu.

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On the day of her death, Syble Rossiter was extremely thirsty and dehydrated, vomited and urinated out everything she took into her system, got so weak she couldn’t stand, and her parents even bought her adult diapers to wear, Stein said.
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He said the child also appeared emaciated and a concerned teacher even talked to Wenona Rossiter about it.
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In interviews with detectives, the parents said that, based on their beliefs, they wouldn’t have done anything different.

Travis Rossiter told a detective if his daughter had asked to go to a hospital, he would have tried to talk her out of it, Stein said.

He also told a detective that doctors are for people who don’t believe strongly enough in God, Stein added.

Opening arguments heard in faith healing couple's manslaughter trial

UPDATE::Religious beliefs can be used in manslaughter case, judge rules

I am surprised but yet pleased by this ruling. As I wrote back in April, this judge ruled in favor of a defense request to exclude information about the death of Wenona Rossiter’s brother at trial and also ruled against allowing evidence of prior bad acts regarding a lack of medical care for Syble Rossiter.

A judge ruled last week that religious beliefs and practices can be used as evidence in the manslaughter trials of Travis and Wenona Rossiter, an Albany couple accused of depriving their 12-year-old daughter of life-saving medical care.

“The court cannot find that evidence of a religious motive is more prejudicial in this case than the absence of such evidence,” wrote Judge Daniel Murphy, in his May 20 opinion letter.

He added that if the Rossiters religious beliefs compelled their conduct, than this was a form of motive evidence and relevant.

Murphy called the defense’s tactic of trying to prevent evidence of religious beliefs “unusual.”

Without their religious convictions, the Rossiter’s actions appear “wanton and grossly reckless,” Murphy wrote.

Religious beliefs can be used in manslaughter case, judge rules

Couple accused in death of daughter, 12, seek to exclude mention of faith healing

There are a few troubling points with regards to this story as presented.

"My client is requesting he be tried for the actions of that day, not for his religious beliefs.” (Tim Felling, Travis Rossiter’s attorney.)

First thought that comes to mind, why should they feel they need to hide their religious beliefs, Are Christians being persecuted in this country? Or are they ashamed of their belief?

To Felling's statement, that day? People don't die of diabetes overnight.

What is disgusting in this case, the judge (Daniel Murphy) may allow this tactic as he has already ruled that the jury is to be kept unaware of the death of Wenona Rossiter’s (the mother in the current case) brother, Anthony AND also ruled against allowing evidence of prior bad acts regarding a lack of medical care for Syble Rossiter. “It doesn’t prove they acted recklessly in this case,” he said.

Murphy ruled in favor of a defense request to exclude information about the death of Wenona Rossiter’s brother at trial.

Anthony Hays, 7, died of leukemia in 1994, after his parents failed to provide medical care for him.
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Murphy said the two children died of completely separate causes, so he didn’t see the relevance.

The relevance, in this family, there is a pattern of criminal religious misconduct that is killing kids. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree and the fact that she learned nothing from the death of her own brother is troublesome. The Rossiters have two other children.



Couple accused in death of daughter, 12, seek to exclude mention of faith healing