Parents charged with manslaughter in daughter's death

KATU, Oregon/August 29, 2013

Albany, Oregon -- An Albany couple has been charged with manslaughter in the death of their 12-year-old daughter.

Travis Rossiter, 39, and Wenona Rossiter, 37, were charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter.

Police responded to a call on Feb. 5 that the couple’s daughter Syble had died.

"They belonged to a belief system called the Church of the First Born," said Capt. Eric Carter of the Albany Police Department. "I'll let you do your own research."

Last September, ABC reported on the death of 16-year-old Austin Sprout of Creswell, Ore., whose parents were members of the Church of the First Born and pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in his death.

In the Rossiters's case, detectives investigated for several months and determined the couple withheld necessary and adequate medical attention for Syble, resulting in her death, Carter said.

Carter said he was unable to elaborate on what caused Syble's death.

"What our investigation focused on was that it was a treatable condition," he said.

In the Sprout case, an autopsy found the boy died of an infection caused by a burst appendix. ABC reported that the church echews modern medicine in favor of following a bible passage that says the sick should be prayed over and annointed with oil.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.