Parents found guilty in faith-healing case

Syble Rossiter, 12, died in February 2013

KOIN 6 News, Oregon/ November 10, 2014

Albany, Oregon -- A jury found the Albany parents of a 12-year-old girl guilty Monday evening for turning to prayer rather than medicine to treat their dying daughter.

KEZI reports that after four hours of deliberating, the jury found both Wenona and Travis Rossiter guilty of manslaughter in the first and second degree.

The Rossiters are members of the Church of the First Born, whose members believe traditional medical treatment is sinful.

Their daughter, Syble Rossiter, was 12 when she died in February 2013 after being deprived of life-saving medical care for diabetes.

Their lawyers argued their beliefs should be excluded as prejudicial – that they should be tried for their actions rather than their beliefs.

In May, Judge Daniel Murphy ruled that if their beliefs compelled their actions, that’s a form of motive evidence.

The trial began earlier Tuesday and concluded with the guilty verdict Monday evening. The Rossiters will be sentenced next month, according to KEZI.

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