Another child has died because his parents put faith ahead of common sense:

Their son, 16-year-old Neil Jeffrey Beagley, died June 17 of complications from a urinary-tract blockage. A deputy state medical examiner said the boy apparently suffered for years from the intensely painful but medically treatable condition. The blockage ultimately caused kidney failure, uremic poisoning and heart failure, according to autopsy results. When Neil Beagley died at his grandmother’s Gladstone home, he was surrounded by dozens of church and family members. Some of those present told police that Neil Beagley, despite his prolonged suffering, chose faith healing over medical care. … After Beagley died, a medical examiner ruled his death could have been prevented had his family taken him to a doctor. Based upon findings from the grand jury, the Clackamas County Circuit Court issued arrest warrants Wednesday for Jeffrey Dean Beagley and Marci Rae Beagley in connection with their son’s death.

Today, Neil’s parents turned themselves in to authorities. They face charges of “criminally negligent homicide.”

This death shouldn’t be a shock to their church. They’re used to their youth dying unnecessarily:

According to a 1998 analysis by The Oregonian, at least 21 of the dozens of children buried since the 1950s in the Followers of Christ church cemetery south of Oregon City could have been saved by medical intervention. None of the deaths from that era resulted in prosecution.

Let’s hope the parents get locked away for a long time and at least some members of the church come to their senses and get the hell out of there.

(Thanks to Nick for the link.)



