A mother accused of praying instead of seeking medical help for her dying 11-year-old daughter was found guilty Friday of second-degree reckless homicide.
A Marathon County jury deliberated for about four hours before convicting Leilani Neumann, 41, of rural Weston, of second-degree reckless homicide. The crime is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. No sentencing date was set and Neumann remained free on bond.
Neumann declined to comment after the verdict was announced.
Her daughter, Madeline Neumann, died of untreated diabetes March 23, 2008, surrounded by people praying for her. When she suddenly stopped breathing, her parents' business and Bible study partners finally called 911.
Prosecutors said a reasonable parent would have known something was wrong with Madeline. They said her mother recklessly killed her by ignoring obvious symptoms, such as her inability to walk or talk.
"Obviously, there will be an appeal," defense lawyer Gene Linehan said after the verdict.
Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad declined to comment after the verdict because Neumann's husband, Dale, faces the same charge and was scheduled to stand trial in July.
During closing arguments, Falstad described Neumann as a religious zealot who let her daughter, called Kara by her parents, die as a test of faith.
"Basic medical care would have saved Kara's life — fluids and insulin," Falstad said. "There was plenty of time to save Kara's life."
Linehan said Neumann didn't realize her daughter was so ill and did all she could do to help, in line with the family's belief in faith-healing.
He said Neumann was a devout Christian who prays about everything and took good care of her four children.
"Religious extremism is a Muslim terrorist," Linehan said. "They are saying these parents were so far off the scale that they murdered their child. The woman did everything she could to help her. That is the injustice in this case."
Neumann's stepfather, Brian Gordon, said his stepdaughter did nothing wrong in trusting in God to heal her daughter.
"We should have that right in this country," he said.
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