Latest news with #RachelPiland
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Michigan couple, believing prayer would cure baby, gets at least 20 years for child's death
A religious Michigan couple were each sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for the murder of their baby girl after they chose prayer over urgent medical care. A jury found Joshua Piland, 44, and Rachel Piland, 38, guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse following a trial in March, ending an eight-year criminal case against the pair. On Wednesday, both were sentenced by a judge to 20 years to 45 years in prison for each charge, which will run concurrently. 'What you have done … has impacted multiple lives,' Judge James Jamo told Rachel Piland, as he read her sentence, reports the Lansing State Journal. Jamo said there was absolutely no reason to believe that the couple would make better decisions in the future, 'and that means there is a high risk and a need for protection of children.' Baby Abigail was only 61 hours old when she died of a buildup of bilirubin, a treatable condition commonly known as jaundice, at the family's Lansing home in February 2017. Less than a day after her birth, a midwife and her assistant told the mother to get to a hospital for immediate treatment, but the couple declined. Rebecca Kerr, Rachel Piland's mother, also advised her to seek medical care for the newborn, but they refused again base on an extreme religious doctrine. 'We believed (praying) was the best thing we could possibly do for her,' Rachel Piland testified at the trial. 'Even if she had died from some kind of struggle, we wouldn't have called 911.' After the baby was dead, the parents and friends prayed over the lifeless body. Authorities were not immediately contacted to report her death. It was only after a relative in California called police that officers responded to the house, about nine hours after Abigail died. The couple lost custody of their surviving children, two of whom needed the same treatment as Abigail. The state took them away for life-saving medical care and they survived. Lori Vallow Daybell is convicted in her second murder conspiracy case in Arizona Brother of Washington state man wanted for killing daughters speaks out
Toronto Sun
15 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Michigan couple, believing prayer would cure baby, gets at least 20 years for child's death
Joshua and Rachel Piland were each sentenced to 20 to 45 years in prison for the death of their baby girl. Photo by Handout / Lansing Police Department A religious Michigan couple were each sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for the murder of their baby girl after they chose prayer over urgent medical care. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A jury found Joshua Piland, 44, and Rachel Piland, 38, guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse following a trial in March, ending an eight-year criminal case against the pair. On Wednesday, both were sentenced by a judge to 20 years to 45 years in prison for each charge, which will run concurrently. 'What you have done … has impacted multiple lives,' Judge James Jamo told Rachel Piland, as he read her sentence, reports the Lansing State Journal . Jamo said there was absolutely no reason to believe that the couple would make better decisions in the future, 'and that means there is a high risk and a need for protection of children.' Baby Abigail was only 61 hours old when she died of a buildup of bilirubin, a treatable condition commonly known as jaundice, at the family's Lansing home in February 2017. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Less than a day after her birth, a midwife and her assistant told the mother to get to a hospital for immediate treatment, but the couple declined. Rebecca Kerr, Rachel Piland's mother, also advised her to seek medical care for the newborn, but they refused again base on an extreme religious doctrine. 'We believed (praying) was the best thing we could possibly do for her,' Rachel Piland testified at the trial. 'Even if she had died from some kind of struggle, we wouldn't have called 911.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO After the baby was dead, the parents and friends prayed over the lifeless body. Authorities were not immediately contacted to report her death. It was only after a relative in California called police that officers responded to the house, about nine hours after Abigail died. The couple lost custody of their surviving children, two of whom needed the same treatment as Abigail. The state took them away for life-saving medical care and they survived. Read More Sports Sunshine Girls Relationships Editorial Cartoons Relationships
