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Wausau, Wis. (AP)

Jury finds Wis. mother guilty in daughter's prayer death

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A jury Friday found a central Wisconsin woman guilty of killing her 11-year-old daughter by praying instead of rushing her to the doctor.

A Marathon County jury deliberated about 3 1/2 hours before convicting Leilani Neumann, 41, of rural Weston, of second-degree reckless homicide.

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 contend a reasonable parent would have known something was gravely wrong with Madeline and her mother recklessly killed her by ignoring obvious symptoms, such as she couldn't walk or talk.

During closing arguments, Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad described Neumann as a religious zealot who let her daughter, known by the nickname Kara, die as a test of faith.

"Religious extremism can be dangerous," Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad said. "In this case, it was fatal. Basic medical care would have saved Kara's life - fluids and insulin. There was plenty of time to save Kara's life."

Defense attorney Gene Linehan countered, saying 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 and her husband clutched each other and silently prayed with another man before the jury took the case. Then she went to each of her other children sitting on a front-row courtroom bench and kissed them on the cheek.

She faces up to 25 years in prison.

Madeline's father, Dale Neumann, faces the same charge and is scheduled to stand trial in July.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)