A Christian couple who let their baby die of jaundice because they believe that ‘God makes no mistakes’, will not have their other kids returned to them because they refuse stop physically disciplining them.
Joshua, 36, and Rachel Piland, 30, of Lansing, Michigan, were charged with involuntary manslaughter last month after they ignored advice to seek medical treatment for their newborn daughter Abigail Piland, who died three days later on February 9.
A few weeks later, the couple’s other children, two boys aged two and three, were seized by the state over ‘concerns of threatened harm of physical neglect.’
Joshua, 36, and Rachel Piland, 30, who let their baby die of jaundice because they believe that ‘God makes no mistakes’, will not have their other kids returned to them because they refuse stop physically disciplining them (couple pictured with their two sons)
The children were temporarily placed with Rachel’s parents, in Grand Rapids, with a review hearing in June to see if they could be returned under a number of strict conditions.
But the court ruled against returning the boys to the Pilands, after hearing that the couple refused to comply with a court-ordered safety plan which banned ‘physical discipline of the children,’ the Detroit Free Press reports.
A new child protection hearing has yet been scheduled but the Pilands are due back in court on Thursday to face the manslaughter charges over the death of their daughter.
Rachel Joy Piland gave birth to Abigail Piland, via midwife, at home, one block east of the Lansing Country Club, according to the Lansing State Journal, on February 6.
At the time of her birth, Abigail appeared healthy and their were no concerns surrounding her well-being.
The mugshots for Rachel Piland and Joshua Piland. The two were charged with manslaughter after they refused treatment for their newborn daughter who had jaundice
Joshua and Rachel Piland pictured above. After Rachel found her daughter dead, the two prayed for her instead of calling police
But when the midwife, who had helped deliver Rachel and Joshua’s two other kids, returned to the home the next day, she told the Rachel that Abigail appeared jaundiced, and encouraged Rachel to take her to the doctor.
‘She told Rachel the baby could suffer brain damage or die if not properly cared for,’ Lansing Police Detective Peter Scaccia said.
Scaccia said that Rachel refused to seek any medical treatment for Abigail, stating ‘God makes no mistakes,’ and implied that the newborn was fine.
But the baby’s condition only worsened and on February 8, Abigail started to cough up blood.
Instead if taking the infant to the doctor, Rachel put her child ‘near a window wearing just a diaper utilizing a hair dryer to keep her warm,’ Detective Scaccia told the Lansing Journal.
At one point, Rachel told her mother, Rebecca Kerr, what the midwife said after Rebecca told her daughter that Abigail’s skin was not the right color.
But instead of going to hospital with her newborn, Rachel proceeded to go listen to sermons.
On the morning of February 9, Rachel and her mother noticed blood coming out of Abigail’s nose and she had difficulty breathing.
The baby was delivered via midwife at their home, one block east of the Lansing Country Club on February 6. Abigail’s body was also found there by police
Kerr had begged her daughter to call for help but she refused. By 11am the same day, Rachel found her daughter dead in her bouncy seat, according to the Lansing Journal.
Rachel told her husband, Joshua who attempted one rescue breath.
Detective Scaccia said that Joshua did not want to perform CPR because he didn’t know how to perform it on children.
He continued: ‘They then brought Abigail upstairs to pray for her. Joshua continued to massage Abigail, attempting to get her good air. Both Josh and Rachel reached out to friends and fellow church members to come to their home and pray for Abigail’s resurrection, but never called the police.’
Officers learned of the child’s death after Rachel’s brother called from California and told them of Abigail’s death.
When police arrived they discovered the dead infant and people praying over her body.
The autopsy later confirmed that Abigail died from unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus – conditions related to jaundice.
If treated, she would have more than likely survived, the detective said.
Rachel and Joshua later told the court they understood the newborn’s symptoms but chose to ‘believe in the word of God over the symptoms,’ records show.
They are both members of the Free Saints Assembly Church in Lansing and don’t believe in medical treatment beyond basic first aid, according to the records.
Joshua was a senior project manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation but left last month.
Rachel and Joshua were each charged with a single count of involuntary manslaughter and released after posting $75,000 bond on September 21.
Their next hearing is scheduled for October 5 in Lansing’s District Court.
They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.