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| Herbert and Catherine Schaible |
A couple is facing prison time after their son died because they decided to pray rather than to seek medical attention, according to court proceedings in Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia couple was found guilty of third-degree murder of their son after pleading no contest.
The seven-month-old son of Herbert and Catherine Schaible died on April 18 from dehydration and pneumonia when his parents decided to pray for him rather than to seek medical attention.
At that time, Herbert and Catherine Schaible were on probation for 10 years for the death of their 2-year-old son in 2009. The terms of their probation required Herbert and Catherine Schaible to seek medical attention when one of their seven surviving children became ill.
The fundamentalist Christian couple faces sentencing next year.
"As a mother I cannot imagine doing such a thing," prosecutor Joanne Pescatore said.
About a dozen U.S. children die each year when parents turn to faith healing instead of medicine, usually for highly treatable problems, according to experts.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said that since medical attention was not given to the child they decided to file murder charges against the couple.
Their remaining children have been placed in foster care.
