Michigan authorities took another baby away from a “faith healing” couple earlier this month, who reportedly continue to refuse medical help.
Lansing State Journal reports that state officials removed a newborn infant from the home of Joshua and Rachel Piland, of Lansing, after they reportedly refused to get baby medical treatment, despite an urgent medical need. Within hours of removing the baby girl, Verity, from the home, officials rushed her to the hospital where she received blood transfusions that likely saved her life.
According to court records, Verity was born on July 17 at her parent’s home. Authorities intervened after someone filed a complaint to Child Protective Services on the day Rachel Piland gave birth. After taking the baby to hospital, physicians determined she had severe jaundice and a possible Rh disease. Due to her high levels of bilirubin, doctors acted swiftly to save her life.
“God makes no mistakes": Joshua and Rachel Piland’s infant daughter Abigail died of jaundice-related complications late last year. 2 weeks ago, their daughter Verity was born. Within hours, she was taken into custody bc they refused medical treatment: https://t.co/tO3SKSEY2q pic.twitter.com/EFWbMNHQnp
— Law & Crime (@lawcrimenews) July 30, 2018
“She’s still being evaluated and checked. We’re hopeful that there are no long-term complications, but I don’t think we can say 100% yet whether that’s the case,” Rachel Piland’s brother, Kerr, said.
This isn’t the first time the “faith healing” couple decided against seeking out medical treatment for their child.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Rachel Piland refused to take her infant to the hospital, even after the baby couldn’t breathe properly and had blood running out of her nose. The suspect listened to gospel speeches instead, according to police, while the little girl suffered. The infant, just 4-days-old, passed away.
According to a detective working the case, Piland declared that her baby was fine and that “God makes no mistakes.” She’s also accused of preventing her mother from calling for medical help for the infant.
On February 6, a midwife told Piland she needed to take her baby in for medical treatment for jaundice. The midwife warned the mother that her baby could possibly develop brain damage if jaundice was left untreated. Piland continued to ignore the warning signs as the baby’s health deteriorated.
On February 9, the suspect found her baby deceased in a bouncy seat, according to Fox News. Instead of of calling for medical help, authorities said she called church members and friends to come over to her home and pray over the baby and massage her. Piland’s husband, Joshua Piland, reportedly said he didn’t try CPR on the baby because he only knew how to perform it on adults.
“They then brought Abigail upstairs to pray for her. Joshua continued to massage Abigail, attempting to get her good air,” Detective Peter Scaccia testified. “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.”
Piland’s brother called authorities from his California home. Police reported that the brother was the only person who alerted them to the incident. When authorities arrived to Pilard’s home, they found her with friends, praying over in the infant.
Piland, along with her husband, Joshua Piland, were both arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. According to court records, the couple belongs to the religious group, Faith Tech Ministries, an organization that believes in faith-based healing.
DHHS officials are in the process of trying to remove the Piland’s parental rights permanently. The couple is scheduled for a court hearing on August
The story continues to develop. Check back CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
