A Michigan mother and father have been charged with murder after refusing their infant daughter medical assistance due to their religious beliefs.
Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari, both 27, were charged on Monday over the death of their 10-month-old girl Mary. The infant was found not breathing at their home in Solon Township, the Kent Country Sheriff's Office said.
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders were called. An autopsy revealed the cause of the girl's death was malnutrition and dehydration, for which the parents have been blamed for.
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An affidavit alleged the Kent County couple had known their daughter was skinny and malnourished for at least a month, but didn't seek medical help because of their staunch religious beliefs.
It's understood the parents didn't trust in medical services and feared their daughter being taken away by Child Protective Services.
The reportedly had signs nailed to trees at their property which read: "Repent. Believe. Obey."
Child Protective Services have filed a neglect case against the parents involving their other two eldest children, aged two and four.
The father allegedly posted videos on Facebook in which he called doctors "priesthoods of the medical cult" and said "God is sovereign over disease" in the context of vaccinations.
If convicted of felony murder, the couple would face life in prison, according to the Associated Press.
Newshub.
