State medical examiner determines cause of infant's death

OREGON CITY, Ore. - The state medical examiner has determined the cause of death for a baby boy who died in Oregon City a month ago.

The baby boy died of "staph pneumonia, with other significant conditions, including pulmonary prematurity," said the state medical examiner, Dr. Cliff Nelson, of the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

The boy's parents are members of the Followers of Christ Church, where some members shun conventional medicine in favor of faith healing.
 
The health of infants and children in the congregation has been under investigation for some time and there have been criminal charges filed in other cases. 

Most notably is the case against Carl and Raylene Worthington (pictured at right), whose 15-month-old daughter, Ava, died while in their care. The couple was arrested and charged with felony manslaughter after their daughter died from pneumonia and a related blood infection that the State Medical Examiner said could easily have been cured with antibiotics.  Both were acquitted of manslaughter but Carl Worthington was found guilty of criminal mistreatment and served almost 60 days in jail. It was the first criminal prosecution under Oregon’s new faith-healing law.

Another case against Jeff and Marci Beagly is scheduled to go to trial in January. Their 16-year-old son, Ava's uncle, died just a few months after she did.  The medical examiner ruled that he died of natural causes but said he could have survived with medical treatment.

When KATU asked Dr. Nelson if the child in this most recent death could have survived if his parents had sought medical treatment, he referred our question to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. 

Mike Regan, senior deputy district attorney for Clackamas County, said the case is being reviewed.

"The investigation is being handled very methodically, and we are taking our time to do a thorough comprehensive death investigation," Regan said.

The baby, which was born without a doctor present, was two months premature and the mother had experienced complications before giving birth, according to sources within the church who spoke with KATU earlier this month. Dr. Nelson did say that the infant was consistent with a baby that is 32 to 34 weeks.  Dr. Nelson said a full-term pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.

No charges have been brought in the infant's death but investigators did swarm the house early this month, removing what appeared to be computer components.

The boy was laid to rest at the church's cemetery outside of Oregon City. Although not related to Ava Worthington, he was buried next to her grave. KATU is not releasing the identity of the child or his parents because criminal charges have not been filed.