Parents surrender to police over daughter's death

Parents surrender to police over daughter's death

Tools

Story Published: Mar 28, 2008 at 9:39 PM PDT

Story Updated: Apr 1, 2008 at 6:07 PM PDT

By KATU Web Staff

Video

CLACKAMAS COUNTY - The parents of a baby girl who died from a treatable illness voluntarily surrendered to police Friday night after arrest warrants were issued for them.

Carl Worthington, 28, and Raylene Worthington, 25, face charges of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal mistreatment in connection with the death of their daughter, 15-month-old Ava Worthington.

The infant died March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and an infection, both of which the state medical examiner said could have easily been cured with common antibiotics. 

Numerous sources told KATU News that instead of taking their daughter to a doctor, her parents prayed over her.

The Worthingtons are members of the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, a church that has a history of faith healing.  The couple also lost a son in 2001.

The church got national attention a decade ago when KATU News broke a story about the number of child deaths among parishioners.  The coverage led to the removal of Oregon's spiritual healing shield, which protected parents who use prayer instead of medicine to treat deadly diseases.

The recent death of Ava Worthington shed new light on the church and again, KATU News began investigating.  We discovered more than 80 children had been laid to rest in the church's cemetery.  Medical experts told us many of them could have survived had they received treatment.

The Worthingtons are scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.  They were initially held at the Clackamas County jail on $250,000 bond each but were later released after posting bond.

Weather & Traffic

Icon
Current Temp 60.0 °F
Overcast
Video
More Weather

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Stay Connected

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Viewer Poll

How has Facebook changed your life?

  • I got a job through Facebook
  • I hooked up with old college/high school friends
  • It's how our family keeps in touch / updated
  • I learned odd new things about my friends
  • It's helped my business
  • I'm still on the fence about using it

Marketplace