Dead 3 day old prayed over for 15 hours before authorities called

Wells, Tx — Cherokee County officials are investigating the death of an infant, whose parents chose to pray over the dying baby before calling for help 15 hours after the child's death.

At around 4:00 a.m. Sunday, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office received a call in reference to the death of a 3-day old infant.

The caller told dispatchers that the child was born on Wednesday and had passed away around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The caller admitted to praying over the child before calling 911.

Deputies, emergency crews and investigators responded to the Wells Manor Apartments on Wright Patman Drive and found the infant in a bassinette next to the bed in the master bedroom of the apartment.

The mother, father and several adults, who identified themselves as elders of the church with whom the parents are members, were present and cooperated with detectives when they arrived.

The identities of the family members and witnesses are not being released at this time.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Vera Foreman pronounced the infant at the scene and ordered and autopsy.

The investigation continues.

Do you think this is negligence, choosing not to immediately call 911 when they realized the baby was ill? Or was it their right?

Yeah I'd call that negligence, personally.

its like call 911 and then do your praying   reminds me of

it's such a fine line. are they LDS? I know certain religions forbid medical intervention...

its sad the baby died but maybe if their religious beliefs are against trying to help the dying because its against "gods will" then i dont know. as long as they didnt cause the death of the child. i dont see how a mother wouldnt do what she could to help her dying child

Quoting bb&b:" Dead 3 day old prayed over for 15 hours before authorities called Wells, Tx — Cherokee County officials ... [snip!] ... you think this is negligence, choosing not to immediately call 911 when they realized the baby was ill? Or was it their right?"

I think it is negligence if they didnt seek help for their child when it was sick. Yes.

I dont think this is right at all. I think its neglect. They shouldve called and then prayed.

Quoting Amberchik78:" it's such a fine line. are they LDS? I know certain religions forbid medical intervention..."

Not sure. It just says they were elders of the church.

Was the child dead upon the arrival of the paramedics? Were there obvious signs the child was about to die?

Call first, pray later. They were obviously okay with help if they called for it and it was just to late. That's negligence and really sad.  

Quoting bb&b:" Dead 3 day old prayed over for 15 hours before authorities called Wells, Tx — Cherokee County officials ... [snip!] ... you think this is negligence, choosing not to immediately call 911 when they realized the baby was ill? Or was it their right?"

depends.. the article says they prayed after the infant was dead... for 15 hours. Your question is "when infant was ill"

there's not enough info for me to decide.

idk. some people do this because of their religion. i knew a friend whose mom and grandparents were like that. they were praying with the intention of helping the baby, not just leaving it in a room to die alone. so, idk. i guess i'm leaning towards it being their right. because if it's truly something they believe in, then i guess they don't see it as wrong, you know?

Quoting bb&b:" Not sure. It just says they were elders of the church. "

I would lean towards witnesses, then, tbh. and it's not like they were lying about it if members of their church were there, kwim?

Quoting bb&b:" Dead 3 day old prayed over for 15 hours before authorities called Wells, Tx — Cherokee County officials ... [snip!] ... you think this is negligence, choosing not to immediately call 911 when they realized the baby was ill? Or was it their right?"

yeah I think it was negligent. It reminds of that-guy on a roof during a flood- story, where he says he'll just pray to be rescued. I myself am a believer in prayer, but I certainly would have called 911 and then prayed as they came, and while they did what they had to do.

They should have called. Praying would have been the last thing on my mind.