Michigan – A Michigan coupIe, 38-year-old RacheI and 44-year-old Josh, was ordered to serve a minimum of twenty years and up to forty five years behind bars. The sentencing marked the end of an eight-year legal battle that began after their chiId’s preventabIe death from untreated biIirubin poisoning, a condition commonly known as infant jaundlce. The coupIe was sentenced after jury found them guilty earlier this year of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse in relation to the death of their three-day-old baby, AbigaiI.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the baby’s mom gave birth at home, in what initially appeared to be a healthy delivery. However, by the next day, midwife S. McCardy observed that the newborn’s skin had turned yellow, a classic sign of elevated biIirubin levels. She strongly urged the coupIe to seek medical care, but they refused. The baby’s mother reportedly said AbigaiI was fine and that “God makes no mistakes,” choosing to rely on pra yer instead of medical intervention.
By the third day, the newborn’s jaundice had worsened dangerously—but the parents still did not call for help. Instead, they contacted friends to pray over the child, hoping for a miracIe. Even after the baby died, they continued to prray that she would be “resurrected.” Michigan authorities were not notified until that evening, when the defendant’s brother discovered the victim’s body and alerted police.
When police and emergency personnel arrived more than nine hours after the baby’s death, they found the couple and family members in prayer. In a statement to authorities, the victim’s dad maintained their actions, telling officers he believed God alone could heal serious medical conditions and that they “would walk it out.” He said he would not change a thing, even if presented with doctors with the highest qualifications—he would still trust in his “Lord Savior Jesus Christ.”
Investigative findings and the autopsy concluded that the baby died from a severe accumulation of biIirubin in her brain—a treatable condition with prompt medical attention. In their conversation with Child Protective Services, the couple admitted placing faith over medical advice, saying they believed higher power should handle any serious illness that couldn’t be treated with simple first aid.
Following the newborn’s death, the couple’s two other children were removed from their custody. In 2019, the couple were convicted of manslaughter for the same incident, but the judge allowed prosecutors to pursue new charges. Since then, the victim’s mom has had two more babies who were taken from her care immediately at birth.
During the March trial, jurors expressed deep concern that the couple’s rejection of medical care posed a continuing threat to any children under their care. Their conviction on serious felony charges reflected not only AbigaiI’s tragic death but also the risk they could harm other children in the future.
