Oregon faith healers face criminally negligent homicide trial in death of teenage son

Ore. faith healers face trial in teen son’s death

OREGON CITY, Ore. — Opening statements are set for Tuesday in the trial of an Oregon City couple charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of their son, the latest Oregon case involving faith healing deaths.

Jeff and Marci Beagley are accused of failing to provide adequate medical care for 16-year-old Neil Beagley, who died in 2008 of an untreated urinary tract blockage.

The Beagleys are also the parents of Raylene Worthington, whose 15-month-old daughter — the Beagleys’ granddaughter — died in 2008 of pneumonia and a blood infection.

Worthington and her husband, Carl Brent Worthington, were acquitted of manslaughter in the girl’s death. But a jury convicted Carl Brent Worthington of criminal mistreatment.

The Oregon Legislature changed state law on faith healing in 1999 after a series of child deaths among members of the Followers of Christ Church. The Beagleys and Worthingtons are members.

Information from: The Oregonian, www.oregonlive.com