Oregon faith healing couple plead not guilty to manslaughter after infant death

Ore. couple plead not guilty to manslaughter

OREGON CITY, Ore. — An Oregon couple who belong to a church that practices faith healing have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in the death of their infant son.

The Oregonian reports that attorneys for Dale R. Hickman and Shannon M. Hickman entered the not guilty pleas Monday during an arraignment before Clackamas County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Jones.

The judge set a tentative Nov. 19 trial date for the Hickmans, who are members of the Followers of Christ church in Oregon City.

Their son was born in September 2009, about six weeks premature. No one with medical training attended the birth, and no one called a doctor or ambulance.

An autopsy determined the infant died of staph pneumonia and complications from a premature birth, including underdeveloped lungs.

Information from: The Oregonian, www.oregonlive.com