A pair of Christians have reacted with shock after they were charged with murder following the death of their baby daughter from malnutrition and dehydration. Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari, both 27, refused to get medical help for ‘religious reasons’ and a lack of trust in medical services. They now face murder and first-degree child abuse following the death of Mary in Solon Township, north of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Welch’s mouth dropped open in disbelief when the charges against him were read out. The court heard that when the first responders arrived they noticed the 10-month-old had sunken eyes and cheeks, and a lack of a pulse. They declared her dead at the scene and an autopsy ruled that she had died as a result of neglect by her parents. The Kent County couple admitted their daughter had been skinny and underweight for at least a month, an affidavit alleged. The parents didn’t seek medical help for religious reasons, fear of having Child Protective Services called and a lack of trust in medical services, according to records.
The parents are being held without bond and court records don’t list lawyers who can speak on their behalf. Welch and Fusari have two older children together, aged two and four. Child Protective Services filed on Monday a neglect case against the parents involving their two eldest children.
Welch has posted about Child Protective Services, a distrust of doctors and religious beliefs on Facebook, WOOD-TV reported. He spoke in one video post about refusing to get his children vaccinated. The couple could face life in prison without parole, if convicted of felony murder.
