A Pennsylvania couple was arrested and charged in connection to their newborn son's death after police say they failed to take him to a hospital because they do not believe in modern medicine.
A Pennsylvania couple were arrested and charged in connection with their newborn son's death after, police say, they failed to take him to a hospital because they do not believe in modern medicine.
State police responded to the Sullivan County home on Jan. 20 after Amy Hoenigke called 911 to report that she had found her son dead in his bassinet, a criminal complaint says. Responding troopers found that the newborn already had signs of decomposition and determined that he had died about three days before the 911 call was made.
Amy Hoenigke told investigators that her son started showing signs that he was struggling to breathe and that he was"turning blue" shortly after his birth, according to the complaint. When investigators asked why she did not take the baby to a medical facility, she said that she and her husband do not believe in modern medicine and live an unconventional life in which they do not acknowledge time frames or the days of the week, the complaint says. They also feared that their 2-year-old daughter would be taken. The little girl was also born at home and does not have a birth certificate, the complaint says.