Her parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, have been charged with second-degree reckless homicide, carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The police reports detail interviews with the couple, their family and friends.  They describe how Madeline grew sick and how the parents felt that the symptoms were due to "puberty" or a "spiritual attack" by the devil even as she became sicker and sicker.  An aunt advised Leilani to have Madeline drink Pedialyte, only to be told it would be "taking the glory away from God".  

Also notable in this report from CNN  is discussion of the parent's faith.  Formerly Pentecostals, they were starting their own ministry in their coffee shop.  Meeting weekly, there were only 5 people in their Bible Study and their views were described as a narrow interpretation of the bible.

Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said the parents once belonged to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church but later became what he called religious "isolationists" involved in a prayer group of five people.

"They have gone out on their own," he said. "... They have a very narrow view of Scripture and I would say not many people hold to that narrow of view."

But that's not all the police reports tell us.  They also tell us that the three other children in the home all appeared healthy.  Even the family members who pleaded for the Neumann's to get medical attention say that the Neumann's were loving parents, who would not intentionally harm their children.  

Except they did harm their child.  

I don't know what I find the most tragic aspect of this case to be.  That a child suffered and died a needless death.  That the parents of the child had such a narrow and distorted faith that their actions led to that death.  That those same parents now face charges and jail time on top of the anguish they must be feeling.  That there are three children without a sister and possibly without their parents.  

As a social worker, I've read more than a few court reports.  Some of them brought me to tears, some of them made me angry and some of them made me sick.  This case is right up there with the worst that I've seen.  What differs here is that in the other cases, I was working with a child (and sometimes their parents) at a better life.  In this case, that child is gone. And while charges may feel like the way to hold her parents accountable, they can't bring her back.