Oregon Public Broadcasting

Jurors appear deadlocked in the trial of a couple whose daughter died after they used faith healing, rather than medicine as treatment. As Rob Manning reports, the judge let them go home nearly two hours early Monday, and they're expected back Tuesday/today.

To deliver a guilty verdict, at least ten out of twelve jurors need to be convinced beyond all reasonable doubt that Brent and Raylene Worthington are guilty of manslaughter, or criminal mistreatment.

Jurors haven’t gotten to that point – but they aren’t ready to deliver a verdict of “not guilty,” either.

As Judge Steven Maurer sent the jury home for the day, he said they'd be back to their deliberations in the morning.

Brent and Raylene Worthington’s 15-month-old daughter, Ava, died a year ago March, of a combination of pneumonia and a blood infection.

Prosecutors say the parents are responsible for her death, because they used prayer, and didn’t seek medical treatment to save her.

Defense attorneys say the ultimate cause of Ava’s death was a fast-acting infection that doctors might’ve been hard-pressed to stop.

If the judge decides that jurors constitute a “hung jury,” it’ll be up to prosecutors whether or not to re-try the case with a new jury.