Oregon Public Broadcasting

The child’s mother was cleared of all charges. Kristian Foden-Vencil was in court for the verdict. 

The atmosphere in courtroom was tense. Family members and attorneys sat quietly as judge Steven Maurer read his instructions. He asked anyone who thought they might have an outburst at the verdict, to leave the room. Then he read the jury’s decision. 

Steven Maurer: “We the jury being duly empanelled to try the above entitled action find the defendants as to count two, guilty of the charge of criminal mistreatment in the second degree as filed in the indictment.”  

There was a muffled cry of anguish -- even though Brent Worthington was cleared of the much more serious charge of manslaughter. 

Dozens of members of the Worthington’s religious community, the ‘Followers of Christ’ church, who have regularly attended proceedings, hugged each other and some sobbed. 

Raylene and Brent Worthington were then escorted out of the courthouse and hustled through a crowd of reporters and photographers. There was some pushing and shoving before they made it into a large black SUV. 

“If your new baby gets sick, will you take her to the hospital?”

“Get off of him, who’s pushing now. Keep your hands to yourself gentlemen.”

Ava Worthington died of pneumonia and a blood infection. 

Rather than take Ava to a doctor, her parents relied on faith-healing practices for treatment, including: the laying-on of hands; prayer; anointing her with olive oil; and serving her very watered-down wine.

Only one juror came forward to talk to the media after the verdict. 

Ashlee Santos was one of the 10 jurors who voted for the conviction of Brent Worthington and the release of his wife, Raylene. Santos says the conviction should not be seen as a judgment of faith-healing. 

Ashlee Santos: “Just become something isn’t normal to you. It doesn’t mean it’s bad or doesn’t work. As parents we all make our own decisions and sometimes they’re not the best. But I really do feel like they were loving people who cared about their kids and truly didn’t mean for anything to happen so tried not to judge them on beliefs and religion, they’re just like everybody else, just a little bit different.”

Raylene Worthington was cleared of both criminal mistreatment and second degree manslaughter. But juror Santos says Brent Worthington was found guilty because quote: “someone had to be held responsible.”

Ashlee Santons: “My personal experiences in a marriage, most people they are partners, but a lot of the times it comes down to a deciding person in the home.” 

The court case took two and a half weeks. Prosecutors argued that the parents illegally deprived their daughter Ava of medical treatment when she became seriously ill.

The defense asserted that Ava simply succumbed to a fast acting infection.The case marks the first time that Oregon’s ten-year-old faith healing law has been tested in court. The law opens the door for the prosecution of parents  if they don't provide medical attention, and their child dies.

Santos says jurors didn’t have a problem with the law and just applied the it where they thought it fit best. 

Ashlee Santons: “Everybody’s entitled to their own beliefs and religion. And we all think it’s amazing the way their community is with each other. But I think when it comes to children I think there’s different steps. And I think what the state really tried is to protect kids. The state’s just doing what it needed to do.”

The prosecutor in this case did not make himself available after the verdict.

Brent Worthington’s attorney Mike Cogan, said his client was grateful not to be facing a manslaughter conviction, but added there was no joy at the outcome. 

Mark Cogan: “Our client suffered a terrible loss. There’s really no winners here. Our clients are not celebrating a victory. They lost their child and that’s something that’s going to be a cause of sadness for the rest of their lives.” 

Cogan said the Worthingtons are considering all legal options, including an appeal. 

Brent Worthington’s sentencing is scheduled for the end of this month.  The maximum sentence he could serve would be one year.