WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsAfter two days, jury finds Dale Neumann guilty

After two days, jury finds Dale Neumann guilty

by Colby Robertson

MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW) -- After a week of testimony and nearly 15 hours of deliberation a decision is reached in the Marathon County Prayer Death trial.

A jury has convicted Dale Neumann of second degree reckless homicide in the death of his 11-year-old daughter Kara.

The 47-year-old Weston father prayed over the girl instead of taking her to the doctor. Autopsy results show she died from untreated diabetes.

It took the jury two days to reach the guilty verdict. Today, the jury stopped deliberating twice to ask the judge for either more evidence or to ask him a question.

This morning they asked, "Does Dale's belief in Faith Healing excuse him from taking Kara to the hospital even though he was aware to some degree she was not feeling well?"

The judge said he couldn't answer that and sent them back to review jury instructions.

At About 2:00 p.m. they asked for the dictionary definitions of "recklessly" and "omission."

It was just an hour later, the 12-person jury came back with the verdict. The judge says he's not surprised a complex trial like this one took as long as it did.

Judge Vincent Howard says, "In a case like this I think it can be expected, I don't know if you would call it routine."

Neither attorney commented on the verdict because of a gag order, however the defense says they will appeal the verdict.

Neumann's wife, Leilani, was convicted on the same second degree reckless homicide charge in May.

The judge plans to have the couple's sentencing the same day, October 6th.

Each of them face up to 25 years in prison.

Online Reporter: Colby Robertson