Minister KILLS boy - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

sixate · 08-27-2003, 12:33 PM

LINKY

Quote:

Minister charged with abuse in boy's death
Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: Aug. 26, 2003

A church minister was charged Tuesday with physical abuse of a child in the death of an 8-year-old autistic boy who died as church leaders tried to heal him at a storefront church in Milwaukee.

Ray Hemphill, 45, was charged with physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

Terrance Cottrell Jr. suffocated after a church elder at the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith on Milwaukee's north side sat on his chest, police said. The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide Monday. The cause was "mechanical asphyxia due to external chest compression."

Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann said a charge of homicide would have required prosecutors to prove that Hemphill knew his actions had a likelihood of killing the boy, rather than just hurting him.

"He would consciously be aware that what he was doing had a great likelihood of causing death. We did not feel we could prove it," McCann said.

He said the fact that the boy died at a religious service made the case more complicated.

"Their intent was to help this young man. No one says they set out to hurt this young man."

A high-ranking Milwaukee police source said Monday that Ray Hemphill told investigators that he would sit on the boy's chest for up to two hours at a time during prayer services at the small storefront church at 8709 W. Fond du Lac Ave. The nightly prayer services started three weeks ago, police say Hemphill told them.

According to the jail records, Hemphill, who was arrested Saturday, weighs 157 pounds. The boy's weight was unknown.

Three women - including Terrance's mother, Patricia Cooper - sat on the boy's arms and legs while Hemphill tried to remove the "evil spirits" from him, said Hemphill's brother, David Hemphill, the pastor of the church where the service took place.

Tamara Tolefree of Milwaukee said Monday she held Terrance's leg during the prayer. After at least two other physically intense sessions like the one Friday, Tolefree said, Ray Hemphill decided to devote his entire vacation from his job as a janitor to "getting that spirit out of" the boy, who was also called "Junior."

Friday "was to be our last and final time trying that kind of prayer," Tolefree said.

When Tolefree picked them up Friday, she said, Terrance seemed different.

Instead of hopping into the back seat and rocking back and forth like usual, entertaining himself with his pillow, Terrance was uncharacteristically stoic, recalled Tolefree.

"He just sat still and stared straight ahead, and I was very concerned," Tolefree said. But she said Cooper insisted on proceeding as planned, saying that Terrance was "just sleepy from a nap" an hour or so before.

She said while she held one leg, Cooper held the other. A third woman held Terrance's left arm. Tolefree demonstrated on a reporter how Ray Hemphill held the boy's head with his right hand and the boy's right hand with his left as he lay across the boy's chest.

As the session went on, the third woman pressed her hands onto Terrance's abdomen, and Hemphill would periodically take his body weight off Terrance to "check Junior's face to see if the prayer was working," Tolefree said.

After more than an hour of restraining Terrance and praying for him, Tolefree said, the group saw the boy had shut his eyes and slowed his breathing. Ray Hemphill then "took control" of the situation and attempted to revive the boy, she said. Paramedics were called but could not save Terrance.

The fact that Terrance died during what the participants called a prayer service added legal complications, McCann said Monday.

"The statutes have usually arisen in the context of non-treatment where simply prayer was used," McCann said.

Wisconsin law makes it a felony to intentionally cause bodily harm to a child. But a subsection reads: "TREATMENT THROUGH PRAYER. A person is not guilty of an offense under this section solely because he or she provides a child with treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone for healing in accordance with the religious method of healing permitted" under other statutes "in lieu of medical or surgical treatment."

The allegations of physical restraint were the legal wrinkle, McCann said. David Hemphill has said sheets were used to help control the boy during the healing.

Another section reads that a determination of abuse or neglect "may not be based solely on the fact that the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian in good faith selects and relies on prayer or other religious means for treatment of disease or for remedial care of the child."

Terrance's father, Terrance Cottrell Sr., said Monday that he wants everyone involved in his son's death to be held responsible.

"The way they performed, whatever the traditional way it was, it was just a way to kill somebody," he said.

Terrance Cottrell Sr., 33, had not seen his son for about two months, he said, but didn't see the boy often because he didn't get along with his son's mother.

"She's not a bad person," Cottrell said. "But she's gullible."

Cooper could not be reached for comment Monday. The makeshift vigil to her son remained in the window of her home in the 5900 block of N. 61st St.

David and Pamela Hemphill released "A letter of condolences" to the boy's family and the public.

"Terrance's death is a great tragedy," the letter states. "However, it was not a malicious act on the part of the church. If you believe in God and his word you have the right to believe he can help you, through prayer."

Moral of this story... Don't go to your church to get healed for anything.

Now the scary part is it looks like this assmunch could possibly get a pass because of what the law says. Completely fucked up. Although, I didn't know that suffocation was part of a prayer that could heal you. How dumb, and do people actually believe that you can have a little demon inside of you or whatever?

Don't ya just love religion? I know I don't.

Hash_Browns · 08-27-2003, 12:48 PM

I can't even imagine taking my children to that kind of 'prayer' service for anything....obviously this man is not going to get what he deserves for his actions no matter what path his ruling takes...and if he thinks killing a boy can cure autism then I am sure they will find him doing something to kill himself...seems like murder is his common practice...it won't even be called suicide, cuz it was in the name of his 'lord'.

What else is sad is, I don't know how to feel for the mother of this boy to sit and hold down her son who wasn't doing anything wrong!! And that other woman knew something wasn't right...and yet she still held him there while a full grown MAN sat on this childs chest. If she didn't like what was going on...she could have told his mother to find someone else to be there!! ...chills...that's all I can say...that just gives me the most erie chills I have had in a while

Thank you for posting this...there's nothing anyone can do for this boy...but hopefully it will get the rest of the world to open their eyes a bit wider!

mystmarimatt · 08-27-2003, 01:05 PM

sick. twisted. fake religion. how people can be so gullible...and on top of that, i'm sure "helping her son" was not the only reason she tried it, she probably also just wanted him cured to be rid of any kind financial responsibility or trouble that arises with disability

Phaenx · 08-27-2003, 01:42 PM

Yeah, those types of things are especially wierd. Having grown up in a pentecostle church, I can tell you that's just the tip of the iceberg as well.

There's a thing called "pue running," where people get up an run along the tops of the pues in a fit of holy spirit mojo or something. Once, a lady tried this and fell off and hurt herself, it was the funniest thing I've ever personally witnessed.

Besides those "feinting goats." They're just awesome.

nostalgic1 · 08-27-2003, 02:25 PM

the sick son of a bitch.. its people like that, that give world religions a bad image.

water_boy1999 · 08-27-2003, 04:30 PM

There are so many splinter religions and cults across the U.S. where there are stupid people who do stupid shit. You would think that this day ang age, people would have wisened up a bit, picked up a book and started thinking for themselves, quit blaming all the unknowns in this universe and joining a lame ass religion or cult to have your questions answered.

rogue49 · 08-27-2003, 04:47 PM

My opinion is simple...

Idiots

Splice · 08-27-2003, 05:58 PM

Yes, complete IDIOTS! Dumb asses trying to "cure" austism by sitting on the kid's chest!! What makes this so sad is that the mother knowingly participated! Tragic, just tragic.

XenuHubbard · 08-27-2003, 06:47 PM

The kid being autistic, his last hour alive must have been complete hell. Just touching somebody suffering from autism can cause them pain and extreme discomfort.

Shit, can't say I'm surprised.

tinfoil · 08-28-2003, 06:09 AM

Good, though I would like to see him charged with something a little more severe. Make an example of this guy selling his snake-oil to people at the end of their rope.

Midnight_Son · 08-28-2003, 07:36 AM

How, in this day and age are people this dumb? I don't get it...it's sad.

Hang the priest

hobo · 08-28-2003, 07:37 AM

If anything, that is Manslaughter.

Retarded miracle cures.

Thraeryn · 08-28-2003, 11:35 AM

hobo, you've got a point. I wonder why the state isn't trying to charge the priest with manslaughter. Physical contact should not have anything to do with "prayer alone" as written in the law.

skysooner · 08-28-2003, 12:24 PM

I find it interesting that they were trying to remove "autism" with this shit. I have a son that is high-functioning autistic. They do respond to treatment but professional treatment and not this rubbish. Throw the book at him and maybe it will make others think twice.

JBX · 08-28-2003, 01:02 PM

ASSHATS

Gortexfogg · 08-28-2003, 02:29 PM

This minister deserves the max of whatever they can get for him. Sitting on a kid to "heal" them? Why can't he just push him down into other people's arms like the normal crazy healers...

Jonsgirl · 08-29-2003, 10:19 AM

What I don't understand is if they knew it was autism, why did they think they could get rid of the "evil spirit" and cure him? At least they didn't bleed him to death trying to drain the bad humors.
Jesus Fucking Christ! How can that preist truly believe what he did was right? How can anyone let him hide behind his "religion" and go unpunished? And his mother?!? Someone please tell me that's she's going to get what she deserves. (and no, losing her child is not enough, if she helped kill him.)

Slims · 08-29-2003, 11:48 AM

Religion induced stupidity is no excuse for killing someone. I think this guy should have been charged with manslaughter. Unless, of course, whatever they did charge him with is worse, since you don't always go to jail after getting convicted of manslaughter.

08-27-2003, 12:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hash_Browns Psycho Location: Right behind you...BOO!	I can't even imagine taking my children to that kind of 'prayer' service for anything....obviously this man is not going to get what he deserves for his actions no matter what path his ruling takes...and if he thinks killing a boy can cure autism then I am sure they will find him doing something to kill himself...seems like murder is his common practice...it won't even be called suicide, cuz it was in the name of his 'lord'. What else is sad is, I don't know how to feel for the mother of this boy to sit and hold down her son who wasn't doing anything wrong!! And that other woman knew something wasn't right...and yet she still held him there while a full grown MAN sat on this childs chest. If she didn't like what was going on...she could have told his mother to find someone else to be there!! ...chills...that's all I can say...that just gives me the most erie chills I have had in a while Thank you for posting this...there's nothing anyone can do for this boy...but hopefully it will get the rest of the world to open their eyes a bit wider! __________________ Smile It makes people wonder what you're up too!

08-27-2003, 01:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
mystmarimatt Omnipotent Ruler Of The Tiny Universe In My Mind Location: Oreegawn	sick. twisted. fake religion. how people can be so gullible...and on top of that, i'm sure "helping her son" was not the only reason she tried it, she probably also just wanted him cured to be rid of any kind financial responsibility or trouble that arises with disability __________________ Words of Wisdom: If you could really get to know someone and know that they weren't lying to you, then you would know the world was real. Because you could agree on things, you could compare notes. That must be why people get married or make Art. So they'll be able to really know something and not go insane.

08-27-2003, 01:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Yeah, those types of things are especially wierd. Having grown up in a pentecostle church, I can tell you that's just the tip of the iceberg as well. There's a thing called "pue running," where people get up an run along the tops of the pues in a fit of holy spirit mojo or something. Once, a lady tried this and fell off and hurt herself, it was the funniest thing I've ever personally witnessed. Besides those "feinting goats." They're just awesome. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

08-27-2003, 02:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
nostalgic1 Insane Location: Location: Location: Location:	the sick son of a bitch.. its people like that, that give world religions a bad image. __________________ I dare you to forget the marks you left across my neck from those nights when we were both found at our best. Now I could make this obvious, and you..you could deny me all in one breath. You could shrug me off your shoulders. Just forget me.. it's that simple.

08-27-2003, 04:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
water_boy1999 Fly em straight! Location: Above and Beyond	There are so many splinter religions and cults across the U.S. where there are stupid people who do stupid shit. You would think that this day ang age, people would have wisened up a bit, picked up a book and started thinking for themselves, quit blaming all the unknowns in this universe and joining a lame ass religion or cult to have your questions answered. __________________ Doh!!!! -Homer Simpson

08-27-2003, 04:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
rogue49 Loser	My opinion is simple... Idiots

08-27-2003, 05:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Splice Crazy	Yes, complete IDIOTS! Dumb asses trying to "cure" austism by sitting on the kid's chest!! What makes this so sad is that the mother knowingly participated! Tragic, just tragic.

08-27-2003, 06:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
XenuHubbard Cute and Cuddly Location: Teegeeack.	The kid being autistic, his last hour alive must have been complete hell. Just touching somebody suffering from autism can cause them pain and extreme discomfort. Shit, can't say I'm surprised. __________________ The above was written by a true prophet. Trust me. "What doesn't kill you, makes you bitter and paranoid". - SB2000

08-28-2003, 06:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	Good, though I would like to see him charged with something a little more severe. Make an example of this guy selling his snake-oil to people at the end of their rope. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

08-28-2003, 07:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
Midnight_Son The Cover Doesn't Match The Book Location: in a van down by the river	How, in this day and age are people this dumb? I don't get it...it's sad. Hang the priest __________________ SWM, tattooed, seeks meaningful tits and beer. Enjoys biker mags, pornography, and Sunday morning walks to the liquor store. Winners of erotic hot dog eating contests given priority.

08-28-2003, 07:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
hobo Archangel of Change	If anything, that is Manslaughter. Retarded miracle cures.

08-28-2003, 11:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
Thraeryn Loser	hobo, you've got a point. I wonder why the state isn't trying to charge the priest with manslaughter. Physical contact should not have anything to do with "prayer alone" as written in the law.

08-28-2003, 12:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
skysooner Registered User Location: Oklahoma	I find it interesting that they were trying to remove "autism" with this shit. I have a son that is high-functioning autistic. They do respond to treatment but professional treatment and not this rubbish. Throw the book at him and maybe it will make others think twice.

08-28-2003, 01:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
JBX Unfair and Imbalanced Location: Upstate, NY	ASSHATS __________________ "Youth and Strength is no match for Age and Treachery"

08-28-2003, 02:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
Gortexfogg I and I Location: Stillwater, OK	This minister deserves the max of whatever they can get for him. Sitting on a kid to "heal" them? Why can't he just push him down into other people's arms like the normal crazy healers...

08-29-2003, 10:19 AM	#17 (permalink)
Jonsgirl Semi-Atomic Location: Home.	What I don't understand is if they knew it was autism, why did they think they could get rid of the "evil spirit" and cure him? At least they didn't bleed him to death trying to drain the bad humors. Jesus Fucking Christ! How can that preist truly believe what he did was right? How can anyone let him hide behind his "religion" and go unpunished? And his mother?!? Someone please tell me that's she's going to get what she deserves. (and no, losing her child is not enough, if she helped kill him.) __________________ Someday, someone will best me. But it won't be today, and it won't be you.

08-29-2003, 11:48 AM	#18 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	Religion induced stupidity is no excuse for killing someone. I think this guy should have been charged with manslaughter. Unless, of course, whatever they did charge him with is worse, since you don't always go to jail after getting convicted of manslaughter. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence