A Lansing couple is facing serious criminal charges after they chose not to seek advised medical help for their newborn daughter, resulting in her death. This led to CPS stepping in and removing the couple’s other children, which they could have had back by now, if it weren’t for the fact that they allegedly refused to comply with a court order about physical discipline. Specifically, they refused to stop using physical discipline on their children.
The story starts on February 6th, with Rachel Piland giving birth to baby Abigail in their home. Abigail was born healthy, however when the midwife checked back the day after the baby was born, she noticed obvious signs of jaundice developing. Knowing that jaundice can prove fatal is not treated quickly, the midwife advised the couple to take their newborn to the hospital as soon as possible.
But Rachel refused. According to testimony provided by Lansing Police Detective Peter Scaccia, “(She) declined to seek any medical treatment for Abigail, stating God … makes no mistakes.” Rachel insisted to the midwife that her baby was fine. Over the next two days, the baby’s condition worsened and the midwife, along with Rachel’s mother, urged her to seek medical help for her baby.
On February 9th, Rachel discovered her baby lifeless and not breathing in a bouncy seat. However, it was a relative living in California that ended up calling police to notify them that the baby was dead. When officers arrived at the Piland’s home, they discovered the deceased baby upstairs surrounded by a group of people who were praying for resurrection.
In a later interview with DHHS, Rachel said that she fully expected to hold her baby again, as she believed Abigail would be resurrected from the dead. She and her husband, Joshua Piland, also told investigators that they knew what the symptoms were, but believed in God’s word, not in the symptoms of illness.
An autopsy revealed that Abigail’s death was the result of complications stemming from jaundice.
As a result, the couple were charged with involuntary manslaughter. However, seven weeks after Abigail’s death, CPS filed a petition to remove the couple’s children. The petition was granted by Ingham County Circuit Court Referee Megan Mertens, and the Piland’s two young boys, aged 2- and 3-years-old, were removed from their custody.
CPS workers created a parenting plan that would allow the two boys to move back in with their parents, however the plan required that the Pilands forgo the use of physical discipline with their sons. The couple refused. The removal petition had stated that the two boys were at risk for “threatened harm of physical neglect.” For this reason, they refused to return the boys without assurances that there would be no physical discipline.
But the Pilands disagreed, and told CPS they would not be complying with the order. The result? They will not be getting their children back. As of now, the boys are staying with a family member in Grand Rapids. As of now the Piland’s parental rights haven’t been revoked, however that option isn’t off the table yet, as the case is still unresolved.
We will be keeping an eye on this case, and will let you know if any new developments take place. Until then, if you or a loved one need help battling CPS for your parental rights, or have been falsely accused of child abuse or neglect, call The Kronzek Firm immediately at 866 766 5245. Our skilled family preservation attorneys can help you fight for your parental rights, and keep your family intact.