Dying for religion: ‘They use fear - that’s their main weapon’
Back in March, two very sick children from two different families in Canyon County died, likely from untreated pneumonia. We’ll never know for sure, because they were never taken to the doctor.
For more than 99-percent of Idahoans, not getting medical care for a gravely sick child could be considered a crime. But for one group, it’s perfectly legal. And some say it’s time for it to stop.
“Too many little kids are dying over needless things that can be cured,” says a man we’re calling Jacob. He’s a former member of the Followers of Christ Church, which has at least three branches here in the Treasure Valley, including one in Caldwell, another near Lake Lowell and one on Ten Mile in Meridian.
We’ve agreed to protect Jacob’s identity because he still has active ties to the church, and is worried about the fallout of our investigation to current members.
“They use fear a lot, that’s their main weapon,” says Jacob. “It starts young. You start hearing about Hell and Lake of Fire real early.”