Four Face Trial in Girl's 'Rebirthing' Death
G O L D E N, Colo., Aug. 18 -- A judge ruled Thursday there is enoughevidence to try four people charged with child abuse in the deathof a 10-year-old girl who stopped breathing when she was wrapped ina sheet during “rebirthing” therapy.
During the 70-minute, videotaped session, the girl toldtherapists 13 times that she was having trouble breathing or feltshe was going to die, prosecutors said. Candace Newmaker had nopulse when the flannel sheet was unwrapped, and she died the nextday in a hospital.
Prosecutor: They’re Responsible
Prosecutor Steve Jensen said the four adults assumed aresponsibility to protect Candace and went into the session with“rose-colored glasses and chose to ignore what should have beenobvious.”
Therapists Julie Ponder, 40, and Connell Watkins, 53; internJack McDaniel, 47; and business manager Brita St. Clair, 41, wereordered bound over to District Court.
Their arraignments are scheduled Sept. 18. Reckless child abusecarries a sentence of up to 48 years in prison.
McDaniel’s lawyer, David Savitz, said the death was an accident.“The people in the room were all there with the goal of helpingthis youngster’s life,” Savitz said after the hearing.
‘Painted as Monsters’
Another defense attorney, Michael Steinberg, who represents St.Clair, said, “They can be painted as monsters, but these peoplededicated their lives to helping children like Candace.”
In the rebirthing therapy, Candace was curled in a fetalposition and wrapped in the flannel sheet meant to represent thewomb. The attendants pushed against her with pillows and urged herto fight her way out to become “reborn,” authorities said.
The session was meant to help the girl overcome “reactiveattachment disorder,” in which children resist forming lovingrelationships and become unmanageable and violent. The hope wasthat she would bond with her adoptive mother, who was present forpart of the session.
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