April 13, 2001

Prosecution Wraps Up In Rebirthing Therapy Trial:
Defense To Present Its Case In Golden

Prosecutors have wrapped up their case in the trial of two women charged in the death of a girl during a controversial "rebirthing" therapy, after calling an expert who described the therapy as "junk science."

Dr. Christopher Barden told jurors that the therapy used on Candace Newmaker (pictured, left) was "easily the most reckless and abuse treatment of a child I have ever seen."

Connell Watkins and Julie Ponder are charged with child abuse resulting in the death of 10-year-old Candace, of Durham, N.C.

Candace stopped breathing after being wrapped in a blanket during the treatment, and died the next day. She was supposed to force her way out of the blanket and emerge "reborn" to bond with her adoptive mother.

Barden said that the therapy was "quackery, junk science or pseudo-therapy."

Jeane Newmaker adopted Candace in 1996 and had taken her to Watkins after the girl was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, in which children resist forming loving relationships.

Watkins' office manager, Brita St. Clair, and intern, Jack McDaniel, face child abuse charges and will be tried in September.

Jeane Newmaker also faces trial on a lesser charge of criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death.

Also Thursday, Candace's grandmother and stepgrandfather arrived in Denver from North Carolina to observe the remainder of the trial. Mary and David Davis criticized the rebirthing therapy and were critical of Jeane Newmaker.

"I don't understand how any reasonable person can expect to have torture to produce love," David Davis said. "You cannot have love produced from pain."