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April 4, 2001
Adoptive Mother Of Rebirthing Victim
Testifies:
Victim Died After Evergreen Session
An adoptive mother testified Tuesday that she
spent years trying to get psychological help for her adopted
daughter before taking her to an Evergreen, Colo., clinic where the
girl died after an rebirthing therapy session.
Jeane Newmaker of Durham, N.C., cried as she
described Candace's disruptive behavior, which ranged from refusing
to eat and sleep to one night when she tried to set a mattress on
fire at their home.
"Every recommendation was being implemented,
but it wasn't having an impact. I was very concerned it wasn't going
anywhere," Newmaker said.
Newmaker took the stand in the trial of
therapists Connell Watkins, 54, and Julie Ponder, 40, who are
charged with reckless child abuse resulting in Candace's death. If
convicted, they each could face up to 48 years in prison.
During the rebirthing session at their clinic,
the therapists wrapped Candace, 10, in a flannel blanket and urged
to fight her way out, using large pillows on either side of her to
resemble a birth canal.
Candace gasped for breath and begged for her
life. She died of asphyxiation on April 19, 2000, one day later.
The therapists were treating Candace for
reactive attachment disorder, where a child resists forming loving
relationships and can become unmanageable and violent. Newmaker took
her to the clinic to seek help.
Newmaker is facing a lesser charge of
criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death, and is
scheduled for trial in November.
A paramedic also testified on Tuesday.
Larry Ferree of the Evergreen Fire Protection
District was the first paramedic to arrive at the scene after
Candace Newmaker stopped breathing.
He said that the girl showed signs of
suffocation and was cold and blue. Ferry said that two women were
performing CPR on Candace when he arrived.
Attorneys for the women said in opening
arguments Monday that they didn't know Candace had a heart condition
that might have contributed to her death.
Newmaker adopted Candace in June 1996 and
learned the girl was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, in
which a child resists forming loving relationships and can become
unmanageable and violent.
A 70-minute videotape of a therapy session in
Watkins' Evergreen home shows Candace crying out as she tries to
escape the blanket meant to represent a womb.
Prosecutors said that the therapists also shook
Candace violently and shouted in her face, but the defense argued
against allegations that the therapists smothered Candace.
The videotape is expected to be shown in court
at the end of the week.
Brita St. Clair, 42, Watkins' business manager,
also could take the stand later this week. She and intern Jack
McDaniel were both present for the rebirthing therapy and face child
abuse charges. They will be tried in September.
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