United States authorities have arrested a Nigerian couple they say made their son ‘fast to death’ in the US town of Reedsburg, State of Wisconsin.
The Nigerian couple it was gathered allowed their teenage son to starve to death while his brother became severely emaciated during a religious fast made compulsory by the parents.
Kehinde Omosebi, 49, and Titilayo Omosebi, 48, were charged with child neglect causing death and child neglect causing great bodily harm by Wisconsin prosecutors.
Authorities say both charges amount to felonies and carry a combined maximum sentence of 37 years in prison.
According to Reedsburg Police Chief Timothy Becker, the father of the dead boy reported the death of his 15-year-old son on Sunday.
He said further that when police arrived at the family’s house, they discovered the body of the dead teenager and another 11 year old boy who looked severely emaciated alongside his mother who was also extremely emaciated.
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The police chief further informed the press that the father had confessed to police that he was a ‘man of God’ affiliated with Cornerstone Reformation Ministries stating that the family had started a religious fast on July 19.
Police investigators however say they do not believe the father is a ‘minister’; they also believed he made up the name of the ministry.
While the surviving members of the family were taken to hospital, only the 11 year old boy was receiving treatment because the mother refused treatment citing religious reasons.
Police returned her to the Sauk county jail on her request while the 11 year old was placed in protective custody at Children’s Hospital in Madison.
Nigerians are known to be one of the most religious ethnic groups in the world and fasting accompanied with loud praying is a major feature of the Nigerian brand of Christianity.