Faith healer parents avoid jail after son, 16, dies in horrible pain after they tried to 'pray away' his burst appendix

PUBLISHED: 19:24 EST, 18 September 2012 | UPDATED: 01:47 EST, 19 September 2012

Two parents have avoided jail after admitting they let their son, 16, die in horrible agony because they chose to 'pray away' his burst appendix and refused to take him to the hospital.

Russel and Brandi Bellew, age 39 and 36, of Creswell, Oregon, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide on Tuesday and were sentenced to five years probation after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.

The couple, who had seven children before Austin Sprout's death, are members of the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born in nearby Pleasant Hill, which shuns modern medicine and teaches parishioners that faith healing and prayer will cure disease.

Walking free: Brandi and Russel Bellew, leave court on Tuesday after they were sentenced to five years of probation for letting their 16-year-old son died after they tried to 'pray away' his burst appendix

Excruciating: Austin Sprout, 16, died of a burst appendix after suffering appendicitis for a week. The painful disease is easily remedied by routine surgery

It was also revealed on Tuesday that Austin died in December from a burst appendix after he suffered from appendicitis for a week, the Eugene Register Guard reported.

Appendicitis, the inflammation of the appendix, often results in excruciating abdominal pain that requires heavy doses of morphine to keep under control. However, it can be easily treated with routine surgery that removes the appendix.

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Left untreated, the inflamed organ can burst and spew bile into the body, which results in dangerous infections that often prove deadly.

The couple were charged with second-degree manslaughter after authorities learned the Austin's death could have been prevented if his parents had simple taken him to the hospital.

Austin's father, Anthony, died in 2007 of sepsis, after he refused to seek treatment for an infected injury to his leg.

Faith healers: The Bellews, who have six other children, are members of the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born, which shuns modern medicine in favor of prayer

His mother, Brandi, later married Russel Bellew -- who was also widowed.

At the time of Austin's death, his uncle Shawn Sprout, defended the congregation's practice of faith healing.

'We trust in God for everything. We trusted him to take care of our illnesses and heal us,' he told KVAL.

Social workers removed the other six children, who range in age from infant to 17, from the Bellews home.

It is unclear whether they will be returned to their parents, though a case worker said she believes they are 'safe' in the home.

Eugene Review Guard: Parents get probation in death of Creswell 16-year-old

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I was raised in this religion. They claim "We trust in God for everything" except they don't. They go to dentists, optometrists, collect food stamps, unemployment, social security, buy home insurance, auto insurance, fire & flood insurance. They let their children die to prove trust in god while wearing glasses. Unbelievable.

- Jim Dukes , Willow, United States, 20/9/2012 05:30

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"It's not purely coincidence that since the numbers of believers in God started to severely dwindle in the 60s and onwards, we've seen the rise in feminism" Oh no, anything but feminism! *sarcasm*

- Madeline , Louisville, 20/9/2012 05:11

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We need to cure the planet of this terrible mental illness called "religion" as soon as possible.

- phil s , Northolt, United Kingdom, 20/9/2012 04:50

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There are no words to describe how incredibly stupid these people are. Pray away the disease? It's 2012 people. Wake up. If you choose to live your life this way, that is your prerogative. BUT you cannot waste someone else's life due to your selfish make believe . Truly disgusting!

- Joelma Cristina Bond , Monroe, United States, 20/9/2012 02:51

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This isn't a sign that God doesn't exist. This is a lesson that God has blessed mankind with the ability to heal, through medicine, technology, and science. Two of my children have been saved by modern medicine; one who was born 17 weeks early, and only weighed 1 lb 2 ozs, and another who had open heart surgery at two months old. It was a blessing from God to give the doctors and nurses the ability to save my children. This is such a sad story not only because of the boy who died, but because of the parents inabiity to see what God had to offer them.

- Shawna Berry-Rohr , bethel heights, United States, 20/9/2012 01:24

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Horrendous to say the least....there are no words to describe how horrific that is and it's beyond my comprehension to even begin to understand what in the hell their mental problem/mentality/lack of compassion is or how they can live with themselves after that. Relion is so F#@cked up to say the least. Poor, poor, boy.

- Elaina Abbassian , San Francisco, United States, 20/9/2012 01:18

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They wanted God to cure the boy...don't they know God made Doctors too? They should be put in jail and their children taken from them.

- oldfoxbob , Cross City Fla, 20/9/2012 01:15

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Like your right to swing your fist stops at the end of my nose, so your right to practice your religion stops when it endangers any other human being (or animal of that matter).

- Neil Roth , Loveland, United States, 20/9/2012 00:00

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I hear people say to me all the time that parents like this don't deserve jail. That it is their right to refuse treatment for their children because of their beliefs. Well, dammit, what about that child's rights? Does that child not have the right to live? The right to believe in science and modern medicine? This is ridiculous. It happens more than people know, too. It makes me sick.

- Katrina Doxsie , Lansing, United States, 19/9/2012 23:01

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My heart hurts for this boy, who is the same age as my son. This is why we need licensing exams to earn the ability to breed. Psychological profiling and such, yes I am completely serious.

- Starr Johnson , TONOPAH, United States, 19/9/2012 22:34

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