Parents Let Their 10-Month-Old Baby Die After 'Refusing Help For Religious Reasons'

An American couple have been charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse after they refused to get help for their 10-month-old child who died of malnutrition and dehydration.

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Seth Welch and his wife, Tatiana Fusari, both 27 years of age, were arrested after their daughter, Mary, died in Solon Township, Kent County, Michigan last week.

They are accused of refusing to get medical treatment for their daughter because of their religious beliefs, actions which ultimately resulted in her death.

The pair are highly religious, with Welch regularly posting about his Christian faith on Facebook.

In a recent post, he wrote: "The righteous shall live by faith. It's God who is sovereign over disease and those sorts of things and, of course, ultimately deaths."

In another post, he wrote: "Shouldn't we just let the weak die off and let the strong survive?", while in a third, he called doctors. "priesthoods of the medical cult"

On the day of Mary's dath, he wrote: "Heart is about shattered right now.

"Woke up to Mary dead in her bed this morning - this evening had our children removed and placed on 'no contact' because Tati and I are the worst parents ever - Thankfully they are with grandma and grandpa.

The pair were arrested immediately, with court documents showing that the couple were well aware of the dangers facing their daughter and that police were already worrying about her well-being before she died.

"During interviews with both parents, admissions were made that they were aware of Mary Welch's skinny appearance and low weight for at least one month prior to this date," read a sworn affidavit given to the court ahead of their appearance.

"Tatiana Fusari admitted during the interview that they failed to reach out for medical help with their daughter for fear of having her children removed by Child Protective Services, lack of faith and trust in the medical services and religious reasons."

Fusari herself said at the time of their meeting with the police before Mary's death that she had not sought medical care because of their "fear of having Child Protective Services called, lack of faith and trust in medical services and
religious reasons."

The couple have two other kids, aged two and four, who are being cared for my Fusari's parents. Welch also has a third child, who is eight years of age.

Welch and Fusari have been detained without bail and face life in jail should they be found guilty.