Amanda Bates, age 13, died from medical neglect. She had diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as an infection that had turned gangrenous in her genitals and buttocks. Amanda and her 12 siblings were homeschooled.
Her parents, Colleen and Randy Bates, did not graduate from high school. They belong to the General Assembly Church of the First Born and opposed all medical treatment. They were charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless manslaughter, reckless child abuse resulting in death, and criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death. In a plea deal, they were sentenced to serve 20 years of probation, complete 1,300 hours of community service each, and provide medical treatment for their remaining 12 children.
Date: February 5, 2001
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
| Documents: | Date: |
| Prayed-over girl died of untreated diabetes | 2001-02-08 |
| Infection death ruled homicide | 2001-12-13 |
| Colo. Girl’s Diabetes Death Ruled Homicide | 2001-12-13 |
| Colo. Girl’s Death Called Homicide — Amanda Bates | |
| Colorado Children’s Deaths Rekindle Debate on Religion | 2001-02-21 |
| Charges follow faith-healing death | 2001-03-10 |
| Parents sentenced for withholding care | 2001-11-09 |
| Are Religious Exemption Laws Killing Children? | 2008-03-26 |
| Healing or homicide? The use of prayer to treat sick children | 2008-08-13 |
