A Michigan couple is facing up to 45 years in jail for failing to get proper medical care for their newborn. The baby had an illness that was totally curable with a trip to the hospital. But instead, parents Joshua Piland, 44, and Rachel Piland, 38, chose faith-based healing. When the newborn died, they failed to report the death in a timely manner, which only made matters worse.
As they stood trial in the infant’s death, they told the court that they stood by their choice. Not only that, but they also said they would do the same thing again if given the opportunity.
Joshua and Rachel Piland were sentenced by a Michigan court to serve a minimum of 20 years, People reported. They could serve a maximum of 45 years for the 2017 death of their 3-day-old daughter, Abigail. The couple was found guilty on counts of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse in March 2025.
Rachel gave birth on February 6, 2017, without incident at home. At the time, Abigail seemed healthy, her midwife, Sandra McCurdy, told police investigating the case. When the midwife returned the next day, however, she noticed the newborn’s skin was yellowing, People reported. Believing the baby to be jaundiced, McCurdy suggested a trip to the hospital.
“The mother responded that they would not be seeking medical assistance because Abigail was fine and ‘God makes no mistakes,’” per a leave to file appeal from 2018.
By the next day, Abigail was dead. The Pilands reportedly called friends, who helped them pray for the baby to be “resurrected,” the appeal noted. That night, when Rachel Piland’s brother found out about the death, the authorities were finally contacted. Lansing Police Officer Stacey Browe said they were still praying over the newborn when she arrived. Abigail had been dead for nine hours.
“The next day the father told police that he believes God will heal any medical issues and they will ‘walk it out,’” the appeal application said of Joshua Piland’s first police interview.
“He stated that he would not have done anything different and ‘[i]f I had a choice between putting my daughter in the hands of men with the best of intentions and highest skill set in the world, I’d still put my daughter’s life in the hands of my Lord Savior Jesus Christ,’” People reported.
The autopsy showed that Abigail died of a high level of bilirubin, presented as jaundice. The Lansing State Journal reported that the Pilands tried to treat her jaundice by placing her in a sunlit window. The couple believed she was getting better shortly before she died.
At the time, Joshua and Rachel Piland had two older children who were removed from their home by Child Protective Services. According to the State Journal, during the trial, it was revealed the couple had two children after Abigail’s death as well. Rachel Piland reportedly had no prenatal care with either pregnancy and delivered those babies at home as well.
Both newborns suffered from hemolytic disease of the newborn at birth. According to Standford Medicine Children’s Health, it occurs when a baby’s red blood cells break down quickly.
Again, the Pilands did not seek medical treatment for their newborns, but Child Protective Services intervened quickly and got them the life-saving medical care they needed, the State Journal reported. The Pilands tried to keep this evidence from being used, but the Court of Appeals sided with the prosecution, allowing the evidence to be presented.
During the trial, the couple stood firm in their beliefs. They are being held at Ingham County Jail while waiting for their prison assignments.
