Parents Prayed Instead of Getting Sick Newborn Care

You have heard a request to bring this child back to life, father, even though in the natural it doesn't look good. It took us more than a year to get the body cam video we're about to show you. It's from the kind of murder case we typically don't see. She said that she was moving or breathing, and he just went and laid hands on the baby and praying ever since. This couple's baby was less than three days old. She had a curable condition. Hank joined BJ's Wholesale Club the day he became a father of 30. I coach football. Now Coach Hank saves up to 25% off grocery store prices, 30 pounds of pasta, three cases of protein bars, 75 sports drinks. And that's just pregame. He knows teamwork, and BJ's knows savings. This is your home, Coach. Home of the Save. Join for just $20 at bjs.com slash mesquite and save 10 cents per gallon for six months. Open soon. Limited time offer, new members only. BJ's. Home of the Save. But instead of medicine, the baby's parents turned. To prayer. When a child passes away, even, you know, with your guys' beliefs, it's very, you know, it's not normal for us not to get a call. We will take you inside the house where all of this happened and show you what this couple had to say for themselves. We're on the case presented by Law & Crime. I'm Chris Stewart. You have a right to practice whatever religion you want. It is one of the great things. It is one of the great things about this country. But in the eyes of the law, when your beliefs put a child in danger, a line needs to be drawn. And that is the central issue of the story that we're talking about today. Hi. Hello. Is that mom in there? I don't know. Mother? Okay. Where's the child at? Okay. What, um, did you just have. We got a call that a baby passed away. She did? She did? This morning. Um, I don't know, like, 3 p.m. Are you the mom? I am. Okay. Sorry for your loss. Okay. This is the moment police in Lansing, Michigan, responded to the home of Joshua and Rachel Pylent. And you can just see how eerily calm it is inside the house. It's about 1.45 in the morning, and Rachel, the mom, just told the officer that her baby died before noon the day prior. The medical examiner determined that the baby died of elevated levels of. of bilirubin. Now, if left untreated, it can damage a baby's brain, and as we can see in this case, it can be fatal. And it's important to note, it is very common. The Cleveland Clinic says more than half of newborns deal with it, and it's also treatable. And in some cases, babies don't even need to be treated if they have elevated levels of bilirubin. Now, if they do need treatment, often they're put under special lights that can bring the levels down to a normal level. And the bottom line, as we talk about this story, is that this baby. was born healthy, and a quick treatment would have saved her, according to doctors. Now, before we dive into the rest of the body cam, I want to make sure you understand who the Pylents are and what it appears they believed. This couple regularly posted Bible verses on social media. They were a family of four, and in February of 2017, they became a family of five. Here's a picture of Rachel in August of 2016, announcing that she was pregnant. She wrote that they have a due date adjustment. Baby number three is. That's Rachel's husband, Joshua, and we'll get back to what he told police in just a moment. So, February 6th, 2017, Rachel gave birth to a baby named Abigail, per her mom's Facebook. Rachel gave birth at her home, using a midwife. But, less than three days later, Joshua takes to LinkedIn, and he writes that his daughter, Abigail, passed away last Thursday morning. He says, we're standing in faith for her resurrection, according to the word of God. So, what happened to baby Abigail? Police received an anonymous 911 call. 911, what's the location of your emergency? Potential dead infant. I'm a mandated reporter who overheard. I overheard a conversation. Okay. My name is Rob. I overheard a conversation that an infant was born, an uncle of the child reported it dead to a midwife. The midwife has not been able to see the child, and was denied access. Okay. I do not know if this report is true. I have no way of verifying it. I've overheard a conversation secondhand. Who was talking about it? My wife was talking about it. We're on our way home. I'll be home in ten minutes, and you may send an officer to our address in Hastings to make a report. That wasn't the only call that came in to police. Rachel's brother called in from out of state. Lansing Police Department. Hi. I need to record an incident. Okay. I'm sorry, a what? So, I'm not in the area, but I don't know, it's hard to describe. My sister's baby passed away this morning. The child was born just a few days ago. My sister and her husband did not believe in medical intervention because of their religious beliefs. So, they did not seek any medical care. The child was born in the area. We have freedom of religion and this is our right. Did the baby pass out at 11 o'clock this morning? 11 o'clock. Was there complications with the birth or anything? No. She was born at 1. Okay. Can I, I need to take a look and make sure, you know, because I can't really see the baby. At least take a look and see if, you know, the baby. Okay. No, you're okay. You can hold it. Yeah, give me a minute. I'm going to, yeah, you can tell. Your miracles are not just for those who believe, but those who may not believe. Thank you and praise you for that. You are an awesome God. We do honor those that seek you with their whole face. We praise you for that, Father God. We thank you that no weapon formed against us can prosper. Amen. Your tongue can rise up against us and judge our God. We just thank you that you have heard our prayers, you know, that you have heard our request to bring this child back to life, Father. Even though in the natural it doesn't look good, we still thank you. We still praise you that you have heard these prayers and you have sinned. Your healing power down on the body, Father. We just praise you for this in Jesus' name. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Father. Yeah, Officer Watkins, do you want a cart? My name's Andrew. You can just call me Andrew. Thank you for your concern. I don't know what the order of the order is. Um, what happens with those. You have so many hours to, um, notify somebody? Is that what it is? Um, it's. It's. It's. It's. It's. When there's a sudden death, you should be notified immediately, but that didn't happen, so we gotta move past that. But what does have to happen is there's protocol that we follow that deal with investigating any sudden deaths of anyone in this county. We have a medical examiner come out. That medical examiner does an examination and determines whether or not there needs to be an autopsy, or whoever has passed can be released to the family to go to a funeral home, okay? I. She's the mother. She's the mom. I'm just asking, yeah. Yeah, I was. I was trying to look. I was trying to look at everyone. Yeah, I didn't know what the. Sorry. What the protocol is for this. I. And. And we're not saying, you know, anyone's done anything wrong. Okay? Thank you. They just want to know what our options are. It is disturbing just how quiet and calm it is in the room. The Pylons did not call 911. They didn't call EMTs. They didn't call any sort of medical professional when they knew something was wrong with baby. Instead, they called their friends and members of their faith community who came over to their house and prayed. I just want to know what our options are. I'd like to keep her here. Okay. And that's something that, you know, when the MEI gets here and our sergeant, that's something you guys can talk to them about on whether or not whatever they feel and whatever you guys talk about with what actually took place. Because they're going to ask you a lot of redundant questions, okay? Because, you know. Honestly, you know, when a child passes away, even, you know, with your guys' belief. I want to hire a private investigator. Some folks say I'm the best. ABC Tuesdays, TV's hottest P.I. is back. You sure you're ready to take on a serial killer? There's like a dozen more likely explanations other than serial killer. All right, maybe not a dozen. In Florida, crime has no off season. I just heard you were shot at today. With a rocket. With a rocket launcher. Well, missed. R.J. Decker, Tuesdays, 10, 9 central on ABC. Next day on Hulu. I coach football. Now, Coach Hank saves up to 25% off grocery store prices. 30 pounds of pasta, 3 cases of protein bars, 75 sports drinks. Home of the save. Join for just $20 at BJs.com. Slash Mesquite and save 10 cents per gallon for six months. Open soon. Limited time offer. New members only. BJ's, home of the save. It's very, you know, it's not normal for us not to get a call, okay? For us to come immediately. I'm sure you guys can understand that. Because, you know, we would think that, you know, something like that happens. We get a call. So when that doesn't happen, okay? I mean, it's going to raise some questions. It's going to raise some suspicion. But that's left up to, you know, us that we're going to have to deal with. We're going to have to do some follow-up investigation, okay? Right now what we're doing is we've got our sergeant coming. We need to get all your guys' information, okay? Basically kind of get an understanding of what took place, okay? And then ambulance is going to come here because the doctor actually has to, you know, pronounce the baby that, you know, that he has died. Is it a boy or a girl? A girl. A little girl? Can't you stay here? I can't answer that question. We'll be up for the medical exam. Okay. Are you dad? No. Dad is the one downstairs? Okay. What's your first name? Rachel. R-A-C-H-E-L. What's your middle name? Joy. J-O-Y? You got it. Last name? P-I-L-A-N-D. Pylan? What's your phone number? As deputies speak with Rachel upstairs, here's the statement that her husband gives to investigators downstairs. It's fine I'll stand, it's awkward sitting with belts on, so. Understood. Alright, so, uh, just overall what happened today, is it today this all occurred, or? Yeah, she, she had a rough night, my daughter, is what we named her, she doesn't have a birth certificate yet. Okay. Um, she was taking, um, I think two half hour feedings this morning, she was doing well, breathing well. Um, because of the rough night, I'd gone back to sleep, and then my wife had woke me up with, um, brought up, she was upset. Okay. She said that she wasn't breathing or moving, so we prayed over her, uh, called friends and family, and, uh, she's standing in faith ever since. Okay. So, that's, that's it. Okay. And then that, you said this morning she stopped breathing? Yeah. It was an anonymous call. It was. Or there was to remain anonymous. Probably, uh. It could have been someone that visited or something. No problem. Alright. It's, uh, uh, I would say that was probably about noon. Okay. So. Noon, you think she stopped breathing, or? Noon was when my wife woke me up. Your wife woke you up, okay. Okay. Okay. And your wife just told you that, uh, you know, make it through the morning, uh, with the feedings, or what did she say to you? Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. You other children in the house? Yeah. Here's Rachel's statement in the bedroom. Was the baby having problems? She was, so she was born in the evening. The next morning, she was looking a little jaundiced. But then she got better. And then got better? Then what? Then, yesterday, she wasn't eating very well. So we tried all sorts of things to get her to eat. No doctor or anything? And then she finally coughed up a little bit of phlegm, and then she was eating great this morning. And then what? She was eating great this morning. And what time was that? She ate at like 8.30. You're talking, so. Okay, today, on the 9th, she was eating fine? Yeah. Okay. And then what happened? Then, um, I was holding her, and in the recliner downstairs, fell asleep, and, um, woke up and put her in her bouncy seat, and then noticed that she wasn't responsive. Okay, when you fell asleep in the recliner, what time was that? That was about 10:30. And then you put her, you woke up at what time? Around 11:50. And you put her in the bed, in the crib? Put her in a bouncy seat. And you found out that she wasn't breathing? Yeah, and then she wasn't responsive. Okay. Give me one second and I'll brief him. Sure. Real quick. How far along is she? Well, there's a little change in the story. Okay. Um, she had the baby. Um, basically, at 9:50. She had a midwife here. Baby seemed a little jaundiced on the seventh. She got better. Yesterday, she stopped eating. They didn't call a doctor. The baby coughed up something. She continued to eat. This morning, she started to eat more. She looked fine. She fell asleep with the baby in the recliner at 10:30. Hey, it's Kelly Rowland. You may not know this, but I have eczema. So I get how it can steal your time. But why let eczema take over when you can talk to your doctor about EBCLSS? EBCLSS, Leberkizumab LBKZ, a 250 milligram per 2 milliliter injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema. Also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies, EBCLSS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you are allergic to EBCLSS. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with EBCLSS. Before starting EBCLSS, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Paid partnership with Lilly. Respect your time. Ask your doctor about EBCLSS and visit EBCLSS.com or call 1-800-LILLY-RX or 1-800-545-5979. I coach football. Now Coach Hank says, Now Coach Hank saves up to 25% off grocery store prices. 30 pounds of pasta. Three cases of protein bars. 75 sports drinks. And that's just pre-game. He knows teamwork. And BJ's knows savings. Home of the Save. Join for just $20 at BJs.com/MOSQUITE and save 10 cents per gallon for six months. Open soon. Limited time offer. New members only. BJ's. Home of the Save. Woke up at 11. Put the baby in the bouncy seat and realized she wasn't breathing. she wasn't breathing this was Monday right this is this morning oh okay what time this morning 11 at 10 30 she went to sleep in the recliner with the baby is it a full-term baby yeah I mean I can ask her but by the looks of it I didn't ask if she was full-term okay I was still finishing some and the um the other lady's holding it and you can tell the baby is definitely there's more kids here too I haven't seen them unless they're in here okay they're gonna be uh to get detectives in here so you don't have to okay uh uh em you want ems is on his way okay uh where are the other kids a couple minutes later a sergeant arrived and he said I'm not sure if I can get you to the hospital I'm not sure if I can get you to the hospital I'm not sure if I can get you to the hospital I'm not sure if I can get you to the and Joshua comes into the bedroom but we definitely will be as most respectful and fast as we can do you have any questions of me so everyone's coming at once are they all here or they're coming from home so it's going to take a little bit of time unfortunately but they we will not subject you to 14 different interviews from 14 different people no they will all do it at one time that's the least thing we want to be able to talk and get it you know that's why I kind of stopped my detective my office from talking to you I don't want you to have to relive as much as little as you have to and as quick as possible for for our side of it okay they will they will give you their information and their cards and they'll be able to get a hold of them if you have any questions or anything he's been a lot of crying so I'm sure I couldn't imagine um it's a horrible time and a horrible thing um a natural obviously a natural feeling to cry there was a time period in which you had to call somebody their first call was to have people come and pray that's you know each each people are different and and everybody handles grief and death in a different way the police are being very respectful and careful as they're gathering information about what happened to this little girl they speak with one of the members of the pylons church community who came to the house and this is a person they called to pray with them instead of calling 9-1-1 what time did they call you here today i was coming home from work today because i i i work in it okay so uh i was coming home from work around some time around noon okay and called me and asked me to come over and pray with them okay and so i came over i was praying with them even until now okay you might uh what religion do you pray or uh do you have a just christian christian christian okay um yeah i'll just hold off on any further there i think that's the the basics okay i appreciate the video you just saw the body cam of the response that night that was in february of 2017 and the pylons they weren't charged that night it wasn't until september of that year that they were charged at the time of the response and they were charged at the time of the response and they were charged at first with involuntary manslaughter then in september of 2019 the charges were upgraded to murder and child abuse then in march of last year they went on trial and even facing decades in prison the pylons both took the stand in their defense and they seemed to not really think that anything they did was wrong rachel said quote we believe praying was the best thing we could possibly do for her even if she had died from some kind of mental illness we wouldn't have called 9-1-1 joshua also took the stand here is part of what he said per the lansing state journal we don't know anything about what john this isn't how severe it could be to your child correct i don't argue with that you're going to rely on the professional who you hired to attend the birth to inform you about these things correct sir i rely on my creator who created us and you're also going to rely on the professional right sir that you hired to to attend the birth of your daughter abigail the trained professional you're going to rely on the professional right sir we hired our trained professional for baby catching we rely on the lord for all of you defense attorneys tried to argue that the couple did something in an attempt to save abigail's life because the couple allegedly put the baby near a window sunlight can help lower billy rubin levels now before we get back to the trial i should also tell you that the year after abigail died the pylons had another baby but within hours of that baby's birth another anonymous tip came in and it was made to child protective services who then responded and took that baby into their care and away from the pylons now that baby was taken to a hospital and doctors did diagnose her as quote significantly jaundiced meaning higher levels of billy rubin and they determined that she needed a blood transfusion the lansing state journal reported that the baby was doing well after receiving the treatment and that is the reason that the pylons refused to give baby abigail in 2017 now the pylons were convicted during their trial in march of last year of second degree murder and first degree child abuse at sentencing rachel's mom spoke and she made it seem like josh's religious teachings cut rachel off from her family here's part of what she said per the lansing state journal is that what you interpret christianity to be becoming hey it's kelly roberts roland you may not know this but i have eczema so i get how it can steal your time but why let eczema take over when you can talk to your doctor about ebglis ebglis labrakizumab lbkz a 250 milligram per two milliliter injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies ebglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids don't use if you are allergic to ebglis allergic reactions can occur that can be severe eye problems can occur tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems you should not receive a live vaccine when treated with ebglis before starting ebglis tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection paid partnership with lily respect your time ask your doctor about ebglis and visit ebglis.com or call 1-800-LILY-RX or 1-800-545-5979 tammy regularly hauls stuff to her kids' at college that's why she shops at BJ's wholesale club saving up to 25% off grocery store prices beef jerky microwave meals laundry pods even they can't screw up have you met my kids and with BJ's gas she gets there for less they call me the road warrior this is your home road warrior mom home of the save join for just $20 at bjs.com slash mesquite and save 10 cents per gallon for six months open soon limited time offer new members only BJ's home of the save on the stand before the judge gave her a sentence Rachel stood by her religious belief seemingly not taking fault for not allowing her daughter a shot at recovery with modern medicine from a curable disease she said quote my husband and I believe the very best thing we can do is seek healing from Jesus Christ the judge sentenced both of them to a minimum 20 years in prison for the death of their daughter that will do it for on the case presented by law and crime subscribe to us on YouTube and Spotify and we're also streaming on Peacock I'm Chris Stewart we'll see you next time