Therapists Guilty in 'Rebirth' Trial
April 20 -- Two psychotherapists were convicted today of reckless child abuse of the death of a 10-year-old girl who suffocated during a controversial "rebirthing" session.
Jurors deliberated for more than five hours before convicting Connell Watkins, 54, and Julie Ponder, 40, in the death of Candace Newmaker. During the April 18, 2000 session, Candace was being treated for reactive attachment disorder, a condition where children avoid forming loving relationships and often become disruptive and violent.
During the session, Candace was supposed to force her way out of a blanket, becoming "reborn" to form a bond with her adoptive mother.
At the end of the session, Watkins and Ponder unwrapped Candace and found her not breathing. Efforts to revive her failed and medical examiners later determined she died of asphyxiation.
‘I'm Dying!’
A videotape of Candace's "rebirth" was the key evidence prosecutors used at trial. On the tape, Candace is heard crying and pleading with Watkins, Ponder and their two assistants to let her out.
Candace was wrapped in the blanket with large pillows on either side of her.
"I'm dying! … It feels like I'm dying!" Candace cried as Watkins, Ponder and two of their assistants pushed pillows against both sides of the girl to simulate birth contractions.
Candace died the next day. While a coroner found that she died of asphyxiation, the defense argued that other factors may have caused the girl's death.
A defense forensic pathologist testified that the powerful medication Candace was taking at the time of her death may have killed her. The pathologist also said Candace may have succumbed to an undetected heart condition two therapists were unaware of before the session. Attorneys for Ponder and Watkins said they had no reason to believe Candace would be harmed by the therapy session.
"This was not child abuse," Ponder's lawyer, Joan Heller, toldthe jury. "This was done for therapy. This was done for all thebest intentions — to try to make sure that this child got achance."
