Jeffrey and Marci Beagley were both members of the Followers of Christ Church, whose members have a lengthy history of child deaths from lack of medical care. The deaths influenced a 1999 law eliminating the religious freedom defense in some cases involving the welfare of a child.

At their 2010 trial, the Oregon City couple testified they knew their son Neil was ill two weeks before he died in June 2008 from complications of a urinary tract blockage.

The Beagleys also were present when their 15-month-old granddaughter died of complications from pneumonia and a blood infection, both treatable conditions, in March 2008.

“The court has the opportunity to deliver a clear message that this idea that one can let a child die while they’re praying without medical attention is not supportable,” prosecutor Greg  Horner said. “It must be addressed.”

Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Steven Maurer sentenced Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to 16 months in prison with three years of post-prison supervision.

The sentences were later reduced by 98 days for good behavior.

The Oregon Court of Appeals denied an appeal from the Beagleys on June 19th 2013.

The Beagleys contended they had no legal duty to provide medical care for their child and that the judge who handled their case improperly allowed jurors to hear prejudicial testimony. The court, however, ruled that the evidence and jury instructions at the Beagleys’ trial were appropriate.

The couple argued that the trial court judge erroneously denied their motion to exclude the evidence relating to the death of their granddaughter 3 months previously. The appeals court disagreed.

“The fact that defendants had witnessed the death of another child due a to lack of medical care makes it more probable, not only that they did know that Neil was at risk, but that they should have known that Neil was at risk,” the court said.

The court also affirmed that the jury instructions were appropriate and Oregon’s criminal negligence statutes were correctly applied.

“The statutes permit a parent to treat a child by prayer or other spiritual means so long as the illness is not life threatening,” the appeals court said. “However, once a reasonable person should know that there is a substantial risk that the child will die without medical care, the parent must provide that care, or allow it to be provided, at the risk of criminal sanctions if the child does die.”

According to religionnewsblog.com; "Theologically, the Followers of Christ church is a cult of Christianity. It’s extreme stance on faith healing is unbiblical, and places the church outside the boundaries of the Christian faith. Sociologically the church should also be considered a destructive cult, as its practices are harmful to its followers and/or their dependents." 

35-year-old Molly Watson’s body was discovered near a creek bed in a rural area of Monroe County, Missouri, with what was later determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, on April 27 2018, 2 days before her upcoming wedding to then 51 year old James Addie.

James had been romantically involved with Molly for more than 6 years, and they had been planning the wedding for over a year.

Little did Molly know, but James was already married. He had been married with 2 children for 23 years to Melanie Addie, who also in the dark regarding James’ secret double life.

The prosecution alleges that James panicked 2 days before the impending nuptials and murdered Molly in a desperate last attempt to keep his double life concealed.

Addie is facing charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. 

2021 trial. Deputies were sent to a trailer park in Ocala, Florida after 48 year old Lisa Jeffrey was reported missing. Detectives spoke to Patience Burton during a wellbeing check, and she let them in to the Jeffrey’s trailer home.

That's where Lisa Jeffery’s body was discovered wrapped in bags in a storage compartment underneath the bed in the spare room.

The victim’s ex-husband, 55 year old Bo Pete Jeffrey, is charged with first-degree murder of Lisa Jeffrey, convicted and sentenced. 

2021 trial. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is accused of fatally stabbing Mollie Tibbetts while she was out running in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, in July of 2018.

Rivera was questioned after surveillance video showed his vehicle apparently following Tibbetts as she ran.

The victim’s body was discovered in a cornfield 5 weeks after her disappearance.

The following trial documents the State of Iowa vs. Rivera for the charge of first degree murder.