The death of an 8-year-old autistic boy during a weekend prayer service has been ruled a homicide by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s office.
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According to the medical examiner, Terrance Cottrell Jr. suffocated to death by “mechanical asphyxia due to external chest compression.”
The Boy Who Didn't Go To Church - Adventures in Odyssey - Focus on the Family Canada Jack participates in a unique play about the BODY, or the 'Brotherhood of Dutiful Youth.' Jack participates in a unique play about the BODY, or the 'Brotherhood of Dutiful Youth.' Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, c. March 1822 – March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Milwaukee Police and the district attorney’s office are investigating the boy’s death Friday night at the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, a small storefront church at 8709 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Ray Hemphill, the church pastor’s brother, is being held on suspicion of physical abuse of a child, a felony. Milwaukee Police Capt. Nan Hegerty said Monday that she does not expect anyone else to be arrested in the case.
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Two women – including Cottrell’s mother, Patricia Cooper – held the boy down while Hemphill tried to remove the evil spirits from him, said Hemphill’s brother, David Hemphill, the pastor of the church.
Cooper has not been able to be reached for comment.
David Hemphill has stood by the actions of his brother and the others trying ot help the boy.
“Didn’t do nothing wrong,” David Hemphill said Sunday. “We did what the Book of Matthew said, Chapter 12. All we did is ask God to deliver him.”
David Hemphill said Sunday that the boy’s hands had been covered with sheets to prevent him from further scratching himself. The participants did not use force, he said, demonstrating by putting his hand gently on a reporter’s shoulder.
Hemphill said that he understands police must investigate the incident and that if his child had died in such a manner, he would hope for an investigation. But he believes no one will, or should, be punished for Torrance’s death.
He also said the child’s death would not change the way the church operates, saying: “How you going to change the Bible?”
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An Ohio dad lost his job at McDonald's and may face jail after he reportedly believed his son got on a church van Sunday, but instead, the boy popped up at a nearby Family Dollar store.
WXYZ.com reported that Jeffrey Williamson, who lives in Blanchester, thought all of his children boarded a church van, but his 8-year-old son apparently never got on and instead wanted to play in the neighborhood.
Police found the boy at the store-- about a half mile from home-- and said he did not know his address. A customer, however, recognized the boy and pointed police to the home.
'I told the cop he goes out in the neighborhood and plays every day with all the other kids,' Williamson told the station, denying that the boy didn't know his address. 'There's a million kids around here that play.'
Williamson was arrested at the scene and could be charged with child endangerment, the report said. His story made the front page of the local paper.
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'It's ridiculous to me that I was arrested for this,' he said.