ROTHSCHILD, Wis (WSAU-Wheeler News) A Wausau area couple convicted of praying instead of getting medical care to avoid the death of their daughter have gone back into the coffee shop business. Dale and Leilani Neumann are part owners of the Wooden Cup Coffee Company, which opened earlier this month south of Wausau in Rothschild.
The Neumanns made national news in 2009 when they tried but failed to avoid reckless homicide convictions. The case involved the Neumann’s rights to freedom-of-religion — but they each got six months in jail and ten years’ probation for refusing to seek treatment for 11-year-old Kara Neumann. She died from complications of untreated diabetes.
Her parents owned a coffee shop in Weston, which closed after they were charged. They declared bankruptcy in 2012. The Wausau Daily Herald quoted the Neumanns as saying they remain passionate about serving their community with a specialty coffee and beverage business. However it appears that a lot of their early profits will go to Marathon County taxpayers. The Daily Herald said the Neumanns are supposed to pay $98,000 for court costs — and they’ve only paid back $456. Court officials say that as long as they’re paying something, they’re not violating court orders.
