Dad Blames Devil For Son's Death: Social Worker

A social worker says the father of a dead toddler blamed the devil for the boy's death after he and his wife prayed for him rather than seek medical treatment.

Schaible and his wife, Catherine, are on trial on involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of their son, Kent. Prosecutors say the boy died after a two-week battle with bacterial pneumonia because the couple failed to seek medical treatment for him.

Originally, attorneys for the couple said that the Schaibles were not using their faith as an excuse for not seeking medical attention for their son, claiming that they thought he had a bad cold or flu.

However, on Wednesday, Philadelphia social worker Kenneth Dixon testified that Herbert Schaible said "we tried to fight the devil, but in the end the devil won" when questioned about the January 2009 death of his two-year-old son.

The Schaibles belong to the First Century Gospel Church in Juniata where their church leader says that he has never taken medicine or visited a doctor, reports the Philadelphia Daily News.

According to Assistant Medical Examiner, had the couple sought medical attention or even purchased over-the counter medication, Kent would still be alive.

Attorneys for the Schaibles say prosecutors cannot prove the couple knew the boy was in danger of dying.