A sect and justice

The Massachusetts prosecutors who this week found the bodies of two young boys of members of a religious sect no doubt are pursuing a yet-to-be revealed legal strategy in this case. But their public comments at Baxter State Park in Maine the other day left the impression, perhaps unintentional, that they were at least as concerned with finding the boys’ bodies as with finding justice.

The Bristol County prosecutors needed the help of one of the boys’ father, David Corneau, to find the body of 18-month-old Samuel Robidoux in the northern edge of the park. The body of infant Jeremiah Corneau was found nearby buried in a homemade pine coffin. In exchange for Mr. Corneau’s help, the prosecutors agreed that he and his wife, Rebecca, will be granted complete immunity and that three sect members who had been jailed for refusing to cooperate with police be freed. There is some question whether autopsies, which could determine the causes of death, were ruled out under the agreement.

Bristol County District Attorney Paul Walsh said after the bodies had been recovered that, “I think we were ready to go to some extreme measures to find the children for an awful lot of reasons” and “it’s just wrong that these kids should be buried out here in the forest.”

The Christian sect to which the Corneaus belong is reported to shun modern medicine and, for that matter, U.S. law. But while they were alive, Samuel and Jeremiah were or should have been entitled to both. If it can be demonstrated that Jeremiah died a death that was easily preventable by available medical care – police say he may have died shortly after birth from a clogged breathing passage – the parents, whatever their beliefs, should be held responsible. This does not now seem possible under the immunity agreement.

Prosecutors may have felt that their case was too weak without recovering the bodies and there may, indeed, be other sect members they are more concerned with charging. For instance, the parents of Samuel, Jacques and Karen Robidoux, may have allowed their child to starve to death. But in a case as emotionally difficult as this one, holding the most immediate parties – the parents – responsible is important to public confidence in the law and a sense that justice will prevail.

It is without question a tough call for prosecutors. No one who has watched this case unfold, however, can be satisfied that the mere fact that these parents were part of a religious sect lessens their culpability in any potential foul play taken against a child.