Sect member says he expected miracle to save starving son ‘The Body’ leader on trial in Bay State in death of 1-year-old

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TAUNTON, Mass. – A member of a religious sect charged with starving to death his infant son testified Wednesday he believed a miracle would save his son, even as the boy ground his teeth in apparent hunger.

Jacques Robidoux, the leader of a sect known as “The Body” that rejects modern medicine, is on trial for first-degree murder in the death of 1-year-old Samuel. He choked back tears as he described his son’s deteriorating health over six weeks in 1999.

“His cry wasn’t a normal baby’s cry,” Robidoux said. “He ground his teeth. Towards the end, he would often bite down on Karen’s nipple. At times, his eyes would roll up in the back of his head. His skin on his chest changed to a dark color. He began getting a white, chalky substance in his diaper.”

Robidoux, who testified for three hours Wednesday, said his wife, Karen, was distraught and wanted to feed the boy solid food but he wouldn’t allow it – that would have violated a prophecy from God, he believed.

“My reaction to it was that in order for me to be a good father and good husband, it was my job to be strong in the situation and to follow through on whatever it is that God was giving us at that time,” he said.

His attorney asked if he now feels it was a mistake.

“In that mind-set,” Robidoux replied, “I couldn’t have made any other decision than I did because that’s what was ingrained in my head.”

Robidoux’s sister, Michelle Mingo, had received what they believed was God’s message.

“She had been reading the Bible and she had come across three different Scriptures – one of them was Karen had pride and foolishness, that she was vain because of the way she looked … and that God wasn’t happy with that,” he testified.

Michelle Mingo received what Robidoux said was a “leading” from God that the boy should receive only breast milk.

Prosecutors say the child starved over the next six weeks because his mother had become pregnant again and stopped producing enough milk.

Robidoux’s attorney, Francis O’Boy, has said starvation may not have killed the boy; he could have died from a number of ailments, such as heart or liver failure, scurvy or rickets.

But Robidoux acknowledged under cross-examination that he realized his son’s health was deteriorating because of a lack of nourishment.

Prosecutor Walter Shea asked Robidoux over and over whether he sought medical attention for his son, or did anything to end his starvation over the 51 days. Robidoux said he and other members of the group did nothing except pray for Samuel.

On redirect, O’Boy asked: “Did you believe Samuel was going to die?”

“No,” Robidoux responded.

Robidoux acknowledged he never considered putting his sister’s vision on hold.

“The buck stops here, yes,” he said.

The boy, who died three days before his first birthday, was found buried next to an infant cousin in Baxter State Park in Maine.

His mother, Karen Robidoux, faces a separate trial on a second-degree murder charge. And his aunt, Michelle Mingo, also faces trial on a charge of accessory to assault and battery on a child.

Jacques Robidoux said the instructions from God were for Karen to drink at least 1 gallon of almond milk a day to gain weight. Karen was to feed Samuel only breast milk for 20 minutes every hour.

He said they continued to feed Samuel solid food for the first four days after the prophecy, and followed instructions on frequent breast feedings. After the fourth day, he testified, they began going to breast milk only.

Sect members gathered in the home and prayed as the boy died, he said. His wife, Karen, cried.

When O’Boy asked his reaction to his son’s death, Robidoux replied, “Stone cold.”

O’Boy asked why. “I felt I had to be … for my family,” he replied.

The sect, which rejects government, science, medicine and entertainment, is made up of two large extended families in Attleboro and Seekonk, about 20 miles south of Boston.

A medical examiner from New York was expected to testify for the defense Thursday morning, followed by closing arguments.

Medical experts who testified for the prosecution said the brittle, porous condition of Samuel Robidoux’s bones suggested malnutrition as the cause of death.