Parents charged in death of teen

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By K.C. Mehaffey
World staff writer

Thursday, February 9, 2012

OKANOGAN — Carlton parents who police say unsuccessfully tried to faith-heal their son back to health have been charged with second-degree murder.

The charges against Gregory P. Swezey, 47, and Garnet JaLea Swezey, 45, in Okanogan County Superior Court come nearly three years after Zachery, 17, died of a burst appendix at their home on March 18, 2009.

The family belongs to the Church of the First Born, which believes in faith healing. The day before Swezey died, elders from the church came to the Swezey home, prayed for him, and anointed him with olive oil.

The boy had been sick for two-and-a-half days before he died. His father told police that they first thought he was ill from a sandwich that didn’t taste right, and later believed he had the flu.

But charging documents, filed Feb. 2, also indicate that Greg Swezey told investigators he knew 10 to 15 minutes before his son died that he was going to die. He also told detectives that he asked his son if he wanted to go to the hospital, and Zach declined.

“Family members were aware that Zach was seriously ill prior to his death,” said a report filed with charges from Okanogan County Sheriff’s detective Kreg Sloan. “Family members were also aware that Zach was going to die before his death; yet there was no effort, at any time, to obtain medical assistance,” the report stated.

But Greg Swezey also told police that they don’t force their faith on their children. “Our kids have a choice. At no time did Zachery ask to go to the doctor. In four months, he will be 18,” the report quotes Swezey as saying soon after his son’s death.

The report also said that the mortality rate for appendicitis is estimated at between 1 and 2 per 100,000 people, and that it is medically treatable.

“The (state) Court of Appeals determined, in part, that the failure to seek medical care would not be justified on religious grounds,” the report said.

Prosecutor Karl Sloan, who is Kreg Sloan’s brother, said this morning that he based his decision to charge the Swezeys on state law that finds faith is not a reason for failing to seek medical attention for your children.

“We have to try cases sometimes that are very unpopular,” he said, adding that decisions to charge someone cannot be based on public sentiment.

He said unless prosecutors reach a plea deal with the Swezeys, it will be up to a jury to determine whether they should be held accountable for their son’s death.

Sloan also filed an alternative first-degree manslaughter charge. A criminal summons file Monday requires the Swezeys to appear in court to hear charges against them on March 5.

Sloan said a heavy caseload, which included other murder cases, prevented his office from filing charges sooner. He said the Swezeys were not considered a flight risk, and the community’s safety was not at risk.

K.C. Mehaffey: 997-2512

mehaffey@wenatcheeworld.com

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Mr_Brantner 1 year, 3 months ago

It's about time someone got onto this case. I was starting to think it was under the carpet. I only hope there is justice for this kid.. He was only 17 shame on the parents for deciding on the boys fate.

jbar 1 year, 3 months ago

I am dismayed at the intentions of the state to make this family defend a religous freedom in court. When should a family decide that a 17 year old (who could be tried for a crime in a state court as an adult)should not have the right to decide that he or she can wait for medical attention. The idea that there was a moment in time at which religious belief should be put aside and the "interest" of the state take over is arbitrary at best.

Do the Sloans have a bias against this church? Do we have any one outside of Okanagon county advising the Sloans to prosecute or not? Are we facing an "official" wall of "this is what we are going to do, don't try to tell us differently."

trebor462 1 year, 3 months ago

This kid was a MINOR! The state has a obligation to protect minors. Just like they pass laws against pedophiles, they pass laws against child endangerment and this was just that.

Chuck 1 year, 3 months ago

Fine, but if we follow that road to its forseeable wall, your way would have the state removing children from homes on the grounds that their parents' faith puts said children at risk.

And honestly, do we really want to go there?

If we do, words on the street and in the courtrooms could get pretty ugly in a hurry.

And I've met Sloan. Knew him to be a practicing Catholic who ran a successful small town legal practice in those days. He's a good man, regardless of any personal disagreement I may want to see in his reasoning on this.

After all, this is NOT an easy case to take sides on, either way.

lorimakesquilts 1 year, 3 months ago

"When should a family decide that a 17 year old (who could be tried for a crime in a state court as an adult)should not have the right to decide that he or she can wait for medical attention."

How about when not receiving medical attention will result in his preventable death. That seems like a pretty good time to me. His decision not to go for medical care was a direct result of the lies they and their religion fed to him. I have no doubt this is an unbearable situation for them, but they brought it on themselves. Their actions, or lack thereof I should say, are criminal.

Chuck 1 year, 3 months ago

This case is tricky; and honestly just when I get to thinking one way on it, the opinion shifts to the other side.

The loss of a child is tragic. No need to expand on that thought.

However, religious freedom means nothing if it does not also protect belief systems other than our own.

mountainlion 1 year, 3 months ago

I'm so glad they have filed these charges against the parents. This boy did not have to die a slow, painful death.

Annsboy 1 year, 3 months ago

I could never understand this. Didn't Jesus say "the whole need no physician, but them who are sick"? Take him to the doctor already!

nickwinters 1 year, 3 months ago

Two verses that I remembered having to do with faith:

Matthew 17:20

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

This verse is interesting to me on multiple levels, but mainly because it is the disciples who are questioning faith. These are the individuals who actually followed Jesus around and many of them literally witnessed healings etc. However, even many direct followers seemed to lack the quality of faith that performs miracles.

James 2:14-26

"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But some will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead."

This verse is also interesting. It points out that faith often needs some sort of action. You are believing that God will take care of you, but you are not simply thinking that you are in your own bubble. When God told Noah that there would be a flood, doubters pointed and laughed. What did Noah do? He believed that God would bring the flood. However, he did not simply sit and wait for the flood and expect God to keep hime afloat for weeks on end. No, he had faith and took action, by building the arc. God saw to it that his faith on action would keep him from drowning and survive the storm.

The same could be said for faith healing. One must have faith in God's healing. However, one should also take action (through doctors). Who's to say that God's healing can't come in the form of a capable doctor?

1anonymous1 1 year, 3 months ago

For those of you who don't know the Swezey family, shame on you for passing judgement. I was very close with Zakk (that's how he liked it spelled). I went to school with him, we were the same age. He was a very talented, intelligent and wonderful person. As are his parents. While I am not a person of faith, and do not agree with their religious guidelines, in no way do I feel that the Swezeys should have to face this sort of harassment. They are wonderful parents and were great members of the community. They were proud donors to the athletic clubs as well as other extracurricular activities. They are a family always willing to help another in need. I had plenty of talks with Zakk and his brothers about their faith. Not to try to judge them, but to try to understand. They all said that their parents never forced the religion on them, and that they freely chose to believe the way they did. Never once did I hear them complaining of being treated poorly. I wish you could have been there for the memorial service and the funeral. The entire Pateros High School gymnasium was full. The baseball team was in their garb, and retired Zakk's jersey. The band played his favorite songs. Zakk's friends spoke about their feelings, but at no point in time did ANYONE accuse them of doing wrong. They only expressed sentiment for their loss. Everyone who could drive, had packed cars full of friends and family for the drive to the cemetary. The graveside service was beautiful and tasteful. The parents, were distraught as any parents who had lost a child. Those of you who are condemning Jalea and Greg, are pitiful people. They are not murderers, and they are not dangerous people. They were actively practicing their right as AMERICAN CITIZENS to practice the religion of their choice and they upheld those beliefs throughout all of this pain and suffering. Do all the readers here and the Swezey's of keeping your ignorance to yourself unless you know first hand what it was like losing Zakk.

Rest in peace bud! We still miss you.

by rachel beardslee

bc2011 11 months, 3 weeks ago

I agree with this 100% RIP ZAKK! <3

Christina_4 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I am sorry for the loss of Zakk and those who were close to him my heart really does go out to you. You have a right to your opinion just as everyone else on here does as "AMERICAN CITIZENS". The bottom line here is this....if this were anyone else would you feel the same? You mention this is not your religion, although you attempted to understand it. This family could be the Clevers, although it does not change the fact that the parental unit did not seek help when they should have. Only God is the judge that is my belief and I pray for these parents at the loss of a child, although being believers in God they know the judicial system does have the right to hold them accountable for their actions.
The parental unit took no action other than prayer and lie awaiting a miracle, although it states in the paper that they knew he was going to die before it happened just through seeing him going downhill. The fact is they being the leaders of their home could have taken action, but chose not to and it is unfortunatly why Zakk is no longer alive. They were responsible for Zakk's life and did not protect it and now he is gone. With every action there is a consequence and this is theirs. Everyone makes mistakes and it is a ripple affect. Their church is probably going to think on this and change some procedure hopefully in the future and that is how we learn and evolve. Only God knows the answers and in time they will be revealed.

mountainlion 1 year, 3 months ago

They would not have lost him had they gotten him medical treatment.

1anonymous1 1 year, 3 months ago

You just completely missed my entire point. They are a good family, doing what they know best how to do. Neither of their other sons who are both well above the age of 18 have chosen to seek medical attention. So before you go spouting off about what you think is right, put yourself in their shoes, and respect the fact that other people believe differently than you do.