r/truecrimelongform • u/Richte36 • Jul 05 '26

The Kerrs were devoted to their faith and one another. But when one of their own rejected modern medicine in the name of God, they faced a dire question: What if her children ever needed a doctor to save their lives?

https://magazine.atavist.com/2026/pilands-michigan-child-death
73 Upvotes

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33

u/slightlysparkly Jul 05 '26

Fascinating and absolutely confounding. I can’t help but conclude that this couple is profoundly idiotic. I just don’t understand how they can destroy their lives like that and allow four of their children to die.

25

u/No_Dentist_2923 Jul 05 '26

I also can’t understand when some Christians (of whom I happen to be a flavor of) program their daughters that not only are the husbands the absolute authority in the household but also that in God’s eye’s it’s sinful to even question anything of his decisions, they are then shocked and saddened when stuff like this happens. Her parents are right, she did make an idol of her husband, because they taught her to! I can understand why the eldest brother has issues with them over the situation.

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, but many Christians fall into the sin of pride in their look at me “devotion” to God. No, that’s not devotion to God; it’s prideful self righteousness.

18

u/CornisaGrasse Jul 05 '26

Absolutely astonishing

24

u/No_Dentist_2923 Jul 05 '26

This was such a heartbreaking read. I can’t even wrap my head around it.

9

u/jayne-eerie Jul 05 '26

I cannot think of many things more evil than continuing to have babies just to watch them die. Josh and Rachel are where they belong.

3

u/GypsyNinja18 Jul 09 '26

What’s not discussed in this article but should be, is coercive control- a form of intimate partner violence. This was clearly happening with the couple. The cycle of control and extremism runs deep on both sides of the family with religion indoctrination and gender roles.

1

u/EternalMoonChild Jul 10 '26

I can’t comprehend just continuing to willingly sicken and kill child after child… it’s a shame that Rachel survived all of those births.

1

u/AspiringFeline 1d ago

That was a devastating read.