Local News - June 2003

House passes bill to ban rebirthing

Published June 4, 2003

RALEIGH (AP) — The state House voted unanimously Thursday to ban a therapy technique known as rebirthing that led to the death of a Durham girl three years ago.

If the Senate, as expected, agrees to slight changes made by the House, North Carolina would become the second state to ban the practice. Colorado became the first after 10-year-old Candace Newmaker of Durham died while in the care of two psychologists in that state.

Candace, born Candace Tiara Elmore, was the granddaughter of Mary and David Davis of Lincoln County.

The legislation would make anyone who practices rebirthing guilty of a misdemeanor. A second offense would be a low-level felony.

In rebirthing, a child is wrapped in blankets and sheets while forced to re-enact the birth process with adults restraining him or her. The technique is condemned by many mainstream psychologists, but it is still taught by some therapists to treat attachment disorder, which affects a child’s ability to relate to a parent.

The 116-0 House vote came after Rep. Joe Kiser, R-Lincoln, read from a transcript taken from recordings made by Colorado psychologists recounting the final hour of Candace’s life.

House members sat in stunned silence as Kiser repeated the girl’s final words, pleading for life.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a horrible process, and I urge you to vote unanimously on this,” Kiser said.

Therapists Connell Watkins and Julie Ponder were sentenced to 16 years in prison for their roles in the girl’s death. Candace’s adoptive mother, Jeane Newmaker, was sentenced to four years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to criminally negligent child abuse.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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