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American Morning

Massachusetts Couple Being Ordered to Appear in Court and Produce Missing Baby

Aired February 14, 2002 - 07:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: A Massachusetts couple is being ordered to appear in court this morning and produce their missing baby or reveal where the baby is buried. The couple, who belonged to a religious sect, had been jailed for contempt of court since early this month for refusing to tell the judge what happened. Another child of theirs, who they say died during delivery, was secretly buried three years ago.

CNN Boston Bureau Chief Bill Delaney is live outside the Attleboro Courthouse. Bill, what's the latest?

BILL DELANEY, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: Well, as you said, a very strange case here, and it involves the sixth pregnancy of a woman named Rebecca Corneau, a member of a religious sect known as The Body, which doesn't believe in modern medical care. Now last fall, Massachusetts state authorities heard from a few witnesses who had said they had seen a very pregnant Rebecca Corneau. And the state became very interested in this pregnancy because of the sect's stand on medical care.

Eventually the Corneaus, Rebecca and David Corneau, went to court last month. The Deparment of Social Services demanding information, was there a sixth child or not. The Corneaus wouldn't say whether there was a sixth child or not. Finally, last week they admitted in court that there had been a sixth pregnancy but that Rebecca Corneau had miscarried. Well here at Bristol County Juvenile Court -- I'm standing out in front of it -- Judge Kenneth Maceve (ph) said, "Well, give me some proof that there was a miscarriage." They didn't, and he jailed them for contempt of court.

They'll be back in court today. The judge still wants proof whether there was a miscarriage or whether they can produce a live baby. A very strange case, indeed. Now this sect -- this religious sect, The Body, as I said, doesn't believe in modern medical care. It's a tiny group; about 17 members, perhaps 20 children are members of The Body. Now Steve Hassan is an expert on The Body.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE HASSAN, CULT EXPERT: This group has followed a doctrine by the leadership that says "We don't believe in medicine. We don't believe in the law. We don't believe in the arts. We don't believe in science. We don't believe in education." And, essentially, "We will just be obedient to God's word," which means whatever revelation they get at the moment is God's word. And that's why I believe the court is so worried about the children.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DELANEY: Four of the Corneau's children are already in foster care. Now a fifth child died soon after birth. Possibly, some have speculated, because of a lack of medical care -- although that's never been proved and the Corneaus have never been convicted of a crime -- that fifth child was buried in the far northern woods of Maine next to a cousin. Another child, a sect member's -- that cousin, the other sect members are accused of starving that baby to death. And those two sect members are in jail awaiting child for murder. Very strange stuff.

COOPER: All right. Bill Delaney in Attleboro, thanks very much. As you said, a very, very strange story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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