Couple charged after daughter, four, dies from drinking excess of water

A COUPLE has been charged with forcing their four-year-old adopted daughter to drink so much water it killed her.

The method was an unconventional technique their lawyer said was recommended by family therapists to promote bonding.

Richard Killpack, 34, and wife Jennete, 26, were charged with murder and child abuse in Provo, Utah in the US.

Prosecutors said Cassandra Killpack was forced to drink so much water it lowered the concentration of sodium in her blood, causing fatal brain swelling.

Defence lawyer Philip Danielson said the parents were dealing with a girl who was physically and sexually abused before being adopted and wasn’t bonding with her new parents.

He said the Cascade Centre for Family Growth promoted forced water drinking for children with “attachment disorder” and that it was supposed to teach children to go to their parents for relief and comfort.

“These parents had no intention of hurting their child. In fact, all this was done in an attempt to help the child through an extreme emotional problem,” Danielson said.

But centre director Larry Van Bloem denied that his therapists promoted forced water drinking. “No, we never recommend it,” he said.

Danielson accused the centre of disavowing the practice to avoid criminal liability.

He said the Killpacks gave their daughter three glasses of water but that prosecutors were alleging it was more.

“The question boils down to whether this was reckless behaviour,” Danielson said.