A 4-year-old Amish boy drowned after his mother threw him into an Ohio lake, believing she was 'giving him to God,' authorities said. The boy's father also died after swimming out into the lake to test his own faith.
The deaths occurred over the weekend at Atwood Lake in Tuscarawas County, part of Ohio's Amish Country. Sheriff Orvis Campbell described the mother's actions as stemming from a 'spiritual delusion' and a 'mental crisis.'
Divers recovered the body of Vincent Miller, 4, on Saturday, and his father Marcus Miller, 45, on Sunday. The father is believed to have swum far into the lake on his own as a test of faith.
The incident came to light after the mother drove a golf cart carrying three of her children off a dock into the lake. The three children—a 15-year-old girl and twin 18-year-old boys—escaped safely. When authorities helped the mother from the water, she made concerning statements about conversing with God.
The mother, 40, is expected to be charged with aggravated murder on Tuesday. She remains hospitalized for mental health concerns, while her other children are with relatives. The family's church released a statement saying the events do not reflect Amish teachings but are a result of mental illness.
