Pastor charged in autistic boy's death at church
Child was suffocated, autopsy report says
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Terrance Cottrell died Friday during a faith healing service.
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CNN's Jeff Flock reports the death of an 8-year-old autistic boy during a prayer service has been ruled a homicide.
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MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (CNN) -- A pastor who led a church service to "heal" an 8-year-old autistic boy of "spirits," after which the boy died, was charged Tuesday with one count of physical abuse to a child, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office said.
Ray Hemphill, a pastor at the storefront church and the brother of head Pastor David Hemphill, was arrested early Saturday, authorities said. Ray Hemphill led the prayer service Friday.
The medical examiner's office ruled that the official cause of Terrance Cottrell's death was mechanical asphyxia due to external chest compression, meaning the boy was suffocated. The death has been ruled a homicide.
Witnesses at the service said Ray Hemphill had his knee on the boy's chest at one point.
If convicted, Ray Hemphill could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
The boy's mother, who was present at the church service, is not expected to be charged in the case, Milwaukee police said.
David Hemphill said Terrance "had spirits in him," and church members simply asked God to "deliver him."
He said church members were not confusing autism with evil spirits.
"It wasn't confused," David Hemphill told CNN. "I know what I'm talking about."
Hemphill's church is in a run-down strip mall in northern Milwaukee, with the sign for the former tenant -- a bar -- still above the door. A poster on the door says the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith has services every Sunday.
This week, however, services were held at David Hemphill's home. The pastor said members consoled each other about the boy's death. Hemphill said they haven't yet decided when services will return to the church.
