The Case Of Candace Newmaker

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In 2001, rebirthing therapy was banned in the state of Colorado after the incident involving a 10 year old girl named Candace Newmaker, two unlicensed therapists, and a nurse by the name of Jeane Newmaker. State governor, Bill Owens, signs the law to forbid this type of therapeutic treatment. Candace was given the rebirth session which involves her wrapped in a blanket with pillows on top of her. Three therapists, including Connell Watkins sat on her and pushed. What this was supposed to do was resemble a womb and she would have to try to get out, as though being reborn. Her foster mother, Jeane Newmaker, sat in the room with her and watched as her daughter was tortured and bullied by these therapists. Connell and her partner, Julie Ponder, …show more content…

By age 3 she was separated from her mother and her two siblings, Michael and Chelsea. She was finally adopted by Jeane Newmaker, an unmarried nurse practitioner. Despite being showered with gifts and love, she was a troubled child at home. She set the house on fire and killed her pet goldfish, people were surprised when they heard this. Apparently at school she was a sweet little angel, she loved drawing, animals, and hanging out with her friends.Although she was bullied numerous times by other kids because she drew her “imaginary” siblings, Michael and Chelsea, who were separated from her and sent into foster care with different parents. It was a mental disorder called Reactive Attachment Disorder or RAD, that caused her to be so …show more content…

Of course this law was only temporary and was taken back by the new state governor in 2016. Because it wasn’t a serious issue the law was undone. Even though people say the therapist was completely innocent and it was all an accident, some say that there was more to it. Of course, even if she was completely innocent, she would’ve been charged for unlicensed therapeutic sessions and child abuse. Although, there is a theory that Watkins and her partners were doing this in a perverted way, there isn’t any proof of it. Therapists around the world were arguing over whether Watkins and Julie really deserved those punishments, even though that was the lowest punishment for their crimes. Her punishments ranged from 16 years to 48 years in jail time. She was sentenced to jail in April 16 2001 and released in