The Nation - News from May 3, 1988

A Christian Science couple pleaded innocent to charges that they caused their son’s death by failing to seek medical treatment because of their religious beliefs. David and Ginger Twitchell appeared in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston on manslaughter charges stemming from the April 8, 1986, death of their 2 1/2-year-old son, Robyn. A pretrial conference was set for June 1. The Twitchells, who have two other sons, Jeremy, 6, and Brian, 7 months, were released on their own recognizance. Defense attorney Rikki Klieman said the official cause of Robyn’s death was complications from a bowel obstruction. She said it stemmed from a congenital birth defect.