Minister Charged In 8-Year-Old’s Death

Ray Hemphill Could Face 10 Years In Prison

MILWAUKEE — A church minister was charged with physical abuse of a child in the death of an 8-year-old boy who suffered from autism.

Ray Hemphill was charged late Tuesday afternoon with physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm. It’s a felony charge carrying up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

The medical examiner’s office said Terrence Cottrell Jr. suffocated at the service Friday. It says his chest was somehow restricted and couldn’t expand.

A church member of the church noticed the boy wasn’t moving during the service.

The boy’s mother had taken Cottrell to the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith.

This case could get complicated when and if it goes trial. Wisconsin is one of the most protective states when it comes to religious freedom.

“The minister or someone else involved could allege that their religious freedom could be infringed by a criminal prosecution,” Marquette Law School professor Scott Idleman said.

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