Reedsburg parents arrested after 15-year-old died following religious fast; 11-year-old found emaciated

REEDSBURG — A father and mother have been arrested in Reedsburg after their teenage son died and another child was hospitalized following what the father described as a weekslong religious fast.

According to our sister station WMTV, the boy's parents, Kehinde and Titilayno Omosebi, were arrested for neglecting a child causing death and neglecting a child causing great bodily harm. Both were taken to the Sauk County Jail.

The Reedsburg Police Department posted a news release about the investigation on the department's Facebook page. Police said the boy's father walked into the Reedsburg Police Department around 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, to report the death on Alexander Avenue.



Officers then responded to the home and forced their way inside because the doors were padlocked from the inside, according to the release. They found 15-year-old Ayanfe Omosebi extremely emaciated and deceased.

Officers also found an 11-year-old girl alive, and extremely emaciated. 48-year-old Titilayno Omosebi was also found responsive and emaciated.

Police said the father, 49-year-old Kehinde S. Omosebi, described himself as a religious minister affiliated with the Cornerstone Reformation Ministries. His family started a fast on July 19 and were fasting for 40 days, he told police. Officers found no food in the apartment.

Kehinde stated that Ayanfe had died on Friday.

Titilayno and the 11-year-old were taken to the Reedsburg Area Medical Center for treatment. Titilayno refused treatment citing religious restrictions. The 11-year-old child was taken into protective custody, medically treated and transported to another hospital.