Members of the Kingston polygamy clan broke their silence Friday afternoon and blasted the media and police for discriminating against them because of their religious beliefs.
Paul Kingston, the leader of the clan, admitted he was the father of Rhoda, the 1-year-old girl who suffered fatal injuries Tuesday afternoon while being watched by a baby-sitter. The child died at Primary Children's Medical Center at 8:59 p.m. Friday.
Paul and Elden Kingston met with reporters in Primary Children's auditorium Friday afternoon and read prepared statements. Paul said he felt like Daniel in the lion's den and that the media were the lions.
Kingston spoke in a soft voice, often taking long pauses between sentences and at times appeared to be fighting back tears. He said he was nervous because he has never spoken to the media before.
"Words cannot express the love I have for Rhoda," Kingston said. "We both love our daughter very much, and I'd gladly give my life for her," he said.
Kingston also asked the media to stop trying to contact his family members, especially the girl's mother, Lori Wright.
The family has suffered extreme discrimination by media and officials, said Elden Kingston, Paul's cousin, who accused the media of sensationalizing the story.
The Kingstons said their rare news conference was prompted by what they call the misinformation that has been in the news.
Rhoda struck her head on the tile floor after either falling off a chair or counter, said Elden Kingston. She bit her tongue and was bleeding from the mouth and nose, he said.
The babysitter, Michelle Michaels, said Rhoda was cleaned up and seemed to be OK, Elden said. Rhoda was walking around and even had a snack after the fall, he said.
It wasn't until later that Rhoda suddenly threw up and her condition became critical. Michaels called both the girl's mother and Paul Kingston who was working less than a mile away, Elden Kingston said.
Michaels gave Rhoda mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before Paul Kingston arrived, Elden Kingston said.
When Paul Kingston arrived, he started performing CPR while Michaels called 911, said Paul Kingston.
This was a terrible accident, Elden Kingston said. To call it anything else is cruel and unfair, he said. The decision to charge Michaels with second-degree felony child abuse was based on Michaels' relationship to the Kingstons, Elden said. He believes an impartial investigation will show her innocence.
Michaels was released from jail Thursday after posting bail.
The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office screened possible charges on the case Thursday. Prosecutors said they will wait to see if the baby's condition improves before filing charges.
Rhoda's condition is "very, very poor," Paul Kingston said.
Paul Kingston said all he wants now is to find out what happened. He said his family has been cooperating fully with law enforcement officials, and he thanked the doctors at Primary Children's Medical Center for their work.
Paul Kingston said he did not know how long it took to call 911 after the baby was injured. When asked about Michaels' involvement, Kingston said there has never been any indication at all that this could be intentional.
That was the only question Paul Kingston answered from the media. Elden Kingston did not answer any questions.
"We are good people, and we try to be good neighbors," Elden Kingston said. "Our first concern is for the well-being of the little girl," he said.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com