Delaware pediatrician Melvin Morse is set to appear before a Sussex County judge in Georgetown for a preliminary hearing after being accused of waterboarding his 11-year old stepdaughter.
He and his wife Pauline, who failed to stop the alleged waterboarding, are facing felony counts of child endangerment and conspiracy.
A search warrant affidavit suggested that Morse may have been experimenting on his step daughter as part of his research into near-death experiences by bring her “to a possible near death state from the simulation of drowning.”
Morse has written a best belling book and achieve national recognition for his research into near-death experience involving children.
The Wilmington News Journalreports that court documents and other sources paint an eccentric picture of Morse.
The paper says that his ex-wife, Allison Morse, called him “a complete nightmare,” who “needs real psychological help.”
She told the paper that she lost everything including her business and home during an acrimonious 10 year battle with former husband over custody and child support.
But, she said that she doubts Morse was experimenting on his daughter as has been suggested in court documents about the alleged waterboarding of his step daughter.
In the documents authorities noted that Morse has been involved in the study of near death experiences in children.
The paper found that early last year Morse sent a letter that alarmed Pierce County officials in Washington when he referred to Josh Powell who killed himself and his two children by blowing up his homes.
In the letter he wrote, “I will die with grace and dignity.”
Joe Hurley Morse’s attorney said his client was using hyperbole.
(Associated Press Contributed to this story)
