The state's highest court will decide if a Loudon County pastor can be held responsible for the death of a teenage follower who died from cancer after relying on spiritual healing.

Last year, the state appeals court reinstated indictments against Jacqueline Crank, the teen's mother, and alleged cult leader Ariel Ben Sherman.

Crank and Sherman relied on spiritual healing instead of doctors for a tumor on 15-year-old Jessica Crank's shoulder, which was the size of a basketball. After she died in 2002, they were charged with child neglect.

Lower courts dismissed the charges, citing a loophole in the law affecting the mother and ruling the pastor had no legal ties to the girl since he was not married to her. The court also cited a new law limiting child health and welfare cases to those involving children under 13. Jessica was 15 at the time of her death. However, the Court of Appeals said the lower court erred in basing its decision on these points.

The Tennessee Supreme Court said it will hear the pastor's case in May in Knoxville.
Sherman at one time led a commune in Oregon, where he was charged with five counts of child abuse.