‘Skin was blue’: Dad who ignored dying 9-year-old daughter begging to see a doctor during asthma attack and instead gave her a ‘steam bath’ learns his fate

Inset: Anthony Modrow (Hennepin County Jail). Background: Rachel Modrow’s daughter being worked on by EMS (WCCO/YouTube).

A father in Minnesota is heading to prison for causing the death of his 9-year-old daughter by refusing to take her to the hospital during a severe asthma attack — opting to treat the child with a steam bath and “home remedies” instead, according to prosecutors.

Anthony Modrow, 35, was sentenced on Monday to four years in prison for second-degree manslaughter in connection to the 2024 death of his daughter, according to court documents filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. He pleaded guilty in January.

“This sentence consists of a minimum term of imprisonment equal to two-thirds of the total executed sentence, and a maximum supervised release term equal to one-third of the total executed sentence,” Modrow’s sentencing order says.

He and his wife, Rachel Modrow, 36, of Hopkins, didn’t care that their daughter “was blue,” wheezing heavily and unable to raise her arms while suffering from the asthma attack, which began at a sleepover with a friend, according to prosecutors. They told the friend’s mom to avoid going to the hospital and that they would treat the girl at home.

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“[The friend’s mom] drove victim home and told the defendants that she could take victim to a doctor, but the defendants refused the offer,” Modrow’s complaint said. “[The friend’s mom] reported that victim was wheezing, breathing heavily, and asked to be taken to a doctor,” it added.

Prosecutors described how a family friend went over to check on them after being called by the girl’s aunt. They later took the child to a local medical facility,

“He noticed victim’s skin was blue, she could not raise her arms, and she was crying,” it said. “[Anthony Modrow] ran victim a steam bath and eventually, according to [the friend], he insisted that victim needed to go to the hospital.”

Prosecutors noted that while at the friend’s house, Modrow’s daughter was using her grandmother’s inhaler on account of her parents not having one for her.

“Multiple doctors were consulted, including a Pediatric Critical Care doctor, who stated that victim would have had a much better chance to survive with earlier medical intervention and explained how important early medical intervention is for asthma,” the complaint said. “The doctor noted that a steam bath is not a recognized treatment for asthma. The doctor emphasized the importance of an asthma patient having a rescue inhaler and noted that using another person’s inhaler may not be effective because it may not contain the proper medication. Another medical professional, who treated victim in the hospital, stated the sooner the medical treatment, the better the outcome.”