Delaware doctor, author made stepdaughter fear for life

By Lacey Johnson GEORGETOWN, Delaware (Reuters) – The 12-year-old stepdaughter of a prominent Delaware pediatrician and best-selling author charged with waterboarding her as a form of punishment testified on Monday that the incidents made her fear for her life. The girl, who was 11 when the accusations first surfaced, took the witness stand for the first time in the trial of Dr. Melvin Morse, a best-selling author on near-death experiences who is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment and conspiracy. Morse, 60, who heads the Institute for the Scientific Study of Consciousness and has appeared on "Oprah" and "Good Morning America," was arrested in 2012 after his stepdaughter told authorities she had been waterboarded on at least four occasions. During four hours of testimony at Sussex County Superior Court, the girl, who has not been publicly identified because she is a minor, said Morse would hold her head in the sink and "run water up my nose so I couldn't breathe." "I would try to scream, but I couldn't," she said.