Elizabeth Struhs died at home in Toowoomba surrounded by her family and members of the religious group, the Saints, after being denied insulin for her diabetes in the belief ‘God would cure her’
Members of a religious sect are facing prison after they were found guilty of killing an eight-year-old girl to whom they refused insulin.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died at her home in Toowoomba, Australia, in 2022 after suffering from fatally high blood sugar levels leading to ketoacidosis. A total of 14 members of the Saints group – including Elizabeth’s mother, father and brother – have all now been convicted of manslaughter over her death.
Father Jason Struhs and the group’s leader Brendan Stevens were originally tried for murder but convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter. The remaining twelve – including mother Kerrie Struhs – denied manslaughter but were found guilty in a judge-only trial.
Queensland’s Supreme Court heard Elizabeth was denied insulin for almost a week due to the group’s opposition to modern medicine, believing God would heal her. The Saints is a religious sect not affiliated with any established church, but has been previously likened to “a cult”.
It was also heard how Jason Struhs waited 36 hours to call for an ambulance after his daughter had died. In a 500-page verdict published on Wednesday, Justice Martin Burns said that, while the family’s love for their daughter was apparent, “due to a singular belief in the healing power of God… she was deprived of the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive”.
Elizabeth had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019 after being admitted to hospital weighing just 15kg (2st 5lb), falling into a diabetic coma. Doctors told the family there and then she would need daily insulin injections to regulate her blood sugars.
As Elizabeth’s health had deteriorated while laying on a mattress at her home, the congregation had prayed and sung. Ketoacidosis is the build-up of harmful toxins called ketones in the blood when insulin is not administered in diabetics.
After her death, the group believed she could be resurrected, not alerting authorities until a day and a half had passed. Jason Struhs, 53, said while on the stand that it had been his and Elizabeth’s choice to “stop the insulin”, and that he still believed she was “only sleeping” and would be brought back from the dead.
The defendants, aged between 22 and 67, declined representation or to enter pleas, meaning a not guilty plea had to recorded. Leader Stevens branded the criminal charges as “religious persecution” against the sect.
Among those giving evidence were Elizabeth’s sister Jayde Struhs, who had cut ties with her family after coming out as gay aged 16. She told the court how the group’s worship and adherence had become increasingly strict, shunning modern healthcare and viewing the celebration of Christmas and Easter as heretic. She said the system had “failed” her sister, welcoming Wednesday’s verdict.
The group is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
