Murder charges laid after 12 arrested over death of Elizabeth Struhs

Twelve people who were arrested during a raid on a Toowoomba home on Tuesday have been charged with the murder of diabetic eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs.

Fourteen people ranging in age from 19 to 65 will now face murder charges over the death of eight-year-old diabetic Elizabeth Struhs, who police will allege was taken off her insulin to let God “heal her” or resurrect her once she was dead.

The 12 remaining adult members of a Toowoomba fundamentalist religious group known as “The Saints” were on Tuesday arrested for the murder of Elizabeth following an early morning raid on a Harristown home.

Charges were laid late Tuesday night.

Authorities found the body of Elizabeth Struhs in a home in Rangeville, Toowoomba, in January, after being called.

Elizabeth, who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, police will allege had her lifesaving medication withdrawn on January 2 and was dead by the morning of January 7.

Paramedics were not called to the Struhs’ Rangeville home until late the following day after it was decided by church members that they should not keep a dead body in the house.

Those arrested on Tuesday included a 60-year-old man who was charged with one count each of murder and fail to supply the necessaries of life.

A 65-year-old woman, a 35-year-old woman, a 32-year-old woman, a 32-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, a 26-year-old woman, a 24-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, a 21-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man have been charged with one count of murder.

Police have alleged her parents, Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, were members of a strict religious organisation made up of three local families that did not believe in medical intervention.

Elizabeth’s parents were arrested and charged shortly after her death, on January 11. They were charged with murder, torture and fail to comply with necessities of life.

Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs were charged with the murder of their daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs shortly after her death.

Police allege the families gathered around Elizabeth as she became progressively sicker, singing songs and praying in the belief she would be healed by God.

They also believed God would bring her back to life at a later date.

Following a “complex” joint multi-unit six-month investigation called Operation Uniform Music, police on Tuesday arrested the remaining 12 adult members of the “The Saints”.

Elizabeth’s sister Jayde Struhs, who left home at age 16, praised the Toowoomba CPIU officers who kept her informed as the investigation progressed.

“I am thankful for all the work they have done,” she said.

“It could not have been easy … It would have been so complicated and they have stuck to it.

“They kept me updated.”

Jayde said she was working with her partner to care for her surviving siblings.

“Now we just have to support the kids through everything involved and all the things to come. We must help them find themselves and get out in the world and find their own way,” she said.

Police released footage of Tuesday’s arrests. Vision: Police Media

When detailing the arrests, Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts said: “It will be alleged that the eight-year-old child suffered an underlying medical condition and was denied treatment for that condition over a period of six days.

“It is believed the child died on the 7th of January and emergency services were advised late on January 8.

“I won’t go into specifics … but I can say that (police will allege) all the 12 persons arrested today were aware of the child’s condition, were present during the course of those six days at the Rangeville address and did not take any steps to provide medical assistance to the child.”

Det Supt Watts said the multi-unit investigation had been “very complex”.

“It’s not the sort of situation we are faced with as investigators quite commonly,” he said.

“There has been a lot of research go into the preference of charges and after six months, we are in the position that we are in today.

“In my nearly 40 years of policing I haven’t been faced with a matter like this.

“It’s a very complex investigation and I’m not aware of a similar event in Queensland, let alone Australia.”

A still image from footage released by police. Vision Police Media

Footage released by police shows a shirtless man opening the front door to detectives before what appears to be a gathering of “church” members seated on couches in the home’s lounge room.

“The reason why we’re here this morning is I have a warrant that’s been issued under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act to search this dwelling in relation to property, OK?” a detective can be heard explaining.

Further footage shows a woman in a white robe emerging from a bathroom to be told she was under arrest for murder.

“I’m from the Laidley child protection investigation unit. The time now is 6.37am on the 5th of July, 2022. I now place you under arrest for murder,” a detective can be heard explaining.

All twelve people arrested on Tuesday have been held in custody to appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.