Elizabeth Struhs’ mother Kerrie told probation officer she ‘would make the same decision again’

After months in jail for failing to provide the necessities of life when her daughter nearly died due to undiagnosed diabetes, Kerrie Struhs made a shocking claim to her probation officer.

After spending five months in prison for failing to provide the necessities of life when her daughter nearly died due to undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, Kerrie Struhs told a probation officer upon her release that “she would make the same decision again”.

Toowoomba probation services officer Maria Bidgood told the court on Monday that she had an initial meeting with Mrs Struhs upon her release in late 2021.

Elizabeth was eight years old when she died in her family’s Rangeville home in Toowoomba on January 6-7, 2022 after her parents allegedly took her off lifesaving insulin used to treat her diabetes, in an attempt to “prove their faith” in God’s healing powers.

Her father Jason Struhs, 52, is charged with murder and her mother, Kerrie, with manslaughter.

Mrs Struhs told Ms Bidgood that she had been convicted and jailed for a child neglect offence, and the discussion led to her prospects of re-offending.

“Yes, we did have a discussion about what the initial offence involved and her opinion was that she would make the same decision again [regarding not giving Elizabeth medication], but she wouldn’t stop any other person interfering [in Elizabeth’s care],” Ms Bidgood said.

Further parole and probation officers are expected to give evidence on their dealings with Mrs Struhs in 2021 on Tuesday.

Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs are both charged over the death of Elizabeth. Supplied

The court also heard that accused Alexander Stevens, charged with manslaughter, wrote an email to his employer - Tony Jannusch who owned a Toowoomba shoe repair business - around a week after Elizabeth died.

“By now you’ve probably heard various rumours and gossip in local news … I’d like to tell you the truth first hand,” the email, which was read aloud in court on Monday, said.

“Kerrie was released from prison and Jason decided to take a step in faith and stop giving Elizabeth insulin injections, trusting only in God, no matter what.

“We are all still strong in our faith and are praying for, and will see, Elizabeth raised from the dead, just as Jesus raised many from the dead in the Bible.

“It was obviously not God’s will to heal her at that time, but to bring this whole story before the authorities, the courts and the public, so many more will see the miracle when she is risen.

“The things Jason and Kerrie have been charged with are hideously false allegations, but every person who has ever lived will answer to God on judgement day.”

The trial also heard from Katelyn Dodman - who was the best friend of Samantha Schoenfisch, who is charged with manslaughter.

Ryan and Katelyn Dodman, a witness in the Struhs trial leaving the Supreme Court, Brisbane City, on Monday 22nd July - Photo: Steve Pohlner

Mrs Dodman is also a Christian and spoke of her concerns with the extreme nature of the congregation’s beliefs and that they were misrepresenting what the Bible actually says.

“She believed that medicine was a form of witchcraft, they thought you shouldn’t be seeing doctors, or using creams or ointments, or wearing glasses because that is all a form of witchcraft and therefore you’re not relying on God’s healing,” Mrs Dodman told the court.

Mrs Dodman also told the court that she heard Samantha Schoenfisch talk about the alleged congregation leader, Brendan Stevens - who is charged with murder.

“She would look up to him, he was an inspiration, he knew everything, he guided their meetings and teachings, basically that he was almost like an interpreter between the Bible and God,” Mrs Dodman testified.

“She would often say, especially when we would talk about tongues [hearing from God], that Brendan knew what it meant and what to say.”

Mrs Dodman said she was also concerned about the group’s beliefs that the wives should stay home, not work and “submit” to their husbands.

Mrs Dodman said Samantha’s husband, Lachlan - also on trial charged with manslaughter - once made the comment that Mrs Dodman’s mother was battling breast cancer because she “didn’t have a strong enough faith in God”.

All 14 accused have had pleas of not guilty entered on their behalf, and they are all representing themselves legally. The trial is set to last 55 days, Monday marked day nine.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

How Struhs’ father was converted by ‘cult’

Elizabeth Struhs’ father described hardline congregation members as “God botherers” and told colleagues “it’s all rubbish, there’s no God” in the years prior to his conversion and baptism as part of the hardline religious congregation his wife was part of, a court has heard.

The trial also heard how Jason Struhs’ firm opposition to the beliefs of the congregation, known as The Saints, would “tear his family apart” and result in Jason “sleeping in the shed” at night, given the strong beliefs of his wife, Kerrie, and son, Zachary.

Elizabeth was eight years old when she died in her family’s Rangeville home in Toowoomba on January 6-7, 2022 after her parents allegedly took her off lifesaving insulin used to treat her diabetes, in an attempt to “prove their faith” in God’s healing powers.

Travis Barnes worked as a baker at night with Jason Struhs for several years at O’Donnell’s Bakehouse in Toowoomba. They were also close friends and played golf together.

Elizabeth Struhs was only 8 when he died in her family’s Toowoomba home.

“It was quite known that Kerrie and the children would attend a church numerous times a week, but Jason wouldn’t attend and wanted no connection with the church at this time,” Mr Barnes told the court on Monday.

“He had no religious beliefs, he was as far away from being a religious man as he could be at this time.

“He said: ‘It’s all rubbish, there’s no God.’”

A further witness on Monday was Anthony Howe, who also played golf with Jason Struhs a few times per week. Mr Howe was asked if Mr Struhs spoke about Kerrie’s beliefs.

“He [Mr Struhs] just said the ‘God botherers’ were around there [at his home] while he was at work or at the golf course,” Mr Howe said in his evidence.

After Elizabeth was rushed to hospital in 2019 and diagnosed with diabetes, Mr Barnes told the court that Mr Struhs became her sole carer. He would Facetime Elizabeth every night from work and get her to test her blood-sugar levels and tell her what to do.

“His family didn’t believe in medical intervention,” Mr Barnes said.

“But he was all over it, he was fully committed to keeping his daughter alive and going through with the insulin.”

Jason Struhs has been charged with murder.

However, the court heard that home life became harder for Mr Struhs as his family became more engrossed in the church.

“I know there were times he would sleep in the shed … I went around there a few times and he had a whole set up … it was tearing his family apart,” Mr Barnes said.

“Sometimes we would have conversations and Jason would be in tears about these living arrangements.

“He was fighting the constant religious push by other members of the family.

“His son, Zach, was trying to push these beliefs onto him … Zach would say he was just an angry man and that he wasn’t being as good of a father he thought he was.”

Mr Barnes said he remembered at one point suggesting to Mr Struhs that he try attending church with his family, in an attempt to bring them together.

“Of course, it was against who he was, so he would have some troubles … he was still trying to look after Elizabeth,” Mr Barnes said.

Mr Barnes said that after converting in 2021, Mr Struhs’ personality changed and he became far more relaxed.

On January 8, 2022 - believed to be a day after Elizabeth died - Mr Struhs messaged Mr Barnes saying: “I won’t be at work next week, not good at the moment”.

Mr Barnes replied asking if everything was OK and later tried calling Mr Struhs, but his phone was switched off.

Brendan Luke Stevens has been charged with murder over the death of Elizabeth Struhs.

A few days later, Mr Barnes read media articles on the death of a child in Rangeville, and asked his wife to drive by the Struhs’ house. She confirmed police were in attendance.

“I just had a feeling that something wasn’t right,” Mr Barnes said.

The court heard that a few days later, Zachary Struhs came to the bakery with fellow congregation members Alexander Stevens and Sebastian Stevens.

“I asked him [Zachary] if everything was OK and what was going on? He replied that everything is OK, Elizabeth will come back, she may be gone now, but she will be back, she is with God,” Mr Barnes testified.

“All three boys then told me that they had had a meeting at church on Sunday night and agreed to stop the insulin and God was going to heal Elizabeth.

“The whole time there was no remorse from these guys, they were happy that this is how it’s going to play out and this is their beliefs.

A sketch The Saints group members in court.

“When they were talking, after one person was finished talking, the others would say ‘Amen’.

“Zach told me how it went down - she [Elizabeth] took a measurement and she was 23, which was very high. The next morning it was 5, they thought this was God intervening and healing Elizabeth as her reading was now lower.

“Zach said it’s a miracle, God is looking after her. They were jubilant.”

Later in the conversation about Elizabeth’s final days, one of the trio told Mr Barnes that Elizabeth had been “lying there [on her bed] whimpering”.

Jason Struhs, 52, and the group’s alleged leader Brendan Stevens, 62, are charged with murder. Elizabeth’s mother, Kerrie, and brother, Zachary, are charged with manslaughter along with 10 other members of the congregation.

They are Therese Maria Stevens, 36, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 25, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 33, and Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 25.

All 14 accused have had pleas of not guilty entered on their behalf, and they are all representing themselves legally. The trial is set to last 55 days, Monday marked day nine.