Fringe religious group sentenced over girl’s ‘slow and painful’ death

As a girl lay dying in pain on a mattress on the floor at home, her parents and their fringe religious group withheld the medication that would have saved her.

Now, three years after the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs, and following one of the biggest trials in Queensland’s history, 14 members of “the Saints” have been sentenced, with her parents to spend 14 years behind bars.

Elizabeth, a diabetic, suffered for days before dying at her Toowoomba home, west of Brisbane, in January 2022.

Eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs died in Rangeville, west of Brisbane, in January 2022.Credit: Nine News

Police interviews showed how devout “the Saints” were to their beliefs, including their faith in God over modern medicine. Elizabeth’s mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, was recorded telling police she had hoped her daughter would rise from the dead in front of paramedics.

After a trial made more complex due to their refusal to engage lawyers, 14 members of the group, including Elizabeth’s parents, were found guilty of manslaughter in January.

Elizabeth’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, and the group’s leader, Brendan Luke Stevens, were originally charged with murder, but found guilty of the lesser charge on the basis that it could not be proved that they knew their actions would result in Elizabeth’s death.

In sentencing the group in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Martin Burns said Elizabeth suffered greatly in the lead-up to a profoundly disturbing death.

“Elizabeth suffered a slow and painful death, and you are all in one way or another responsible,” he said.

He said the group had taken the life of a “vibrant, happy child, who should have gone on to enjoy a full life”.

He sentenced Elizabeth’s father and mother to 14 years’ imprisonment.

“You knew Elizabeth required insulin to live, and that without it, she would die,” Burns said in sentencing 53-year-old Jason Struhs, who stood in the dock with his hands clasped.

The pair will have to serve 80 per cent of their sentence before they are eligible for parole. Because Kerrie was on parole at the time of Elizabeth’s death, she was ordered to serve slightly more, pushing her time to 15 years.

Stevens, 63, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment. Had he not encouraged Jason Struhs in the days before she died, Burns believed he might have allowed his daughter to be treated as he had previously.

“You are a dangerous, highly manipulative individual, and the authorities will do well to keep that in mind upon your release from prison,” Burns told Stevens.

Stevens’ wife, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, received nine years for her role in the death.

Elizabeth’s brother, Zachary Alan Struhs, 22, was sentenced to six years imprisonment, while the Stevens children were sentenced to seven years each.

Two members of the group who were not part of the Stevens or Struhs families – Keita Courtney Martin and Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch – were sentenced to seven years imprisonment, and Schoenfisch’s wife, Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, was sentenced to six years.

Zachary Struhs and Ms Schoenfisch will be eligible for parole later this year.

Burns said the others had encouraged Elizabeth’s father to denounce modern medicine, urging him not to be weak in his belief.

He said many of the group harboured contempt for the medical system, with more than one of them referring to medicine as witchcraft.

Burns spoke about how Jason Struhs had managed Elizabeth’s diabetes on his own for 2½ years after she was diagnosed. On one occasion, Elizabeth had nearly died, and her mother was imprisoned in 2021 for failing to provide the necessities of life.

While she was in prison, Jason Struhs became immersed in the church and its beliefs, Burns said. He said each of the defendants had encouraged Jason Struhs to not only have faith, but to have their particular faith.

“Each of you knew Elizabeth almost died in 2019 ... You knew both Jason and Kerrie Struhs owed a duty under the law to provide Elizabeth with the necessities of life,” he said.

“You knew this because you were all well aware they had been prosecuted in the criminal courts for their failures to do so, and that this was the reason Kerrie Struhs was imprisoned.”

The group sat during the sentencing in separate docks, most with their hands in their lap. At one point, Jason Struhs bent forward, putting his head between his knees.

Burns told the defendants they were eligible to apply to appeal against the sentence.

Outside court, eldest sibling Jayde said the sentencing provided justice for Elizabeth, who she described as a bright girl with big dreams of helping others like her with diabetes.

“The coercion and the manipulation Brendan used to control not only his own family, but mine, is the most unforgivable and disgusting abuse of people’s vulnerability,” she said.

“Her kind soul and infectious laughter will forever hold a place in our hearts.”

Jayde is now suing Child Safety for negligence over the death.

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