The Saints parents of diabetic girl Elizabeth Struhs jailed for 14 years
A judge said the diabetic eight-year-old’s death was ‘easily preventable’, as he sentenced her parents and a dozen other members of their fringe Christian group The Saints.
The Christian extremist parents of eight-year-old Toowoomba diabetic Elizabeth Struhs, who suffered a painful death after they stopped giving her lifesaving medication, have been jailed for 14 years.
Jason and Kerrie Struhs were emotionless as Supreme Court judge Martin Burns sentenced them and fellow members of a fringe Christian group who sung and prayed around the young girl as she lay dying in the family home in January 2022.
The 14 members of the religious group, called “The Saints”, didn’t believe in modern medicine and her parents withheld Elizabeth’s insulin shots, which were required multiple times a day, to prove their faith in God.
In sentencing, Justice Burns said the group had allowed their faith to blind them to the pain and suffering that the young girl endured in her protracted death from ketoacidosis.
All were found guilty of manslaughter in January after a nine-week judge-only trial in which they refused legal representation and did not offer a defence.
“Elizabeth’s death was and remains profoundly disturbing,” Justice Burns said. “It was so entirely and easily preventable.”
Judge Burns said they had engaged in a “spiritual gamble with the life of a child”, who they professed to love.
“The arrogance of your belief in that regard was and remains bewildering,’’ he said.
“Not one of you seems to have found it within yourselves to even consider the possibility your leader’s interpretation of the Bible might be wrong … what you did was gamble with the life of a child based on your peculiar interpretation of disparate passages from the Bible and nothing more.”
Elizabeth, a type-1 diabetic, was found dead on the morning of January 7, 2022, four days after her essential insulin was withheld due to the group’s rejection of modern medicine and faith that God would save her.
The group prayed and sang over her body for more than 36 hours before calling triple-0, expecting she would rise from the dead.
Mr Struhs, 53, was sentenced to 14½ years in prison. Ms Struhs, 49, was ordered to serve 14 years imprisonment for her role in Elizabeth’s death. However, she was on parole at the time for failing to provide the child with the necessities of life in 2019, when Elizabeth was initially diagnosed. In 2021, she served five months of her 18-month sentence.
Justice Burns ordered she must serve the remaining 373 days, bringing the total sentence on Wednesday to over 15 years.
Both have already served 1142 days in custody, which will be considered time served, and they must serve at least 80 per cent of the period.
Mr Struhs and religious leader Brendan Stevens, 63, were initially charged with murder by reckless indifference, with the trial considered a test case of the new charge in Queensland. However, Justice Burns found them guilty of manslaughter as they did not fully realise Elizabeth could die.
Justice Burns labelled Mr Stevens “dangerous” and “manipulative”. He said he led a “campaign” within the church to persuade Elizabeth’s father to embrace The Saints’ beliefs and sentenced the leader to 13 years behind bars.
“I think it is quite likely that had you not encouraged Jason Struhs on that Tuesday afternoon to keep believing in your brand of faith, he would have taken Elizabeth to hospital,” Justice Burns said. “If that occurred, she would be with us today.”
Mr Stevens’ wife, Loretta Stevens, 67, was said to have been a “matriarchal figure” within the group and was given nine years.
Mr Burns said the remaining members were less culpable, considering they had been indoctrinated into the beliefs of the group, several from birth.
Elizabeth’s older brother Zachary Struhs, 22, was given a six-year sentence and, with time served, will be able to apply for parole this year.
Elizabeth’s sister Jayde Struhs, who was estranged from the family, described her sister as a “bright girl” who aspired to help others with her condition.
“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,” Ms Struhs said outside the court.
“As we move on from this chapter in our lives, we begin to heal.
“Her kind soul and infectious laughter will forever hold a place in our hearts as we remember her.”
Each of the Stevens siblings was sentenced to seven years. Keita Martin, 24, who lived with the Stevens, and group newcomer Lachlan Schoenfisch, 34, were also sentenced to seven years.
Mr Schoenfisch’s wife, Samantha, 26, was jailed for six years.
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