Clapping, singing, bizarre speaking in tongues: Killer dad Jason Struhs’ baptism into fringe Christian cult revealed

The moment a father was baptised into a fringe religious circle in the months before he caused the death of his daughter by withdrawing her insulin has been revealed.

Footage of a killer father’s baptism into his family’s fringe church congregation in the months before he caused the death of his daughter by withdrawing her lifesaving insulin has been revealed – with the congregation breaking out into a bizarre song over the act.

The mobile phone clip can be revealed following the conviction of Jason Richard Struhs and 13 others over the death of Elizabeth Struhs in early 2022.

The eight-year-old girl, who had diabetic ketoacidosis, was denied her lifesaving insulin for several days by Mr Struhs and her mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs.

The pair are members of a close-knit religious group known as The Saints, who reject modern medicine in favour of God’s healing power.

Instead of seeking medical attention or administering her insulin, members of The Saints prayed for God to heal the child in accordance with their fringe faith-healing beliefs, until she died on or around January 7, 2022.

Jason Struhs is pictured sitting in the tub ahead of his baptism with Brendan Stevens standing over him. Picture: Supplied

After a brief conversation, Brendan dunks Jason into the makeshift basin, confirming his status as a member of The Saints. Picture: Supplied

Mr Struhs had only been a recent convert to The Saints, having rejected their beliefs for years.

That changed in August 2021 when he was baptised by Mr Stevens – with the footage capturing members of the congregation watching on.

Mr Stevens – the leader of The Saints – stands over Jason dressed in a simple garb.

In the footage he says: “And Jason, because you’ve agreed you want to get baptised, in the name of God because it’s right, I’m now going to baptise you in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

“Now take a breath, Jason, and I’ll put you under the water.”

With a quick submersion Mr Stevens dunks him into the tarpaulin basin and pulls him up.

“Praise the Lord God, hallelujah,” Mr Stevens continues.

In bizarre scenes, the congregation then breaks out into song, clapping along to the rhythmical guitar as Mr Struhs remains in the tub.

Brendan then leans over Jason and appears to babble in an unknown language. The act is referred to by members of the group as “speaking in tongues”. Picture: Supplied

Jason dries off after the act. Picture: Supplied

Over the music, Mr Stevens is heard babbling in an unknown language directly into Mr Struhs’ ear – the camera panning around the members of the religious circle who pick up the pace of the singing.

This “language” is referred to by The Saints as “speaking in tongues” – effectively an unknown language between its members and God.

The footage can be revealed following the conviction of the 14 members of The Saints at court, following a nine-week Supreme Court trial in 2024.

Jason Struhs, 53, and 63-year-old Brendan Luke Stevens – who is the leader of The Saints – were both charged with Elizabeth’s murder, while Kerrie Struhs, 49, was charged with manslaughter.

Elizabeth’s older brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 22, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, – the wife of Brendan Stevens – and the couple’s adult children Acacia Naree Stevens, 32, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 24, Andrea Louise Stevens, 35, Camellia Claire Stevens, 29, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and a third woman, Keita Courtney Martin, 24, were also charged with manslaughter.

Mr Struhs and Mr Stevens were found not guilty of murder, but guilty on the alternate counts of manslaughter.

Jason Struhs was cleared of the charge of murder, but convicted of the manslaughter of his daughter Elizabeth. Picture: Supplied

Elizabeth died after her insulin was withdrawn in early 2022 by Jason, as a test of his new-found faith in God. Picture: Supplied

All other 12 members were convicted of manslaughter.

They will be sentenced in February.

The Crown contended members of The Saints – including Kerrie Struhs – pressured Jason to adopt their extreme beliefs surrounding medicine, and encouraged him to stay firm in his decision to cease Elizabeth’s insulin.

The court was told Kerrie had been a devout member of The Saints for 17 years but Jason had resisted to join.

This began to change in 2019 when Elizabeth became deathly ill from her diabetes – which had not been diagnosed.

Kerrie refused to seek appropriate medical care for her daughter but Jason rushed her to Toowoomba Base Hospital after realising she had lost a significant amount of weight.

Doctors had described Elizabeth being “minutes from death” and if not for Jason’s action, she would not have survived.

Both Kerrie and Jason were charged with failing to supply Elizabeth with the necessaries of life as a result.

In 2021, Jason pleaded guilty to the charge and received a suspended sentence, but Kerrie pleaded not guilty and took her case to trial.

She was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to five months’ jail.

Jason was left to care for his family while managing Elizabeth’s insulin intake – something he found draining and difficult.

In August he confirmed his belief in God after his son Zachary broke down in tears and said he did not want a relationship with him – eventually leading to the fateful baptism.

Originally published as Clapping, singing, bizarre speaking in tongues: Killer dad Jason Struhs’ baptism into fringe Christian cult revealed