Record year for Darling Downs murder charges

2022 was a challenging year for Darling Downs detectives with back-to-back homicide investigations that started with the death of Elizabeth Rose Struhs and ended with dozens of people facing murder charges.

TODAY marks a year since eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs died in her Rangeville home, allegedly as a result of her parents denying lifesaving insulin that was needed to treat her Type 1 diabetes.

In a development that shocked Australia, homicide detectives further alleged that the members of her parents’ religious fellowship knew Elizabeth needed insulin but did not call the authorities or intervene to help her, even after the young girl collapsed.

The case kicked off what was a trying year for Darling Downs detectives with a spike in murder investigations that carried on throughout the year, ending with the death of beloved Millmerran footy legend Russell Klein on Christmas Day.

In total, there were 29 people charged with murder across the Darling Downs, marking the busiest year for incidents in more than half a decade.

William John Currey.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt.

Bunt and Currey

Aaron John Leslie Bunt, 29, and William John Currey, 32, are each charged with murder arising from the death of Len Andrew Hegarty who was found dead in his Ruthven St home in North Toowoomba on Christmas Eve in 2021.

Police allege Mr Hegarty died of injuries sustained in an alleged assault at the home in the days prior.

Mr Bunt and Mr Currey have been held in custody since their arrests in January 2022 but have not entered pleas.

Brendan Luke Stevens, 60, is the alleged leader of a church accused of being involved in withholding medicine to eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs (inset), resulting in her death.

The Saints

Fourteen adult members of an obscure religious fellowship have been charged with the murder of 8-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs.

They include Elizabeth’s parents Jason and Kerrie Struhs and her brother Zachary Alan Struhs along with Brendan Luke Stevens, Loretta Mary Stevens, Alexander Francis Stevens, Therese Maria Stevens, Andrea Lousie Stevens, Acacia Maree Stevens, Sebastian James Stevens, Camellia Claire Stevens, Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch and Kieta Courtney Martin.

Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs are both charged with the murder and torture of their daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs. Supplied

Police allege all 14 people knew that Elizabeth’s parents were withholding the insulin she needed to treat her Type1 diabetes and that they knowingly failed to seek medical treatment when she lost consciousness on January 2, 2022.

Sadly, Elizabeth died on January 7 but again it is alleged the members of the religious fellowship did not immediately contact emergency services, choosing instead to pray for the young girl’s resurrection.

It is alleged the fellowship called itself The Saints and met at the Stevens’ former home on Bridge Street, Toowoomba.

Krishna Chopra, who was alleged to have been murdered by her son-in-law Simon Jones.

Simon Jones

The death of Krishna Chopra baffled investigators for months.

The 61-year-old mother was found bludgeoned to death in her Crows Nest home with her body being discovered on January 31 after she failed to turn up for her scheduled Meals on Wheel appointments.

Upon entering her home, police located her body with forensic evidence suggesting she had died about 10 days earlier.

The case was further compounded by Ms Chopra’s limited connections to the community, having only recently moved to the area from regional New South Wales.

After an exhaustive investigation involving dozens of statements provided by the community, police charged Mr Chopra’s son-in-law Simon Jones with her murder.

He remains in custody and is yet to enter a plea to the charge.

Tina Kathleen Hazard, 35, has faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court where she was jailed for 12 months, with immediate parole, after pleading guilty to a number of property and drug offences.

Lachlan Mark Freund.

Freund and Hazard

Thor Morgan was leaving his girlfriend’s Harlaxton home in the early hours of March 15 when he was shot in the head.

Despite the horrific injury, the 25-year-old Toowoomba man walked about a kilometre back to his girlfriend’s home where an ambulance was called.

Sadly, doctors were unable to remove the bullet and about three months later the young man died of his injuries.

In the weeks that followed police charged Lachlan Mark Freund, 24, and Tina Kathleen Hazard, 35 with murder.

The pair remain in custody and have not entered pleas to the charges.

Jamie Barlow

Barnett, Barratt, Sinclair, Jones, Harris, Healy and two teens.

In a crime that shocked the small town of Laidley, police allege five adults and two teens ambushed Jamie Barlow, 48, and stabbed him to death.

Police allege the group cut the power to Mr Barlow’s Patrick Street home on June 22 to lure him outside where they set upon him, stabbing him dozens of times, before setting his house on fire.

The group also threatened Mr Barlow’s partner Stacey Vale and fled to various towns across Southeast Queensland.

As a result of an extensive search, police had arrested all seven accused members within three days.

Nicholas Graeme Barnett, 25, of Caboolture, Charlotte Laura Barratt, 19, of Laidley, Bailey Douglas Sinclair, 19, of Ningi, Gabriel Humberto Jones, 19, of Laidley, Braiden Taylor Leslie Harris, 24, of College View, and Tahlia Healy, 20, of Laidley, all stand charged with murder, arson of a structure or building, and attempted murder.

They remain in custody and have not entered pleas to the charges.

Ricky Duke Doolan is the main suspect in the fatal stabbing of Richard Michael Mills.

Doolan

New South Wales police have charged 31-year-old Boggabilla man Ricky Duke Doolan with the murder of Richard Michael Mills.

Police allege Mr Mills was in town for a funeral when he was stabbed by Mr Doolan about 11.40pm on September 2.

Emergency Services were called to an address on Brown Street but were unable to save Mr Mills.

Meanwhile, police allege Mr Doolan fled across the Queensland border and was picked up by Goondiwindi police about two hours later.

Mr Doolan remains in custody and is yet to enter a plea.

Jonathan Wright.

Wright

Dozens of motorists passing through Withcott on the Warrego Highway were witnesses to the death of a young man who police allege was deliberately run over by 46-year-old Rockville man Jonathan Wright.

Police have alleged that Mr Wright and Paul Sia met up in Toowoomba on the morning of November 20.

After this meeting, police allege Mr Wright followed Mr Sia from Toowoomba to Withcott and intentionally rammed him off the road, then hit him a second time after he exited his car.

The collision inflicted a fatal brain injury and Mr Sia died in hospital on November 3.

Mr Wright handed himself into police in the days after the collision and was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

That charge has since been upgraded to murder and he remains in police custody, with no plea entered.

Police allege Russell Klein was killed by Callum Anthony Padaric Cook, 30, on December 25, 2022.

Cook

To round out what has been a truly violent year in the Darling Downs, Millmerran father-of-four Russell Klein died on Christmas Day under suspicious circumstances.

Police allege that there was an argument between Callum Anthony Padaric Cook, 30 and a person who lived with Mr Klein at his Commens Street home about 9pm.

It is further alleged that Mr Klein confronted Mr Cook who then deliberately ran him over in a silver Honda Odyssey wagon, inflicting a fatal injury.

Mr Cook was arrested about seven hours later and remains in custody, charged with murder.

Mr Cook is yet to enter a plea.