Religious sect prayed and sang instead of treating dying girl, 8 with insulin
Religious sect prayed and sang instead of treating dying girl, 8 with insulin
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Fourteen religious sect members were found guilty of the manslaughter of a diabetic girl after denying her insulin, relying on God to save her. Elizabeth Rose Struhs died at her family’s house in the southern Australian city of Toowoomba after being denied her insulin shots for type-1 diabetes for six days.
![[Elizabeth Struhs, 8]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_212251616-b0df-e1738145785764.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Her parents, Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, were part of a group of a few dozen members called ‘The Saints,’ not affiliated with an established church in the country. They are known to oppose medical intervention, blasting is as ‘witchcraft’, and believe in the healing power of God.
![[The girl in hospital]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_113090622-ce35-e1738146175960.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=631)
As the eight-year-old lay dying, they turned to prayer and song, maintaining a vigil around her bed. Even after Elizabeth stopped breathing, they sought divine intervention for her ‘to be raised from the dead by God.’. One text message between defendants said: ‘Elizabeth does not appear to be breathing apparently, but we will see a victory very soon. God can do anything.’.
![[A supplied court sketch of Jason Richard Struhs (left), the father of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs who died from untreated diabetes, her mother Kerrie Struhs (second from left in second row) and religious group leader Brendan Luke Stevens (left in second row) at the start of their trial along with 11 other rmembers of the congreation for murder and manslaughter charges over the girl's death, Brisbane Supreme Court, Brisbane, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, (AAP Image/Supplied by Michael Felix) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237723379-c64f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Her bereaved parents and her brother Zachary were among 14 members of The Saints who were found guilty of manslaughter over Elizabeth’s death in January 2022. Jason Richard Struhs, 53, and the sect leader, Brendan Luke Stevens, 63, had been charged with the more serious crime of murder, but Queensland Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns found both guilty of manslaughter.
![[Jason Struhs]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237741691-05e3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
