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Girl, 8, Dies After Parents ‘Pray Around Her’ Instead Of Treating Curable Illness
Warning: This article contains content some readers may find distressing.
Fourteen members of a small religious sect in Australia have been found guilty of the manslaughter of an eight-year-old diabetic girl who was denied insulin for almost a week.
Elizabeth Struhs, who was reportedly diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes in 2019, was described as a ‘vibrant, happy child’ and ‘adored’ by all members of the group, known as the Saints, including those accused, per CNN.
Tragically, the girl died on January 7, 2022, of diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication the result of a lack of insulin and lack of medical treatment for the condition, according to the ruling.
In court, it was heard how the Saints opposed medical care and believed Elizabeth would be healed by God instead of treatment.
Following a nine-week trial, Elizabeth’s parents were among members of the home-based church group who were found guilty.
All 14 members had refused to enter a plea, which was formally accepted as not guilty.
The group’s spiritual leader, Brendan Stevens, and the girl’s father, Jason Struhs, were originally charged with murder by reckless indifference, however, both were found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter as Justice Martin Burns wasn’t convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that they knew ‘Elizabeth would probably die.’
When delivering his verdict, Burns said while ‘it cannot be doubted that Elizabeth was lovingly cared for in almost every way,’ the group’s singular belief ‘deprived her of the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive.’
At the beginning of the trial, when invited to make an opening statement, Stevens spoke for the group and told the court he believed it to be ‘religious persecution.’
The court heard in the trial how the sect was almost completely confined to three families at the time of Elizabeth’s death.
The Saints are said to have met three times a week and while they didn’t ascribe to any religious denomination, they considered themselves Christians who followed the Bible.
They believed through prayer a person could receive the Holy Spirit and as a result, could speak in tongues.
The congregation also rejected conventional medicine, instead believing in the healing power of God, or ‘witchcraft’ as some members reportedly called it.
Jason Struhs joined the church in August 2012 after his wife, Kerrie Struhs, followed its teachings.
According to Burns’ written ruling, just months later Struhs said his daughter’s diabetes had been ‘healed’ by God.
The girl reportedly had her last dose of slow-acting insulin on the night of January 2. As her glucose levels were fine the next morning, Struhs believed God had intervened.
A glucometer would be used to measure how much sugar (glucose) was in Elizabeth’s blood. Convinced God had interceded, Struhs believed his daughter ‘didn’t need it anymore’ and put the device away.
The ruling heard how the congregation praised the ‘miraculous’ development.
It’s said Elizabeth likely suffered greatly in her final days, with prosecutor Caroline Marco explaining that she would have endured vomiting, extreme lethargy, and a loss of consciousness, per the BBC.
“She was described as speaking little, needing help going to the toilet, and being incontinent,” Marco stated.
Yet as the girl’s health deteriorated, the church members are said to have prayed and sang, while Stevens is said to have repeatedly reassured her parents that ‘God shall prevail,’ according to the ruling.
Burns wrote that any belief God would intervene should have been ‘dispelled’ when the congregation witnessed the child decline ‘into severe illness.’
Still, when Elizabeth breathed her final breath on January 7, the group gathered around her, singing ‘choruses’ and praying that she ‘be raised from the dead by God.’
A text message between the defendants read: “Elizabeth does not appear to be breathing apparently, but we will see a victory very soon. God can do anything!”
Through tears, Struhs told the court that he and Elizabeth had agreed she would ‘stop the insulin together’ and that he still believes his daughter will be resurrected.
He said: “Elizabeth is only sleeping, and I will see her again.”
It wasn’t until 36 hours had passed that emergency services were called, with Elizabeth’s father reportedly saying ‘though God would still raise Elizabeth, they could not leave a corpse in the house.’
When police arrived at the house in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, a crime scene was set up and the church members were ushered out of the home.
A detective recalled to the court how she saw around 20 people in the front yard, singing and praying.
Elizabeth’s older sister, Jayde Struhs, told the trial how she’s estranged from the Saints after fleeing her family home at 16 years old.
While pleased with the verdict, Jayde said the ‘system had failed’ her younger sibling.
Outside court, she stated: “It’s been a long and hard three years. Not a moment has gone by that I haven’t thought about my little sister, Elizabeth.”
All 14 found guilty will be sentenced on February 11.
Related Article: Dad Forced Six-Year-Old Son To Run On Treadmill Because He Was ‘Too Fat’ Just Days Before Boy’s Death
Related Article: Woman Suffered Worst Death Imaginable That Left Coroner Traumatized: ‘Couldn’t Stop Crying’
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