14 Members of Religious Sect Sentenced in Connection to Death of 8-Year-Old Girl Denied Insulin, Including Her Parents

Mar. 15, 2025

Elizabeth Struhs.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

The parents of a diabetic child whose insulin was withdrawn due to their belief that God would heal her have been sentenced in Australia.

According to theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC) andThe Sydney Morning Herald,Jason Struhs, 53, and Kerrie Struhs, 49, were sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to more than 14 years each in prison for manslaughter after their 8-year-olddaughter Elizabeth Struhsdied from diabetic ketoacidosis in 2022.

Elizabeth was found dead on Jan. 7, 2022, in a home in Toowoomba, located around 80 miles west of Brisbane.

PEOPLE previously reported that the family were part of an Australian religious group called the “Saints.”

According to ABC, Brendan Luke Stevens, 63, who led the group, was sentenced to 13 years in jail for his role in contributing to the death of Elizabeth.

Justice Martin Burns told the court that Brendan was a “dangerous, highly manipulative” man who allegedly convinced Jason to deny his daughter insulin.

Burns said he believed that if the group leader hadn’t encouraged Jason to withdraw his daughter’s insulin, he may have allowed Elizabeth to receive treatment.

While Brendan and Jason were found guilty of manslaughter, they were acquitted of murder due to there being no evidence that they knew Elizabeth would die, perThe Sydney Morning Herald.

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A supplied court sketch of a hearing at Brisbane Supreme Court on July 10, 2024.MICHAEL FELIX/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

MICHAEL FELIX/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

An additional 11 members of the “Saints” were also sentenced to between six and nine years in jail in connection to Elizabeth’s death.

PerThe Sydney Morning Herald,Stevens’ wife Loretta May Stevens, 67, was sentenced to nine years, while Elizabeth’s brother Zachary Struhs, 22, was sentenced to six years.

The Stevens’ children Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Sebastian James Stevens, 24, Andrea Louise Stevens, 35, Acacia Naree Stevens, 32, Camellia Claire Stevens, 29, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, were sentenced to seven years.

Keita Courtney Martin, 24, and Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, who were not part of the Stevens or Struhs families were also sentenced to seven years.

Lachlan’s wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, was sentenced to six years.

Burns said that the group encouraged Jason to reject modern medicine, with some members allegedly believing the medication was witchcraft.

“Each of you engaged in some sort of spiritual gamble with the life of a child, a child you professed to love,” Burns said, according to ABC.

“Indeed, throughout the numerous interviews which were placed before the court, hour after hour, not one of you could point to a single line of scripture in which doctors and medicine were strictly forbidden,” he added.

“Elizabeth suffered a slow and painful death, and you are all in one way or another responsible,” he said, perThe Sydney Morning Herald.

ABC reports that at the time of Elizabeth’s death, her mother Kerrie was on parole for failing to provide the necessaries of life to her daughter in 2019.

On top of her 14 year sentence, the mother is ordered to serve her outstanding parole time of more than 12 months.

Jason, who was on a suspended sentence for the same offense, is ordered to serve an extra six months on top of his 14 year sentence.

While the parents must serve 80 percent of their jail term before applying for parole; the other members of the group will be able to apply for parole after serving half of their sentence. All 14 members of the religious sect who were convicted declined counsel and represented themselves in the trial.

PEOPLE has contacted the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Queensland Courts for comment

source: people.com