On January 29, 2025, an Australian court found 14 members of a religious sect guilty of manslaughter in the death of nine-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs. The girl died after her father, Jason Struhs, stopped administering the insulin necessary for her Type 1 diabetes, leading to her demise on January 7, 2022.
- Parents guilty of manslaughter for medication withholding
- Charges of murder dismissed due to evidence lack
- Diabetic girl died after insulin stopped
- Sect members believed in divine healing over medicine
- All defendants chose to represent themselves
- Father maintained faith in daughter's resurrection
Elizabeth Rose Struhs passed away at her family’s home in Toowoomba, Queensland. After her father ceased her insulin treatment, sect members surrounded her, praying and singing instead of seeking medical assistance. The court determined that while the defendants acted with negligence, there was insufficient evidence to prove they intended to cause her death.
During the trial, sect leader Brendan Stevens argued that the case was an act of religious persecution. Members of the group, who referred to themselves as “the Saints,” held strong beliefs in the power of faith healing, often rejecting conventional medical care. All 14 defendants chose to represent themselves in court, rejecting legal counsel.
- Elizabeth Rose Struhs died on January 7, 2022.
- Her father, Jason Struhs, stopped her insulin treatment.
- The sect believed in divine healing over medical intervention.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between religious beliefs and medical ethics. The court’s ruling reflects the complexities involved in cases where faith and health care intersect, raising questions about the responsibilities of caregivers in such contexts.
The convictions of the 14 sect members underscore the legal consequences of neglecting medical treatment based on religious beliefs. The case serves as a reminder of the critical balance between faith and the duty to protect vulnerable individuals.
