Hundreds of texts between members of a faith-healing group in the week a young girl lay dying from her diabetic condition have been revealed in court.
Fourteen members of the religious circle known as The Saints are on trial charged with the death of Elizabeth Struhs, who was found dead in her Rangeville home in early 2022.
It is alleged the Toowoomba girl’s parents – Jason Richard Struhs, 52, and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49 – and members of The Saints withheld the girl’s insulin from January 3 that year in line with their group’s hard line beliefs in the healing power of God.
Elizabeth’s condition worsened until she died between January 6-7 from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Jason and Kerrie Struhs are charged with their daughter’s murder and manslaughter respectively.
Elizabeth’s elder brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and Keita Courtney Martin, 22, are all charged with manslaughter.
The Saints’ leader Brendan Luke Stevens, 62, is charged with murder alongside Jason.
The court has been told Jason made the decision to withdraw Elizabeth’s insulin to prove his faith in God after being baptised into The Saints in August 2021.
Elizabeth Struhs died between January 6 and 7, 2022 at her family’s home in Rangeville, Toowoomba, from diabetic ketoacidosis. Picture: Supplied
Zachary Struhs (top row, 2nd from right) is among 14 members of the religious group The Saints accused of fatally withdrawing Elizabeth’s insulin several days before her death. Picture: Court Sketch / NewsWire
On Friday, Brisbane Supreme Court was shown hundreds of texts exchanged between members of the group dating back as far as 2019.
During the week of Elizabeth’s death, Jason texted Brendan Stevens that he was struggling after seeing his daughter become unwell.
Members of The Saints attended the Struhs home over the following days and continued to share messages encouraging Jason to stay firm in his faith.
One message from Ms Martin to Andrea Stevens reads: ‘God won’t give Jason more than he can bear.’
In another, Andrea texts Ms Martin: ‘Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit this mountain shall be removed.’
Members of The Saints attended the Struhs home while Elizabeth was sick and continued to share messages encouraging Jason Richard Struhs (pictured) to stay firm in his faith. Supplied,
Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs (pictured) are both charged with the murder and torture of their daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs. Supplied
On January 7 – the day Elizabeth died – Camellia Stevens tells her brother Alexander the girl doesn’t appear to be breathing.
She then says: ‘We will see this miracle.’
A text sent by Therese Stevens to Camellia and Acacia Stevens was also read onto the record.
‘There is nothing to be afraid of, the Lord is with us. Elizabeth is alive. Be comforted,’ her text read.
The court was told Ms Schoenfisch and Therese also exchanged messages in 2021 after Ms Schoenfisch was baptised into the group.
Ms Schoenfisch tells Therese over text that she was doing a ‘clean out’ of all ‘unnecessary’ medication.
She said she was throwing out her creams and ointments, describing them as ‘witchcraft’.
‘Needless to say there are many vitamins, sleeping tablets and painkillers all on their way to the dump this afternoon. Praise God,’ Ms Schoenfisch says in her text.
Therese responds by recommending salt water as a replacement for antiseptic and to apply honey ‘if a wound is clean’.
Recorded interviews with the defendants are also expected to be played over the coming weeks.
In one, played on Thursday, Zachary Struhs tells police he is ‘disgusted’ his parents were being investigated for murder and people would be ‘judged’ for it.
The court was told he was interviewed at Toowoomba Police Station several days after Elizabeth’s death.
Zachary tells officers that he did not regret calling anyone to seek medical attention for his sister.
He goes on to say his sister had the full support of their congregation when the decision to stop administering her lifesaving insulin medication in the days prior, before slamming the investigation into his family.
‘I’m very disgusted this is a murder investigation,’ Zachary told officers at Toowoomba Police Station.
‘All of those involved will be judged based on what’s in their heart and what they’ve done today.’
The judge-alone trial continues.
