Killer cult members were ‘elated’ when girl, 8, died so she could be resurrected
Published By admin with Comments 0
Elizabeth Struhs died at the family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, on January 7, 2022 after her parents and 12 others allegedly withheld her diabetes insulin medication for six days.
Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said Elizabeth’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, had waited 36 hours after learning of her death before calling an ambulance.
“Mr Struhs (to police) said he told everyone even though God would still raise Elizabeth, he couldn’t leave a corpse in the house, he could not leave her lying there forever,” Ms Marco said.
After police arrested Jason Struhs and Elizabeth’s mother, 49-year-old Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, other members of the group were happy that police were investigating.
“The mother of (defendant) Samantha Emily Schoenfisch said she was elated as she explained they had to contact authorities to take Elizabeth’s body away but that must be because God wants more people to see her rise,” Ms Marco said.
Ms Marco said Elizabeth’s parents and other defendants were present during Elizabeth’s last days and on January 8 after she had died in the night.
“They gathered to pray for the rising of Elizabeth. They believed God would raise her from the dead so she could walk amongst them again,” Ms Marco said.
The religious group of six men and eight women, who called themselves ‘the Saints’, faced their second day at trial on Thursday after they refused to enter pleas in Brisbane Supreme Court.
Jason Struhs, 52, and the Saints leader Brendan Luke Stevens, 62, are charged with murder while Kerrie Struhs and the others are charged with manslaughter.
Ms Marco said Jason Struhs had been under continuous pressure from the other defendants to join the Saints and reject man-made treatments.
“Pressure was brought on Jason Struhs to change … to persuade him not to administer insulin under their fundamental tenet that God heals,” Ms Marco said.
Content retrieved from: https://www.inqld.com.au/news/2024/07/12/sect-members-were-elated-when-girl-8-died-so-she-could-be-resurrected.
