- Religious sect parents jailed for death of 8 year old with type 1 diabetes
- Sect followers prayed and sang as an 8-year-old died.
- All 14 have been found guilty of manslaughter
The tragic case of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has sent shockwaves through communities worldwide.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019 was denied life-saving insulin by her parents, Jason and Elizabeth Struhs, due to their belief that prayer alone would heal her.
Instead, she died from diabetic ketoacidosis at her home in Toowoomba, Australia, in January 2022.
Her parents were sentenced to 14 years in prison for manslaughter with their religious leader, Brendan Stevens, receiving a 13-year sentence.
Eleven other members of their sect known as The Saints were handed jail terms of six to nine years.
Preventable tragedy
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that requires daily insulin injections to maintain safe blood glucose levels.
Without insulin, ketones – a type of acid – build up in the blood, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which is a life-threatening emergency.
Elizabeth’s death was entirely preventable.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed harrowing details of her final days.
Instead of seeking medical help, members of the sect prayed and sang while Elizabeth lay on a mattress suffering from extreme lethargy, vomiting and eventually losing consciousness.
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No one called for an ambulance, and authorities were only informed 36 hours after her death.
The Saints are a small, unregistered religious group in Australia who oppose medical treatment, believing instead in divine healing.
Stevens, their leader, defended their actions, claiming the trial was an attack on their faith.
However, the judge, Justice Martin Burns, dismissed this argument, stating that Elizabeth was deprived of “the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive.”
Type 1 diabetes is not curable but it is manageable with the right medical care.
Elizabeth’s legacy
Elizabeth’s sister, Jayde Struhs, had previously left the sect after coming out as gay and was estranged from her family.
She bravely testified against her parents, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it is essential to follow medical advice and ensure insulin is taken as prescribed.
