A member of a cult-like religious group accused of siphoning insulin from a young girl to death has claimed the child wanted her father to stop giving her the medication in line with the group’s strict beliefs in healing.
Body camera recordings of members of the church group, known as the Saints, were shown on the 10th day of the Superior Court trial over the death of Elizabeth Strohes in early 2022.
The 14 members of the group are accused of withdrawing insulin from the child for several days before she was found dead at her family’s home in Rangeville.
During interviews with group members after Elizabeth’s death, Andrea Louise Stevens told police that the girl repeatedly asked her father, Jason Richard Strohes, to stop taking the medication.
“She (Elizabeth) believes in the healing power of God,” Mrs. Stevens tells the officer.
“We all believe the same thing.”
During the recordings, the group members can be heard singing in the background.
The prosecution alleges that Elizabeth’s parents and members of the Church of the Saints withheld her insulin for several days until she died of diabetic ketoacidosis between January 6 and 7, 2022.
In her opening statement, prosecutor Carolyn Marko said Mr. Strohes made the decision to stop giving the medication in keeping with the group’s strict beliefs about the healing power of God.
The group also allegedly chose to pray to God to heal the child rather than seek medical care.
Mr. Strohes was charged with murder, while the girl’s mother, Keri Elizabeth Strohes, was charged with manslaughter.
Eleven others — Elizabeth’s older brother Zachary Alan Strohes, 21, Loretta Marie Stevens, 67, Acacia Nari Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camelia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stewart Schoenfish, 34, his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfish, 26, and Keita Courtney Martin, 22 — have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Brendan Luke Stevens, the leader of the Saints, is also charged with murder.
All 14 defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
During her interview, Andrea Stevens told police outside the Strohs’ home that she and her family had been sleeping there for several days.
She says they all went home after Elizabeth started feeling sick around “Tuesday.”
Andrea is heard admitting that the child was “diabetic” and was taking insulin.
“Elizabeth always asked her father Jason to take it off, but he didn’t believe it until recently,” Andrea tells the officer.
In another recording heard by the court, Samantha Schoenfish is heard saying she came to the home to comfort the Strohs family as Elizabeth became increasingly ill.
She was heard saying that Elizabeth had looked healthy and “perfect” a week before, but that the girl had been “sick” all week.
“We were here a few times, and she was still breathing…and then she got a little sick,” Ms. Schoenfish told the officer.
“She was still able to eat a little bit of food.”
The officer asked if there were any signs that Elizabeth was in pain, and Mrs. Schoenfish replied, “I don’t really think so. No more than I would feel when I have morning sickness.”
Toowoomba Community Corrections Case Manager Eleanor Saville gave evidence that she was due to see Kerry Strohs after her release from prison in late December 2021.
The court has already heard evidence that Kerry spent five months in prison for failing to provide for Elizabeth after the toddler nearly died from her undiagnosed condition in 2019.
Ms Saville said on Tuesday that Kerry had phoned her in late 2021 to say she would not be attending her appointment.
She recalled Kerry telling her she was “sick” and experiencing symptoms associated with diarrhea.
A follow-up appointment was booked but Ms Savile said she had no further contact with Kerry after her arrest in January 2022.
The trial continues before the judge alone.
