April 24, 2025 • 25 mins
Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs had Type 1 diabetes—a condition that’s manageable with proper care. But her parents, guided by a fringe religious sect called The Saints, chose prayer over medicine. Over six days, Elizabeth’s health deteriorated. No one called for help. And by the time they did—it was far too late.
In this episode of ClueTrail, we take you inside the tragedy that shook Australia. You’ll hear the story of Elizabeth’s final days, the ideology behind The Saints, and the courtroom reckoning that followed.
This is the story of Elizabeth Struhs. And the community that let her die.
Content Warning: This episode discusses child neglect, religious extremism, and death. Listener discretion is advised.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Clue Trail , where every story is a mystery
and every clue pulls you deeperinto the unknown.
From unsolved cases and strangedisappearances to hidden
histories and curious twists offate, we piece together
fragments, searching for thetruth or uncovering even bigger
(00:29):
questions.
Some clues reveal answers,others lead to greater mysteries
.
But one thing is certain Everytrail tells a story.
Are you ready to follow it?
Let's begin.
Are you ready to follow it?
Let's begin.
(00:57):
A child was sick.
A treatment existed, but herparents and their religious
group chose prayer over medicine.
What happened next would shockAustralia.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struthhad type 1 diabetes, a
manageable condition with propercare.
But instead of giving herinsulin, her parents stopped
treatment, believing God wouldheal her.
(01:17):
Surrounded by members of theirreligious sect, elizabeth grew
weaker over six days.
They sang, they prayed, butthey never called for help Until
it was far too late.
In this episode, we take youinside the case that horrified
(01:37):
the nation, exposed the darkside of religious extremism and
reignited a crucial conversationwhen does religious freedom end
and where does child protectionbegin?
This is the story of ElizabethStruth and the community that
let her die.
(02:05):
Elizabeth lived in Toowoomba,queensland, in a modest home
with her parents and siblings.
By all outward appearances, herlife was quiet and routine.
Elizabeth loved the colour pink, she was dreaming of becoming a
(02:26):
doctor, she was bubbly and sheloved life.
Unfortunately, elizabethcarried something most kids
didn't.
She was diagnosed with type 1diabetes and, like many with
this condition, elizabeth neededdaily insulin injections to
survive.
It was manageable, but neveroptional.
(02:46):
Without insulin, her body wouldbegin to shut down.
At just eight years old,elizabeth already understood
more about life and death thanmost children ever will.
She depended on the adults.
She trusted her family to keepher alive.
(03:13):
First we need to understand thefamily dynamic and their
background.
Her family was deeply religious.
They belonged to a small,independent Christian group
called the Saints, a housechurch not affiliated with any
major denomination.
They believed in the power ofprayer.
The church leader was BrandonStevens.
(03:38):
He ran the church for 17 years.
Even after the trial, brandonStevens and the saints still
remain a mystery.
We know he had a pretty normalchildhood, raised with strong
religious beliefs, not of theextremist type, though.
(04:01):
An average student went on tojoining the police force for a
few years before leaving theforce and turning more and more
towards religion.
He ended up in something of aleadership position with the
Brisbane Revival CentreInternational Church.
He married Loretta Stevens andthey have seven children
(04:21):
together.
And they have seven childrentogether.
His time in church didn't lastvery long.
He used his position more andmore to preach his extremist
views, preaching a literalrepresentation of the Bible.
This wasn't very well receivedby the other members of the
church or the pastor, so he wasasked to leave.
(04:45):
That is when, in 2004, fouryears after joining Brisbane
Revival, he left and establishedthe Saints.
Kerry Struess followed throughand joined him.
(05:10):
For nearly two decades, membersmet several times a week in each
other's homes, and at the heartof this group were the two
families, the Strews and theStevens.
They were bound not just byfate but by belief that they
were spiritually chosen, unitedby what they called the Holy
Spirit.
Brendan Stevens was seen as themessenger, the healer and a
(05:32):
direct conduit to God.
His words carried the weight ofdivine authority.
The saints practiced a rigidand insular form of Christianity
.
They believed in speaking intongues which they saw as a
divine language gifted by theHoly Spirit, rejecting holidays
like Christmas, easter and evenbirthdays, calling them pagan
(05:56):
and unbiblical.
They had strict gender roleswhere men held authority and
women were expected to submit.
Men held authority and womenwere expected to submit, and
they had a deep hostilitytowards modern medicine, which
they refer to as witchcraft.
(06:16):
In the later interviews withthe police, kerry explained that
the group considered themselvescloser than any blood relations
because, in their eyes, theywere joined not by family ties
but by faith.
We are all united by the HolySpirit, she said.
(06:38):
This extreme belief systemwould ultimately lead to tragedy
.
The saints didn't recruit inpublic.
There were no flyers or loudsermons on the street corners.
Instead, the group workedquietly and personally, gaining
trust, embedding themselves intolives and slowly replacing
(06:59):
biological families with theirspiritual one, families with
their spiritual one.
According to Jade Strews,elizabeth's estranged sister and
a former member of the sect,children in the group didn't
attend school to learn in thetraditional sense.
They went to school to spreadthe Word of God.
(07:20):
She said.
Even their schoolwork wasfiltered through scripture.
Any assessment, no matter thesubject, was answered from a
religious standpoint and slowly,more and more members joined.
Danielle Martin later testifiedin court about how her daughter
(07:46):
, keita Martin, was graduallydrawn into the group.
What started as harmless visitsfor drum lessons with the
Stevens turned into long stays.
By January 2018, kita wasbaptised into the sect.
That same year, when Danielleforbade her daughter from
(08:10):
returning to the Stevens Kita,just 17,.
Moved out to the Stevens.
Keita just 17, moved out.
Daniel received a chillingmessage in a Christmas card from
the Stevens.
It read we are your true family.
We love you more than yourfamily does.
This was meant for Keita.
(08:39):
Lachlan Shoalfish, once a civilengineer, was baptized into the
group in August 2021.
His father, cameron, testifiedthat Lachlan transformed within
weeks.
By September or October, he wasno longer the son I knew,
cameron said, but he didn't giveup.
He made one final attempt tospeak, reasoning to him this is
going to end badly and when itdoes, when you get to the end of
(09:03):
the road, you don't know whereto go.
Just remember that we love youdesperately, no matter what.
You've got a special place inyour mother's heart, cameron
said, but it was too late.
The group had already becomehis reality.
(09:29):
Not all members of Elizabeth'sfamily wholeheartedly followed
the saints.
Jason, elizabeth's dad, didn'tjoin the group until 2021.
Jason later told police thathis wife wasn't very religious
during the first few years oftheir marriage, but that changed
when she met leader BrendanStevens and his wife Loretta in
(09:52):
2004.
Although Kerry had a very closerelationship with the Stevens.
Jason remained a non-believerwho insisted that their eight
children be vaccinated.
Their conflicted beliefs causedmany years of friction in the
household.
This led Jason moving to thegarage to escape the tension for
(10:14):
some time.
He also started working nightshifts and preferred to stay
away from the house, eitherworking or playing golf.
Carrie later told the policethat her husband was an angry
man for many years who waschoosing not to believe in God.
Who was choosing not to believein God.
She was planning to leave himafter her release from prison in
(10:37):
2021, but she changed her mindafter she discovered that Jason
had joined the church,describing him as much calmer
now, like a new person.
He resisted their persuasionsfor 17 years.
He lived in conflict in his ownhome, all to stand against this
(10:57):
group's beliefs.
But what made him change hismind?
It all started in 2019, whenElisabeth became gravely ill.
Over the course of six days,her condition worsened, but no
(11:18):
one in her family called formedical help.
By the time Jason finally tookher to the hospital, she already
slipped into a coma.
Doctors managed to save herlife, and that is when she was
diagnosed with type 1 diabeteschronic conditions that required
daily insulin to survive.
(11:39):
Her near-death experienceraised immediate red flags, and
her doctors notified theauthorities right away.
Both Jason and Carrie wereconvicted of failing to provide
the necessities of life.
Carrie was sentenced to 18months in prison, though she
served just five months.
Jason, who had eventuallybrought Elizabeth to the
(12:02):
hospital and testified againstCarrie, received a six-month
suspended sentence.
That was because he said hewould not let this happen again.
Maybe he believed it at thetime, but three years later, the
same failure returned, and thistime it would cost Elizabeth's
(12:22):
life.
For the next two years, jasonhelped Elizabeth with her
medication and diet, despiteCarrie's and the Saints'
protests, and everything seemsto be back on track.
But everything changed justfour months before Elizabeth's
death.
(12:47):
On 21st of August 2021, whileCarrie Struess was serving her
sentence in jail, jason wasbaptized into the Saints.
The day began with somethingsimple and joyful a birthday
picnic for one of their children, but afterwards the family went
to the Stevens' home, where thetone shifted dramatically.
(13:10):
There, in the backyard, jasonwas submerged in water, with
Brent and Stevens speaking intongues as he performed the
ceremony.
Police later recovered a videoof the baptism from a phone.
Jason reportedly saidafterwards that he has been
cleansed of his sins.
(13:30):
From that moment on, he was nolonger the reluctant father who
once testified against his wife.
He was a believer.
Jason later told police hesuffered a mental breakdown and
sought support from othermembers.
To the other church members,his conversion was something of
a miracle proof that God hascured his anger.
(13:53):
Proof that God has cured hisanger.
This shift in Jason wouldunfortunately also lead to
Elizabeth losing her only parent, which helped her manage her
condition While Carrie wasbehind bars.
She was not cut off from thegroup.
According to the evidencepresented in court, she
(14:15):
exchanged letters and phonecalls with members of the saints
.
In these communications, thegroup spoke of their mission to
convert Jason and, moredisturbingly, their plans to
wean Elizabeth of her insulin.
This was a coordinated effort.
Jason's conversion marked thebeginning of the end for
Elizabeth.
Once he joined the saints, hefully embraced their doctrine,
(14:38):
including the belief that Godalone would heal his daughter
and that medication was a signof mistrust in divine power.
This belief would come toreplace medicine In late
December 21,.
Elizabeth was growing weak.
Jason had stopped hermedication and her blood sugar
(15:01):
was rising dangerously high.
Her parents didn't call anambulance, didn't take her to a
hospital.
Instead, they gathered theirreligious community to pray over
poor Elizabeth.
They continued to sing, danceand pray around her body for 36
hours before Jason said it wastime to phone for help.
According to the police, thegroup waited, believing it was
(15:25):
God's will and that prayer hasalready done all it could.
Paramedics who arrived at thescene described the
heartbreaking situation.
Elizabeth had died in her home,surrounded by people who
watched her deteriorate,believing fate would be enough.
What followed wasn't just afamily in mourning.
(15:47):
It was a full-scale policeinvestigation and a growing
national outcry rightly so.
This was a crime, a horrificcrime, and fortunately,
authorities weren't about to letit go unanswered.
In the days followingElizabeth's death, queensland
(16:10):
police began an investigation,and what they uncovered wasn't
just parental neglect.
This was a wider circle ofinaction and shared belief.
All these people standing overthis dying little girl praying,
and yet no one, not one singleone, decided it was too far.
(16:30):
This is infuriating.
Everyone failed her.
In January 22, jason andCarrie's truths were charged
with Elizabeth's murder, tortureand, once more, failing to
provide the necessities of life.
But the story didn't end there,because justice hasn't been
(16:50):
served, in July 2022, policearrested 12 more members of the
Saints who had been present inthe home while Elizabeth was
suffering.
I am saying it again 12 peoplesat there and watched this
little girl die 12.
All were charged with murderand failure to seek medical
(17:14):
assistance.
That brought the total numberof people charged to 14.
Amongst them were severalrelatives of the family.
These were not strangers.
Elizabeth knew and trustedthese people and all of them
were so indoctrinated thatbelieved medical treatment was a
form of spiritual betrayal andthey allowed the little girl,
(17:38):
who had all her life ahead ofher, to die a terrifying death.
They just prayed over her,watched her decline and did
nothing.
This case sparked nationalinterest.
It was everywhere and everyonein Australia was enraged.
How was this allowed to happen?
(17:59):
Kerry has clearly said to herparole officers upon her release
she will withhold medication ifshe has the opportunity, but
she will not oppose anyonegiving Elizabeth her medication.
Well, with Jason converted bythat point, elizabeth had no one
with some common sense aroundher to give her the life-saving
(18:22):
medication.
For months, public figures,legal experts and child
advocates weigh in.
Many question how such extremebeliefs could be allowed to
flourish unchecked and how achild with a known medical
condition could fall so farthrough the cracks.
Queensland Child ProtectionServices came under the fire.
(18:46):
It was later reported thatElizabeth had been removed from
her parents once before, butreturned to their care.
That relevation promptedoutrage.
In the months that followed,politicians and child safety
advocates began calling forstricter oversight, mandatory
reporting and better tracking ofat-risk families, especially
(19:19):
those operating in isolatedreligious communities.
After the initial wave ofarrests, the case moved on to
the courts and everyone arrestedall 14 of them remained in
custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, elizabeth'ssurviving siblings were taken
into protective care Out ofrespect for their privacy and
well-being.
Authorities have not releasedfurther information.
(19:39):
The full legal proceedings tookmonths.
This case was a landmark forAustralian justice system.
The trial started in 2024 2024and all 14 defendants
represented themselves.
The trial lasted for nine weeksand it was a judge-only trial.
None of the 14 gave or calledany evidence.
(20:03):
Speaking on their behalf, brentand Stevens called the trial a
religious persecution.
All 14 members were foundguilty of manslaughter.
Jason and Carrie were sentencedto 14 years in prison.
Brandon Stevens, now 63 yearsold, the group's self-proclaimed
pastor and spiritual leader,was sentenced to 13 years in
(20:27):
prison.
Eleven other members of thesect, who stood by singing and
praying as Elizabeth'sconditions worsened over six
days, were also sentenced.
Their punishment ranged fromsix to nine years behind bars.
In his powerful sentencingremarks, justice Burns said.
(20:48):
Sentencing remarks JusticeBurns said Elizabeth suffered a
slow and painful death and youare all, in one way or another,
responsible.
It marked a moment oflong-awaited accountability.
But for many, includingElizabeth, sisters, jade, he can
never undo the loss.
After the sentencing, jadestood outside the courtroom and
(21:19):
faced the media.
No sentence will ever be enough.
It doesn't bring her back, jadesaid.
Jade left the sect in 2014.
She had spent years trying towarn authorities about what was
happening behind Clore's door.
Her pleas went unheard.
My little sister died becauseof blind faith, because adults
(21:47):
who were supposed to protect herchose prayer over medicine,
jade said.
In her statement, she expressedboth sorrow and relief.
Sorrow for what her sisterendured.
Relief that finally thoseresponsible would be held
accountable.
Today there is justice, butthere is no joy.
This is a victory rocked ingrief.
Jade has since become a vocaladvocate for stronger
(22:09):
protections against coercivecontrol and religious extremism.
Her courage in speaking out haskept Elizabeth's story alive
and helped her ensure her voice,even in death, will never be
silenced.
Her kind soul and infectiouslaughter will forever hold a
place in our hearts as weremember her.
(22:31):
She told reporters Today.
All those accused sit in prisonserving their long sentences.
Justice Burns said at theirsentencing that the prospects of
the offender's rehabilitationwere bleak, to say the least.
To quote each of you engaged insome sort of spiritual gamble
(22:53):
with the life of a child, achild you professed to love.
The arrogance of your belief inthat regard was, and remains,
bewildering.
Elizabeth's story is one ofunimaginable loss, of a life cut
short, but not by illness butby belief.
It's a reminder of whathappened when fate is twisted
(23:16):
into control, when love isclouded by doctrine and when the
most vulnerable are leftunheard.
Though justice has been served,the pain remains.
Though justice has been served,the pain remains.
She should have grown up, goneto school, laughed with her
siblings, lived.
But in telling her story, insaying her name, we ensure
(23:44):
Elizabeth is never forgotten andin her memory we keep fighting
to protect every child fromsuffering the same fate.
We keep fighting to protectevery child from suffering the
same fate.
Elizabeth deserved better andwe owe it to her to make sure
this never happens again.
That's a wrap for today'sepisode.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
We appreciate every single oneof you If you enjoyed the show.
(24:07):
Don't forget to follow us onsocial media to stay updated on
all things Clue Trail.
You can find us on Instagram,facebook and TikTok on Clue
Trail Podcast.
And if you want to support thepodcast and get even more
content, check out our PatreonMembers.
Get access to an exclusivebonus episode every month.
(24:29):
Just head over to Patreon andlook for Clue Trail.
Thank you.
Welcome to Clue Trail , where every story is a mystery
and every clue pulls you deeperinto the unknown.
From unsolved cases and strangedisappearances to hidden
histories and curious twists offate, we piece together
fragments, searching for thetruth or uncovering even bigger
(00:29):
questions.
Some clues reveal answers,others lead to greater mysteries
.
But one thing is certain Everytrail tells a story.
Are you ready to follow it?
Let's begin.
Are you ready to follow it?
Let's begin.
(00:57):
A child was sick.
A treatment existed, but herparents and their religious
group chose prayer over medicine.
What happened next would shockAustralia.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struthhad type 1 diabetes, a
manageable condition with propercare.
But instead of giving herinsulin, her parents stopped
treatment, believing God wouldheal her.
(01:17):
Surrounded by members of theirreligious sect, elizabeth grew
weaker over six days.
They sang, they prayed, butthey never called for help Until
it was far too late.
In this episode, we take youinside the case that horrified
(01:37):
the nation, exposed the darkside of religious extremism and
reignited a crucial conversationwhen does religious freedom end
and where does child protectionbegin?
This is the story of ElizabethStruth and the community that
let her die.
(02:05):
Elizabeth lived in Toowoomba,queensland, in a modest home
with her parents and siblings.
By all outward appearances, herlife was quiet and routine.
Elizabeth loved the colour pink, she was dreaming of becoming a
(02:26):
doctor, she was bubbly and sheloved life.
Unfortunately, elizabethcarried something most kids
didn't.
She was diagnosed with type 1diabetes and, like many with
this condition, elizabeth neededdaily insulin injections to
survive.
It was manageable, but neveroptional.
(02:46):
Without insulin, her body wouldbegin to shut down.
At just eight years old,elizabeth already understood
more about life and death thanmost children ever will.
She depended on the adults.
She trusted her family to keepher alive.
(03:13):
First we need to understand thefamily dynamic and their
background.
Her family was deeply religious.
They belonged to a small,independent Christian group
called the Saints, a housechurch not affiliated with any
major denomination.
They believed in the power ofprayer.
The church leader was BrandonStevens.
(03:38):
He ran the church for 17 years.
Even after the trial, brandonStevens and the saints still
remain a mystery.
We know he had a pretty normalchildhood, raised with strong
religious beliefs, not of theextremist type, though.
(04:01):
An average student went on tojoining the police force for a
few years before leaving theforce and turning more and more
towards religion.
He ended up in something of aleadership position with the
Brisbane Revival CentreInternational Church.
He married Loretta Stevens andthey have seven children
(04:21):
together.
And they have seven childrentogether.
His time in church didn't lastvery long.
He used his position more andmore to preach his extremist
views, preaching a literalrepresentation of the Bible.
This wasn't very well receivedby the other members of the
church or the pastor, so he wasasked to leave.
(04:45):
That is when, in 2004, fouryears after joining Brisbane
Revival, he left and establishedthe Saints.
Kerry Struess followed throughand joined him.
(05:10):
For nearly two decades, membersmet several times a week in each
other's homes, and at the heartof this group were the two
families, the Strews and theStevens.
They were bound not just byfate but by belief that they
were spiritually chosen, unitedby what they called the Holy
Spirit.
Brendan Stevens was seen as themessenger, the healer and a
(05:32):
direct conduit to God.
His words carried the weight ofdivine authority.
The saints practiced a rigidand insular form of Christianity
.
They believed in speaking intongues which they saw as a
divine language gifted by theHoly Spirit, rejecting holidays
like Christmas, easter and evenbirthdays, calling them pagan
(05:56):
and unbiblical.
They had strict gender roleswhere men held authority and
women were expected to submit.
Men held authority and womenwere expected to submit, and
they had a deep hostilitytowards modern medicine, which
they refer to as witchcraft.
(06:16):
In the later interviews withthe police, kerry explained that
the group considered themselvescloser than any blood relations
because, in their eyes, theywere joined not by family ties
but by faith.
We are all united by the HolySpirit, she said.
(06:38):
This extreme belief systemwould ultimately lead to tragedy
.
The saints didn't recruit inpublic.
There were no flyers or loudsermons on the street corners.
Instead, the group workedquietly and personally, gaining
trust, embedding themselves intolives and slowly replacing
(06:59):
biological families with theirspiritual one, families with
their spiritual one.
According to Jade Strews,elizabeth's estranged sister and
a former member of the sect,children in the group didn't
attend school to learn in thetraditional sense.
They went to school to spreadthe Word of God.
(07:20):
She said.
Even their schoolwork wasfiltered through scripture.
Any assessment, no matter thesubject, was answered from a
religious standpoint and slowly,more and more members joined.
Danielle Martin later testifiedin court about how her daughter
(07:46):
, keita Martin, was graduallydrawn into the group.
What started as harmless visitsfor drum lessons with the
Stevens turned into long stays.
By January 2018, kita wasbaptised into the sect.
That same year, when Danielleforbade her daughter from
(08:10):
returning to the Stevens Kita,just 17,.
Moved out to the Stevens.
Keita just 17, moved out.
Daniel received a chillingmessage in a Christmas card from
the Stevens.
It read we are your true family.
We love you more than yourfamily does.
This was meant for Keita.
(08:39):
Lachlan Shoalfish, once a civilengineer, was baptized into the
group in August 2021.
His father, cameron, testifiedthat Lachlan transformed within
weeks.
By September or October, he wasno longer the son I knew,
cameron said, but he didn't giveup.
He made one final attempt tospeak, reasoning to him this is
going to end badly and when itdoes, when you get to the end of
(09:03):
the road, you don't know whereto go.
Just remember that we love youdesperately, no matter what.
You've got a special place inyour mother's heart, cameron
said, but it was too late.
The group had already becomehis reality.
(09:29):
Not all members of Elizabeth'sfamily wholeheartedly followed
the saints.
Jason, elizabeth's dad, didn'tjoin the group until 2021.
Jason later told police thathis wife wasn't very religious
during the first few years oftheir marriage, but that changed
when she met leader BrendanStevens and his wife Loretta in
(09:52):
2004.
Although Kerry had a very closerelationship with the Stevens.
Jason remained a non-believerwho insisted that their eight
children be vaccinated.
Their conflicted beliefs causedmany years of friction in the
household.
This led Jason moving to thegarage to escape the tension for
(10:14):
some time.
He also started working nightshifts and preferred to stay
away from the house, eitherworking or playing golf.
Carrie later told the policethat her husband was an angry
man for many years who waschoosing not to believe in God.
Who was choosing not to believein God.
She was planning to leave himafter her release from prison in
(10:37):
2021, but she changed her mindafter she discovered that Jason
had joined the church,describing him as much calmer
now, like a new person.
He resisted their persuasionsfor 17 years.
He lived in conflict in his ownhome, all to stand against this
(10:57):
group's beliefs.
But what made him change hismind?
It all started in 2019, whenElisabeth became gravely ill.
Over the course of six days,her condition worsened, but no
(11:18):
one in her family called formedical help.
By the time Jason finally tookher to the hospital, she already
slipped into a coma.
Doctors managed to save herlife, and that is when she was
diagnosed with type 1 diabeteschronic conditions that required
daily insulin to survive.
(11:39):
Her near-death experienceraised immediate red flags, and
her doctors notified theauthorities right away.
Both Jason and Carrie wereconvicted of failing to provide
the necessities of life.
Carrie was sentenced to 18months in prison, though she
served just five months.
Jason, who had eventuallybrought Elizabeth to the
(12:02):
hospital and testified againstCarrie, received a six-month
suspended sentence.
That was because he said hewould not let this happen again.
Maybe he believed it at thetime, but three years later, the
same failure returned, and thistime it would cost Elizabeth's
(12:22):
life.
For the next two years, jasonhelped Elizabeth with her
medication and diet, despiteCarrie's and the Saints'
protests, and everything seemsto be back on track.
But everything changed justfour months before Elizabeth's
death.
(12:47):
On 21st of August 2021, whileCarrie Struess was serving her
sentence in jail, jason wasbaptized into the Saints.
The day began with somethingsimple and joyful a birthday
picnic for one of their children, but afterwards the family went
to the Stevens' home, where thetone shifted dramatically.
(13:10):
There, in the backyard, jasonwas submerged in water, with
Brent and Stevens speaking intongues as he performed the
ceremony.
Police later recovered a videoof the baptism from a phone.
Jason reportedly saidafterwards that he has been
cleansed of his sins.
(13:30):
From that moment on, he was nolonger the reluctant father who
once testified against his wife.
He was a believer.
Jason later told police hesuffered a mental breakdown and
sought support from othermembers.
To the other church members,his conversion was something of
a miracle proof that God hascured his anger.
(13:53):
Proof that God has cured hisanger.
This shift in Jason wouldunfortunately also lead to
Elizabeth losing her only parent, which helped her manage her
condition While Carrie wasbehind bars.
She was not cut off from thegroup.
According to the evidencepresented in court, she
(14:15):
exchanged letters and phonecalls with members of the saints
.
In these communications, thegroup spoke of their mission to
convert Jason and, moredisturbingly, their plans to
wean Elizabeth of her insulin.
This was a coordinated effort.
Jason's conversion marked thebeginning of the end for
Elizabeth.
Once he joined the saints, hefully embraced their doctrine,
(14:38):
including the belief that Godalone would heal his daughter
and that medication was a signof mistrust in divine power.
This belief would come toreplace medicine In late
December 21,.
Elizabeth was growing weak.
Jason had stopped hermedication and her blood sugar
(15:01):
was rising dangerously high.
Her parents didn't call anambulance, didn't take her to a
hospital.
Instead, they gathered theirreligious community to pray over
poor Elizabeth.
They continued to sing, danceand pray around her body for 36
hours before Jason said it wastime to phone for help.
According to the police, thegroup waited, believing it was
(15:25):
God's will and that prayer hasalready done all it could.
Paramedics who arrived at thescene described the
heartbreaking situation.
Elizabeth had died in her home,surrounded by people who
watched her deteriorate,believing fate would be enough.
What followed wasn't just afamily in mourning.
(15:47):
It was a full-scale policeinvestigation and a growing
national outcry rightly so.
This was a crime, a horrificcrime, and fortunately,
authorities weren't about to letit go unanswered.
In the days followingElizabeth's death, queensland
(16:10):
police began an investigation,and what they uncovered wasn't
just parental neglect.
This was a wider circle ofinaction and shared belief.
All these people standing overthis dying little girl praying,
and yet no one, not one singleone, decided it was too far.
(16:30):
This is infuriating.
Everyone failed her.
In January 22, jason andCarrie's truths were charged
with Elizabeth's murder, tortureand, once more, failing to
provide the necessities of life.
But the story didn't end there,because justice hasn't been
(16:50):
served, in July 2022, policearrested 12 more members of the
Saints who had been present inthe home while Elizabeth was
suffering.
I am saying it again 12 peoplesat there and watched this
little girl die 12.
All were charged with murderand failure to seek medical
(17:14):
assistance.
That brought the total numberof people charged to 14.
Amongst them were severalrelatives of the family.
These were not strangers.
Elizabeth knew and trustedthese people and all of them
were so indoctrinated thatbelieved medical treatment was a
form of spiritual betrayal andthey allowed the little girl,
(17:38):
who had all her life ahead ofher, to die a terrifying death.
They just prayed over her,watched her decline and did
nothing.
This case sparked nationalinterest.
It was everywhere and everyonein Australia was enraged.
How was this allowed to happen?
(17:59):
Kerry has clearly said to herparole officers upon her release
she will withhold medication ifshe has the opportunity, but
she will not oppose anyonegiving Elizabeth her medication.
Well, with Jason converted bythat point, elizabeth had no one
with some common sense aroundher to give her the life-saving
(18:22):
medication.
For months, public figures,legal experts and child
advocates weigh in.
Many question how such extremebeliefs could be allowed to
flourish unchecked and how achild with a known medical
condition could fall so farthrough the cracks.
Queensland Child ProtectionServices came under the fire.
(18:46):
It was later reported thatElizabeth had been removed from
her parents once before, butreturned to their care.
That relevation promptedoutrage.
In the months that followed,politicians and child safety
advocates began calling forstricter oversight, mandatory
reporting and better tracking ofat-risk families, especially
(19:19):
those operating in isolatedreligious communities.
After the initial wave ofarrests, the case moved on to
the courts and everyone arrestedall 14 of them remained in
custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, elizabeth'ssurviving siblings were taken
into protective care Out ofrespect for their privacy and
well-being.
Authorities have not releasedfurther information.
(19:39):
The full legal proceedings tookmonths.
This case was a landmark forAustralian justice system.
The trial started in 2024 2024and all 14 defendants
represented themselves.
The trial lasted for nine weeksand it was a judge-only trial.
None of the 14 gave or calledany evidence.
(20:03):
Speaking on their behalf, brentand Stevens called the trial a
religious persecution.
All 14 members were foundguilty of manslaughter.
Jason and Carrie were sentencedto 14 years in prison.
Brandon Stevens, now 63 yearsold, the group's self-proclaimed
pastor and spiritual leader,was sentenced to 13 years in
(20:27):
prison.
Eleven other members of thesect, who stood by singing and
praying as Elizabeth'sconditions worsened over six
days, were also sentenced.
Their punishment ranged fromsix to nine years behind bars.
In his powerful sentencingremarks, justice Burns said.
(20:48):
Sentencing remarks JusticeBurns said Elizabeth suffered a
slow and painful death and youare all, in one way or another,
responsible.
It marked a moment oflong-awaited accountability.
But for many, includingElizabeth, sisters, jade, he can
never undo the loss.
After the sentencing, jadestood outside the courtroom and
(21:19):
faced the media.
No sentence will ever be enough.
It doesn't bring her back, jadesaid.
Jade left the sect in 2014.
She had spent years trying towarn authorities about what was
happening behind Clore's door.
Her pleas went unheard.
My little sister died becauseof blind faith, because adults
(21:47):
who were supposed to protect herchose prayer over medicine,
jade said.
In her statement, she expressedboth sorrow and relief.
Sorrow for what her sisterendured.
Relief that finally thoseresponsible would be held
accountable.
Today there is justice, butthere is no joy.
This is a victory rocked ingrief.
Jade has since become a vocaladvocate for stronger
(22:09):
protections against coercivecontrol and religious extremism.
Her courage in speaking out haskept Elizabeth's story alive
and helped her ensure her voice,even in death, will never be
silenced.
Her kind soul and infectiouslaughter will forever hold a
place in our hearts as weremember her.
(22:31):
She told reporters Today.
All those accused sit in prisonserving their long sentences.
Justice Burns said at theirsentencing that the prospects of
the offender's rehabilitationwere bleak, to say the least.
To quote each of you engaged insome sort of spiritual gamble
(22:53):
with the life of a child, achild you professed to love.
The arrogance of your belief inthat regard was, and remains,
bewildering.
Elizabeth's story is one ofunimaginable loss, of a life cut
short, but not by illness butby belief.
It's a reminder of whathappened when fate is twisted
(23:16):
into control, when love isclouded by doctrine and when the
most vulnerable are leftunheard.
Though justice has been served,the pain remains.
Though justice has been served,the pain remains.
She should have grown up, goneto school, laughed with her
siblings, lived.
But in telling her story, insaying her name, we ensure
(23:44):
Elizabeth is never forgotten andin her memory we keep fighting
to protect every child fromsuffering the same fate.
We keep fighting to protectevery child from suffering the
same fate.
Elizabeth deserved better andwe owe it to her to make sure
this never happens again.
That's a wrap for today'sepisode.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
We appreciate every single oneof you If you enjoyed the show.
(24:07):
Don't forget to follow us onsocial media to stay updated on
all things Clue Trail.
You can find us on Instagram,facebook and TikTok on Clue
Trail Podcast.
And if you want to support thepodcast and get even more
content, check out our PatreonMembers.
Get access to an exclusivebonus episode every month.
(24:29):
Just head over to Patreon andlook for Clue Trail.
Thank you.
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