Queensland inquest examines child safety failures in Elizabeth Struhs' death by religious sect

Consensus Summary

Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died on 7 January 2022 after her parents and members of their religious sect, known as the Saints, withheld her insulin due to their belief in divine healing. The sect’s 14 adult members, including Elizabeth’s parents Jason and Kerrie Struhs, were convicted of her manslaughter in 2025. A coronial inquest, which began in October 2026, is now examining whether state authorities could have intervened earlier to prevent her death. The inquest has heard that Elizabeth suffered a near-fatal diabetic coma in 2019, leading to her hospitalisation, but child safety officers still allowed her to return home despite doctors’ warnings about her mother’s refusal to accept medical treatment.

Elizabeth’s death stems from a series of failures across multiple systems, beginning with her parents’ adherence to extreme religious beliefs that rejected modern medicine. The sect, described by some as a cult, believed Elizabeth would be miraculously healed or resurrected, leading to her insulin being withdrawn over several days while her family sang and prayed. Prior to her death, Jason Struhs had initially provided insulin after her 2019 hospitalisation, but he later converted to his wife’s beliefs while she served a prison sentence for neglect, ultimately stopping treatment. The inquest has highlighted systemic issues, including child safety officers’ reluctance to override their own decisions despite medical concerns.

Key figures in the case include Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard, who is probing whether Elizabeth could have been 'better protected,' and medical specialists who warned in 2019 that she would not be safe at home with Kerrie. A police officer testified that child safety staff’s decisions were unchangeable once made, describing it as a matter of 'professional courtesy.' Meanwhile, Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth’s estranged sister, shared her perspective on her sister’s memory, emphasizing the emotional impact of the tragedy. The inquest has also revealed that a 2013 Child Concern Report about Kerrie’s controlling religious influence was not escalated due to insufficient evidence of harm, despite concerns about isolation and restriction of the children.

The articles diverge slightly on the relationship between Brisbane and Toowoomba hospitals, with the Guardian reporting that a Toowoomba doctor denied poor relations, while ABC cites a doctor who claimed their advice was ignored due to longstanding tensions. Additionally, the Guardian provides specific sentencing details for Jason Struhs—six months in prison, wholly suspended—while ABC does not mention his sentence. Both sources agree, however, that Kerrie Struhs was convicted of neglect in 2021 and released on parole by December 2021, after which Jason joined her religious beliefs and stopped treating Elizabeth’s diabetes.

The inquest is expected to continue for two weeks, with 30 witnesses testifying about the family’s interactions with government departments leading up to Elizabeth’s death. While the Guardian emphasizes the unchangeable nature of child safety decisions and the sect’s conviction details, ABC focuses on the emotional testimony from Jayde Struhs and the broader systemic failures. The unresolved question remains whether earlier intervention by child safety or medical authorities could have altered the outcome, though the articles do not yet provide a definitive answer on this point.