Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
Inquest examines whether agencies failed to protect girl from religious group
A Queensland inquest is examining how government agencies responded before eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died in 2022.
Her father had stopped giving her insulin for type 1 diabetes, and she died at the family home near Toowoomba after members of the Saints gathered to pray.
In 2013, Elizabeth’s older sister Jayde told a school nurse she was worried about the controlling religious group and her family’s beliefs.
Child safety authorities found no signs of harm at the time and did not make a notification.
Elizabeth had nearly died in 2019 after her mother refused to seek medical care for her undiagnosed diabetes.
Elizabeth’s parents were later sentenced to 14 years in prison for manslaughter, and the Saints’ leader received a 13-year sentence.
The coroner says the inquest is an opportunity to identify how Elizabeth could have been better protected.
The inquest is expected to run for two weeks.
An inquest is examining whether government agencies adequately protected Elizabeth Rose Struhs before she died after her insulin was stopped.
A child safety manager told the inquest that authorities found no signs of harm after Elizabeth’s sister raised concerns in 2013.
Elizabeth, who had type-1 diabetes, died aged eight on January 7, 2022, at her family’s home near Toowoomba.
Her parents and 11 other members of the Saints church group gathered to pray around her as she became gravely ill.
Elizabeth’s parents and the group’s leader were later jailed over her death.
The inquest is due to run for two weeks.
- Who
- Elizabeth Rose Struhs, her family and the Saints church group; the inquest is examining government agencies’ responses.
- What
- A coroner is examining whether agencies’ responses before Elizabeth’s death were adequate and appropriate.
- When
- Elizabeth died on January 7, 2022. The inquest began on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Elizabeth died at her family’s home near Toowoomba, west of Brisbane. The inquest is at Brisbane Magistrates Court.
- Why
- The inquest is examining how agencies responded to concerns about the family and whether Elizabeth could have been better protected.
Child safety authorities
Jayde Struhs
Assessment of 2013 report
Child safety authorities
Authorities found no signs of harm and said the report did not require a child-safety notification.
Jayde Struhs
Jayde raised concerns that the religion was controlling and that she and her siblings were required to believe certain things.
However, this is an opportunity to identify how we could have better protected Elizabeth
detrimental effect of significant nature
Jayde Struhs told her school nurse that her parents had become involved in an extreme religion, prompting the family’s first contact with child protection services.
Elizabeth almost died after her mother refused to seek treatment for her undiagnosed type-1 diabetes.
Elizabeth died at her family’s home after her father had stopped giving her insulin days earlier.
Elizabeth’s parents received 14-year jail terms after being found guilty of manslaughter, and Saints leader Brendan Stevens was jailed for 13 years.
A coroner’s inquest into agencies’ responses before Elizabeth’s death began.
- Age at death
- 8
- Date of death
- January 7, 2022
- Location
- Family home near Toowoomba, west of Brisbane
- First child protection contact
- 2013
- Parents’ sentences
- 14 years each
- Saints leader’s sentence
- 13 years
Sources
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