Elizabeth Struhs was deemed ‘safe’ by those meant to protect her. An inquest into her death is asking what went wrong
News Source
•Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:00:31 GMT
📰 What Happened
A nine-day inquest into the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has ended in Queensland. Elizabeth died in January 2022 after her parents stopped giving her insulin for type 1 diabetes. Her family belonged to a small religious group called the Saints, who do not believe in medicine. The coroner is checking what child safety, police, schools and hospitals did wrong.
Records show a child safety officer called Elizabeth safe in 2019, two days after she nearly died in hospital. In late 2021, another officer rated her mother Kerrie as no risk, even after she said she would act the same way again. Elizabeth died about a month later.
🔍 The Backstory
Elizabeth was six when she was rushed to Toowoomba hospital in a coma. That was when doctors found her diabetes. They said she needed insulin every day for life. Her Brisbane specialists warned that her mother's beliefs could ruin her care and pushed child safety to act, but were blocked.
One officer told the court she may have been swayed by the family's upper-class home and the lack of obvious neglect. All 14 adult members of the sect were convicted of manslaughter last year.
🎯 Why It Matters
This case asks whether the systems meant to protect children really listen. The coroner's findings could change how child safety handles religion and medical neglect.
A nine-day inquest into the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has ended in Queensland. Elizabeth died in January 2022 after her parents stopped giving her insulin for type 1 diabetes. Her family belonged to a small religious group called the Saints, who do not believe in medicine. The coroner is checking what child safety, police, schools and hospitals did wrong.
Records show a child safety officer called Elizabeth safe in 2019, two days after she nearly died in hospital. In late 2021, another officer rated her mother Kerrie as no risk, even after she said she would act the same way again. Elizabeth died about a month later.
Elizabeth was six when she was rushed to Toowoomba hospital in a coma. That was when doctors found her diabetes. They said she needed insulin every day for life. Her Brisbane specialists warned that her mother's beliefs could ruin her care and pushed child safety to act, but were blocked.
One officer told the court she may have been swayed by the family's upper-class home and the lack of obvious neglect. All 14 adult members of the sect were convicted of manslaughter last year.
This case asks whether the systems meant to protect children really listen. The coroner's findings could change how child safety handles religion and medical neglect.