Child Safety Officials Warned of Extreme Risk to Diabetic Girl Years Before Death

Child safety officials were alerted to the extreme risk of death facing an 8-year-old diabetic girl more than two years before her preventable death, a coroner's inquest has heard. Elizabeth Rose Struhs died at her family's home near Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, on January 7, 2022, after her parents and 12 members of 'the Saints' church group prayed around her.

Her father, Jason Richard Struhs, had stopped administering her insulin shots days before her death. The inquest is investigating the adequacy and appropriateness of responses by child safety, health, and other government agencies prior to Elizabeth's death.

In July 2019, Elizabeth was airlifted to Brisbane Children's Hospital in a comatose state, described by a pediatrician as being "minutes from death." Her mother, Kerrie Struhs, had refused to seek treatment for the then-six-year-old girl. Elizabeth was subsequently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

The pediatrician testified that she was unable to get adequate information from Queensland's child protection authority regarding concerns that Elizabeth faced an "extreme risk of harm including death" if returned to her mother, who rejected medical science. Elizabeth's endocrinologist had also reported to Child Safety that the mother believed her daughter would be cured of diabetes and would not need insulin.

"It is a life-threatening condition ... if the mother continues to deny treatment, she cannot be in Kerrie's care," the endocrinologist stated. The mother had a history of refusing medical or dental treatment for Elizabeth due to her membership in 'the Saints.'

The pediatrician noted that Child Safety officials were aware of the endocrinologist's concerns when they decided to return Elizabeth home, despite not having received the report directly. Officials reportedly focused on the father, Jason Struhs, being present to ensure care, though medical specialists viewed him as susceptible to pressure from the church group. The safety plan relied on the then-six-year-old Elizabeth to self-report if she became unwell, a measure the pediatrician deemed "not developmentally appropriate."

Although Jason Struhs initially agreed to a diabetes treatment plan, he was convinced by his wife and 'the Saints' to discontinue Elizabeth's insulin by January 2022. Elizabeth rapidly deteriorated, becoming unable to speak and falling unconscious before her death. She died on a mattress in the living room while surrounded by her parents and 12 other church members praying and singing.

The inquest also heard about an earlier intervention opportunity in 2013, when Elizabeth's older sister, Jayde Struhs, first contacted child protection services. Jayde had told a school nurse that her parents had become involved in an extreme religion based on the Bible, expressing concerns about the religion's controlling nature and its requirements. A Child Safety manager acknowledged that Jayde was concerned for herself and her siblings and "wanted to get out," but no harm was identified at that time.

Jayde left the family home a year later but maintained contact with her younger sister. The system has since been updated, with staff now relying more on professional judgment than prescriptive guidelines, the coroner was told.

Elizabeth's parents, along with Saints leader Brendan Stevens and 11 others, were found guilty of manslaughter in 2025 and are serving 14-year jail terms. The inquest is scheduled to continue for two weeks.