Quick Info
| Nationality | Australian |
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| Date of Death | 07/01/2022 |
Latest News about Elizabeth Struhs
12/10/2026
A Queensland coroner began an inquest examining whether state authorities and other agencies could have done more to prevent the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs in January 2022. The death followed her parents' decision to withhold insulin due to their religious beliefs. The inquest has since heard evidence, including testimony about her mother's contact with a corrections officer before the death.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Elizabeth Rose Struhs was an Australian girl who died at the age of eight at her family's home in Toowoomba, Queensland, in January 2022. She had type 1 diabetes, and her insulin was withheld for about six days before her death. Members of a small Christian group known as The Saints, which opposed medication and doctors, prayed and sang over her during her decline. Her father, Jason Struhs, and the group's leader, Brendan Stevens, were found guilty of manslaughter in 2025, and 12 other members, including her mother, Kerrie Struhs, were also convicted. In February 2025 the members received prison sentences of six to 13 years. A Queensland coroner's inquest in October 2026 is examining whether her death could have been prevented, including the family's dealings with government agencies beforehand. |
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Personal Life
| Health | Type 1 diabetes |
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| Place of death | Family home in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
Relationships & More
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Family
| Father | Jason Richard Struhs |
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| Mother | Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Her death was linked to her family's membership in a small Christian group that opposed medical treatment. | |
| 2. Her father was initially charged with murder, but the court convicted him of the lesser charge of manslaughter. | |
| 3. A coroner's inquest into whether her death was preventable began in October 2026. | |
| 4. The inquest is being held at the Brisbane Magistrates Court before Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard and is expected to hear from around 30 witnesses, mostly departmental staff who had contact with the family. |
