‘Extreme risk’: 8yo returned to cult parents

Child Safety workers overrode hospital warnings to return 8yo to cult parents

The full report

Child Safety workers have told a coronial inquest they overrode repeated hospital warnings that eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs faced an "extremely high risk" of death. The inquest was told that Elizabeth's parents, Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, withdrew her lifesaving insulin under the belief God would heal her of the incurable condition. The family were part of a Toowoomba-based cult known as "the Saints" – a religious sect rejecting modern medicine and spoke in tongues – with Jason a new convert at the time of her death.

Elizabeth's parents and 12 other members of the cult are serving prison sentences after being convicted of her manslaughter. Years earlier in 2019, Kerrie and Jason were convicted for neglecting her medical needs after Elizabeth was rushed to hospital, "minutes" away from death, not breathing and severely unwell with undiagnosed diabetes complications, the inquest was told. Kerrie did not want Elizabeth sent to hospital – instead believing God would heal her – but Jason intervened at the last second.

On Thursday, Child Safety employees involved in Elizabeth's case in 2019 gave evidence to a coronial inquest in Brisbane on how it was decided she would return home to her parents. The court was told Elizabeth's Child Safety case workers spoke to Jason, who claimed he would fight for Elizabeth against Kerrie's beliefs. However, another person close to the family reportedly told the officers they believed he could be swayed.

Elizabeth's estranged adult sister Jayde Struhs also believed her father would ensure Elizabeth was safe "no matter what", but noted her own family struggles since leaving the church. Jayde Struhs was estranged from the family at the time of Elizabeth's death, having walked away from her mother's religious beliefs.