# Coroner probes Elizabeth Struhs death for system failures > A Queensland inquest examines whether state authorities could have better protected an eight-year-old whose parents withheld insulin due to extreme religious beliefs. - Title: Coroner probes Elizabeth Struhs death for system failures - Summary: A Queensland inquest examines whether state authorities could have better protected an eight-year-old whose parents withheld insulin due to extreme religious… - Keywords: elizabeth struhs, queensland coroner, child safety, manslaughter, religious group, inquest, news, politics, Coroner, probes, Elizabeth, Struhs - Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-12/queensland-elizabeth-struhs-inquest/107256792 - Published: 2026-10-12T05:19:50+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: elizabeth struhs, queensland coroner, child safety, manslaughter, religious group, inquest, news, politics ## Eight-year-old died after insulin stopped Elizabeth Struhs died of diabetic ketoacidosis in January two thousand twenty-two after her father stopped her insulin injections due to extreme religious views held by her parents. ## Parents convicted of manslaughter Kerrie and Jason Struhs, members of a fringe home-based church, were originally charged with Elizabeth's murder but were convicted by a judge of her manslaughter last year. ## Coroner examines system failures A Queensland coroner has begun an inquest in Brisbane examining whether Elizabeth could have been better protected by state authorities and their involvement with her family. ## Coroner Kirkegaard opens hearing Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard welcomed Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth's sister who was estranged from the family at the time of her death, and acknowledged the devastating loss and intense public scrutiny. > I want to acknowledge the devastating loss made so much harder by the intense public scrutiny and commentary following Elizabeth's death. ## Thirty witnesses to give evidence Thirty witnesses will testify across two weeks, including representatives from the Department of Child Safety, Queensland Corrective Services, Queensland Health, Education Queensland, and Queensland Police. ## Two thousand thirteen report not escalated A two thousand thirteen report to child safety raised concerns about Kerrie Struhs being involved in a controlling religion and isolation of children, but was recorded as a lower-level Child Concern Report rather than triggering… ## Hospital staff had strong concerns In two thousand nineteen, Elizabeth was admitted to hospital critically unwell. Medical staff said Jason Struhs was willing to administer insulin daily, but Kerrie Struhs refused treatment, saying she would be healed and God would… > [She said] she would be healed and god would take good care of it. ## Staff member wanted to report A hospital staff member testified they had no doubt they wanted to submit a report to Child Safety because insulin was essential to life, and their concerns were so strong they would have reported regardless… > My concerns were so strong that if [a colleague] said not to, I was still planning to submit a report. ## Jason joined church before death After Kerrie's release from prison in the weeks before Elizabeth's death, Jason Struhs was persuaded by his wife and others in the religious group to withdraw their daughter's insulin. The inquest continues. ## Key takeaway A Queensland coroner has begun an inquest into whether Elizabeth Struhs, who died in January two thousand twenty-two after her parents stopped her insulin injections, could have been better protected by government departments.