# Lack of curiosity cost girl's life, inquest told

> Coroner says officials missed chance to save Elizabeth Struhs by not questioning her family's extreme religious beliefs.
- Title: Lack of curiosity cost girl's life, inquest told | Shortify
- Summary: Coroner says officials missed chance to save Elizabeth Struhs by not questioning her family's extreme religious beliefs. A coroner investigating an…
- Keywords: elizabeth struhs, child death, religious sect, saints, toowoomba, diabetes, child neglect, inquest, queensland, coroner ainslie kirkegaard, news, world
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/20/elizabeth-struhs-death-inquest-saints-religious-sect-coroner-evidence-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-20T06:28:57+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elizabeth struhs, child death, religious sect, saints, toowoomba, diabetes, child neglect, inquest, queensland, coroner ainslie kirkegaard, news, world
## Eight-year-old dies from untreated diabetes
Elizabeth Struhs died on seven January two thousand twenty-two of diabetic ketoacidosis after her father ceased providing insulin to treat type one diabetes.
## Family belonged to extreme religious sect
Elizabeth's family and other members of a religious sect known as the Saints subscribed to an extreme form of Christianity and did not believe in seeking medical treatment for illnesses.
## Officials knew about family's beliefs
Elizabeth's mother Kerrie Struhs repeatedly told police, healthcare workers, teachers, parole officers and child safety workers about her views. These beliefs were discussed at a formal interagency case management meeting.
## Coroner: nobody asked why she believed this
Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard said officials showed an acceptance of Kerrie's beliefs without curiosity. She said there was a missed opportunity to identify broader influences on the children within the family.

> What's striking in the evidence that's available to me, is an acceptance of this mother's beliefs without any curiosity about why she held them.
## Child safety officer admits missed chance
One child safety officer said she was curious about Kerrie's beliefs but did nothing specific in response. She conceded it was a missed opportunity to protect Elizabeth.

> I don't recall doing anything specific
## Coroner considers Victoria's cult recommendations
Coroner Kirkegaard is considering adopting recommendations from Victoria's cults inquiry. Victoria recommended creating a new offence akin to coercive control to apply in the context of organised groups such as cults.
## Queensland police flag new ideology concerns
Queensland police created a reporting mechanism in June two thousand twenty-six identifying ideology of concern, including religious, racist and anti-government ideologies. A senior officer warned against targeting religious groups based on ideology alone.

> A key concern has to be religious friends and making sure that we're not targeting religious groups based on their ideologies.
## Key takeaway

A coroner investigating an eight-year-old's death from untreated diabetes says officials' failure to question her family's extreme religious beliefs was a missed opportunity to save her life.