Jayde Struhs, older sister of slain 8yo Elizabeth Struhs, sues state for psychiatric injury after cult death tragedy

Bombshell details surrounding the death of a young girl left to die at the hands of religious fanatics have been revealed in a $750,000 lawsuit filed by her older sister. Jayde Struhs is suing the Queensland state government for damages arising from psychiatric injury she suffered in the wake of the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, back in January 2022. The young girl had type diabetes and died after her parents, Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, along with 12 other members of the cult-like Christian group – known as the “Saints” – withdrew her lifesaving insulin medication. The group hold extreme views on faith healing and opted to pray for God to heal Elizabeth, instead of seeking medical attention, and encouraged Jason Struhs to remain steadfast in his decision to stop administering the drug. Elizabeth’s condition declined for days, until she died between January 6-7, 2022. All 14 members of the Saints were found guilty of her manslaughter following a mammoth trial over 2024. Jayde Struhs, who was estranged from the group and was not accused of any wrongdoing over her sister’s death, first lodged proceedings in the Supreme Court in late 2024. In court documents obtained by NewsWire, Jayde’s legal team Shine Lawyers argues that she learnt about her sister’s death from media reports on January 11, 2022. “As a result of hearing the avoidable death of her sister, the claimant suffered a psychiatric injury,” Lucinda Nel, representing Jayde, writes in a notice of claim. “It was at all times reasonably foreseeable that persons with a close and loving family bond to Elizabeth Struhs, such as the claimant (Jayde Struhs), would suffer psychiatric injury should Elizabeth suffer a painful, prolonged and preventable and unlawful death as a result of her parents withholding her lifesaving medication and medical attention.” The claim argues the state owed a duty of care “not only to take all reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm” to Elizabeth but also to Jayde to “prevent such harm and death by occurring”. Her legal team alleges the state breached this by failing to remove Elizabeth from her parents’ care after both were convicted of severe neglect and “failed to adequately investigate, or monitor, the behaviour and religious beliefs of Kerrie and Jason Struhs” in relation to Elizabeth’s diabetic treatment, among other alleged breaches. A defence has not yet been filed and the case has remained at an administrative level since late 2024. Jayde, who originally worked at Bunnings Warehouse, went from permanent part-time employment to a casual role following her sister’s death until she stopped working entirely. She attempted to return to work, providing ground handling services at Brisbane Airport, but stopped working again in September 2023. Jayde has not worked since, according to her claim. “The claimant has suffered and continues to suffer from grief, trauma, low mood, stress, anxiety and insomnia. She has also experienced neck pain which she ascribes to continued stress,” Ms Nel states in the claim. In a letter to Crown Law dated August 20, 2024, Ms Nel sought documents and information concerning Elizabeth’s care prior to early 2022. In a statutory declaration issued in reply, lawyer Samantha Brown responds by stating concerns about the Struhs family were first received via state services on August 29, 2013. Brendan Luke Stevens, the leader of The Saints, explodes during his interview with detectives over Elizabeth’s condition in the final days of her life in early 2022. The Department of Child Safety began formal investigations and assessments in July 2019 after Elizabeth almost died from her then undiagnosed diabetes. During a meeting with the department, both Struhs parents and staff at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, it was noted: “Kerrie maintained that she would not provide Elizabeth with treatment but would not prevent Jason from providing treatment.” NED-12954 Elizabeth Struhs timeline Elizabeth’s pediatrician noted Kerrie “appeared to be delusional, not just religiously fanatical” and required a mental health assessment. The statutory declaration notes Child Safety recorded an outcome of “Substantiated – child in need to protection – Ongoing Intervention (IPA)” for Elizabeth after finalising their investigation on August 20, 2019. But the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) team’s file on Elizabeth was closed just nine days later. Several other interviews and visits were conducted with the Struhs family until December 13, 2019 before the department formally closed their case. Other concerns were received after Jason and Kerrie Struhs were both charged with failing to supply Elizabeth with the necessaries of life in March 2020. NED-12925 Elizabeth Struhs defendants There were no other concerns received regarding Elizabeth or her family between March 17, 2020 and January 7, 2021. On January 8, 2022, Child Safety were alerted of Elizabeth’s death at her family home in Rangeville. A coroner is set to examine any possible issues surrounding the protective needs of Elizabeth prior to her death, along with the contact state authorities had with the Struhses. During a pre-inquest conference on Thursday, the court was told hospital staff who treated Elizabeth in 2019 had expressed concern about the child returning to the Struhs household. Simon Hamlyn-Harris, counsel assisting the coroner, told the court that Child Safety staff did not share that opinion as they were confident they could rely on Jason Struhs to safely care for his daughter’s medical needs.