Appeal grows for brothers, sisters of murdered schoolgirl Elizabeth Struhs

Parents Kerrie and Jason Struhs are in custody, charged with murdering their daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs and the lives of their remaining children have been turned upside down.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs (right) died on January 7. Her eldest sister, Jayde (left) has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her siblings.

A fundraising campaign to cover the costs of rehoming the surviving siblings of Toowoomba schoolgirl Elizabeth Struhs has gathered more than $14,000 in donations.

Campaign organiser Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth’s oldest sister, started raising money about a week after her parents Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs and Jason Richard Struhs were charged with the murder of their eight-year-old daughter in their Rangeville home.

Police will allege the parents denied their daughter lifesaving insulin that was needed to manage her type 1 diabetes.

It is understood Elizabeth fell ill on January 2 and her condition declined, resulting in her death on January 7.

Rather than call paramedics or take Elizabeth to hospital, police will allege the parents relied on the healing powers of God and went so far as to gather the members of their close-knit home church to pray for Elizabeth recovery.

Elizabeth has been remembered as a bright young girl who dreamt of becoming a doctor so she could help people with diabetes.

One of the school’s teachers, Rachel La Franchi, took to social media to honour Elizabeth, saying she was an extraordinary child.

“She would sing out loud, play the keyboard and read chapter books and poetry to the class. She was shy but she knew that the kids loved to see her out the front, doing things to make them happy” she said.

Jayde said her parent’s religion separated them “from extended family who did not believe”.

She ran away from home when she was 16, vowing to return when her siblings needed her. The money raised from the GoFundMe campaign will be used to rehome Elizabeth’s surviving siblings, five of whom are under 18-years of age

“With much ahead of us yet to be determined, I am resolute that my number-one priority is the children,” Jayde said.

“We also have the support of my extended family including grandparents, aunts, uncles and close friends.

“I will dedicate all money raised to providing the ongoing care for my five youngest family members to ensure they are welcomed into a safe, secure and loving home.”

Click here to support the campaign.