Police have charged 12 members of a religious group over the death of an eight-year-old girl in southern Queensland earlier this year.
Elizabeth Struhs died at her Rangeville home in Toowoomba on January 7, 2022 after she was allegedly denied medical care for type 1 diabetes for about six days.
A 60-year-old man has been charged with one count each of murder and failing to supply the necessaries of life.
A 65-year-old woman, 35-year-old woman, 32-year-old woman, 32-year-old man, 29-year-old woman, 26-year-old woman, 24-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 21-year-old man, 20-year-old woman and 19-year-old man have been charged with one count of murder.
Police allege those involved were aware of the girl's medical condition and did not seek medical assistance, saying emergency services were not contacted until about 5:30pm on January 8.
All 12 people are due to front the Toowoomba Magistrates Court today.
The charges follow an extensive six-month investigation by the Toowoomba Child Protection and Investigation Unit, the Child Trauma Unit, and the Homicide Investigation Unit.
Unprecedented police task force
More than 30 officers conducted a search at a residence in Homestead Avenue, in Harristown, where 12 residents were arrested.
Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts said the investigation was unprecedented.
"And I'm not aware of a similar event in Queensland, let alone Australia."
Sources have told the ABC the religious group is a small and tight-knit group with no ties to any established church in Toowoomba.
Parents charged
Elizabeth's parents, Jason Struhs, 50, and Kerrie Struhs, 47, were charged on January 11 with murder, torture and failure to supply the necessaries of life. The pair were last before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court in late June.
Appearing via video link the pair again chose to represent themselves.
They were remanded in custody and will return to court later in July.
