The mum accused of murdering her three-year-old daughter has died in hospital after she was found unresponsive in a high-risk cell.
Mother-of-three Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was arrested on Tuesday and charged her with murdering her three-year-old daughter Sophia.
The little girl was found unresponsive with multiple injuries in the front yard of the Moore Park Beach home, on the outskirts of Bundaberg in Queensland, on Monday afternoon.
Flanigan was transferred to Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre where she awaited her next court date.
Just days after entering custody, Flanigan was found unresponsive in her jail cell on Friday.
Queensland Corrective Services said officers attended to Flanigan before paramedics arrived and took her to hospital.
It’s understood correctional officers found her on the floor of her cell and tried to resuscitate her.
Flanigan was taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died on Sunday night.
Queensland Police said a report will be prepared for the coroner following the 32-year-old’s death.
Queensland Corrective Services said it will also launch an independent internal review into how Flanigan was found unresponsive despite being assessed as high-risk.
It is understood Flanigan was placed in a specialised unit for high-risk prisoners known as the Crisis Support Unit at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.
There are strict protective measures in place at the correctional centre to assess and care for prisoners deemed as high-risk.
High-risk prisoners are kept in a line of sight, placed in cells specifically designed to reduce the risk of self-harm and are subjected to psychological assessments.
A Queensland Correctional Services spokesman said the incident was being investigated.
‘The incident will be subject to an internal management review at the centre,’ the spokesman told the Courier Mail in a statement.
‘[It] has been referred to the QCS Critical Incident Review and Inspections Group, Professional Standards and Governance Command for an independent review.
‘The incident has also been referred to the Corrective Services Investigation Unit (of the) Queensland Police Service.
‘There are established processes to facilitate the reception of prisoners identified… as high risk due to mental and physical health concerns.
‘Several protective measures are in place to prevent prisoners from harming themselves, including comprehensive suicide risk assessment and management plans which inform where prisoners are accommodated and how they are monitored.’
Flanigan was not required to appear in person at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday and her legal representative made no application for bail.
Her case was adjourned until July 21.
Emergency services rushed to Flanigan’s central Queensland home at about 4.45pm on Monday following reports from concerned neighbours.
It’s alleged she stabbed Sophia multiple times in the front yard of the property while her two other children were inside the home.
Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said a bladed weapon was allegedly found at the scene.
The two other children, aged one and two, were unharmed. They are now in the care of others.
Sophia’s father, MMA fighter and mine worker Jai Ruane, rushed home after police informed him of the tragic incident.
Mr Ruane described little Sophia as ‘the light of his life’.
‘Always smiling, always wanting to help,’ Mr Ruane said of the three-year-old.
‘Just full of life and love. She just had a huge heart.’
Mr Ruane added the tragedy could have been prevented but the system had failed and his daughter paid the price with her life.
It comes after hundreds of locals gathered for a vigil on Sunday evening in honour of little Sophia.
Moore Park Beach residents dressed in pink and sparkles as they lit up the foreshore with candles and glow sticks.
One of Sophia’s educators from Kids and Co, Libby French explained candles were used to symbolise the light the three-year-old brought into the world.
Another educator from Kids and Co, Kristielle Burrage, added Sophia loved everything pink, glittery, and beautiful.
Those in attendance also danced to Sophia’s favourite song – Barbie Girl by Aqua.