Aussie Mom Accused Of Murdering Daughter, 3, Dies In Hospital

An Australian woman charged with murdering her three-year-old daughter has died days after being found unresponsive in her prison cell.

Lauren Ingrid Flanigan was in custody at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre when she was found unresponsive in her cell on Friday.

The 32-year-old was transferred to a local hospital, where she died on Sunday evening.

Local media is reporting that she suffered a medical episode, but the exact circumstances surrounding her death are unknown and subject to investigation.

Flanigan was arrested and charged last Tuesday after her daughter, Sophia, was discovered with stab wounds at their home in Moore Park Beach, north of Bundaberg, on Monday.

“The incident will be subject to an internal management review at the center,” a Queensland Correctional Services spokesman told the Courier Mail.

“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.”

Queensland premier David Crisafulli also told ABC News there would be a "full and thorough investigation” and that there needs to be an explanation.

"It is important that the system is reviewed," he said. "There are some explanations that do need to be found in that.”

Police responded to the family home around 4.45 pm local time on Monday, May 26, after neighbors raised concerns, and Sophia was found with fatal injuries.

Flanigan’s case was later called at Bundaberg Magistrates Court, but she was not present, and there was no application for bail. The case was adjourned until July.

During a press conference, Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip told reporters a bladed knife had been seized from the scene.

“There were multiple wounds to the child’s body,” he said.

“It was a horrific scene, a terrible incident for everybody – including the witnesses, including the emergency services, police and ambulance officers who attended, and the investigators doing the ongoing investigation."

“This is not something we ever want to attend and want our people to have to deal with.”

Flanigan was alleged to have killed Sophia while her two younger children were still inside the home.

Sophia’s father described her as “the light of his life” and said the tragic incident could have been prevented, but the system had failed, according to the Daily Mail.

“Always smiling, always wanting to help,” he said. “Just full of life and love. She just had a huge heart.”

The National Network, an organization supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and girls, released a statement calling for compassion after Flanigan’s death.

“Her death is a tragedy – not only because a young woman has lost her life, but because it means Lauren will never have the opportunity to tell her side of the story,” they said.

“We understand the community’s grief, outrage, and concern regarding the allegations. The pain for Sophia, the little one, is real and deep.

"That grief deserves our full acknowledgment. But we must also hold space for another truth: Lauren was clearly unwell. She was in crisis. She needed care, support, and healing – not a prison cell.

“These truths are not in conflict. Grief for Sophia and compassion for Lauren can and must coexist.”

In the wake of Sophia’s death, the community paid tribute and a church service was organized in her memory.

Pastor Joey Ryan of Alive Church said Flanigan would regularly attend with her daughter and that the church was "devastated at the loss of beautiful Sophia.”

"Sophia was such a beautiful little girl," she told ABC News.

"[She] would attend our church with such happiness in her face as she arrived to see everybody.

"She brought so much joy to this community. We love her, and we'll dearly miss her."