A mother accused of murdering her three-year-old daughter has died in hospital after she was found unresponsive in a high-risk prison cell.
Mother-of-three Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murdering her three-year-old daughter Sophia.
The little girl was found 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 being held at Brisbane Womens Correctional Centre awaiting a court hearing.
However Queensland Corrective Services officers found her unresponsive on the floor of her cell on Friday and tried to resuscitate her.
Paramedics took her to hospital in a critical condition but she died on Sunday night.
Queensland Corrective Services said it will review how Flanigan died despite being assessed as high-risk and requiring close monitoring.
It is understood Flanigan was placed in a specialised unit for high-risk prisoners known as the Crisis Support Unit at Brisbane Womens Correctional Centre.
Mother-of-three Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, died in hospital on Sunday after she was found unresponsive in a high-risk prison cell
Flanigan was awaiting her next court date after she allegedly stabbed her three-year-old daughter Sophia to death in the front yard of their Queensland home
There are strict protective measures in place to assess and care for prisoners deemed as high-risk.
Prisoners are kept in a line of sight, placed in cells specifically designed to reduce the risk of self-harm and have psychological assessments.
The incident will be subject to an internal management review at the centre, 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.
Flanigan had not been 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.
MMA fighter and mine worker Jai Ruane, Sophias father, arrived home to be with his other two children, aged one and two, on Tuesday (both are pictured)
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident and how Flanigan was found unresponsive despite being held in a high-risk cell
Emergency services rushed to Flanigans central Queensland home at about 4.45pm on Monday following reports from concerned neighbours.
Its 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.
Sophias father, MMA fighter and mine worker Jai Ruane, rushed home after police informed him of the incident.
Mr Ruane described little Sophia as the light of his life.
Always smiling, always wanting to help, he said.
Just full of life and love. She just had a huge heart.
In 2021, Flanigan shared pictures of her growing baby bump while pregnant with Sophia
Mr Ruane added the tragedy could have been prevented but the system had failed and his daughter paid the price with her life.
Hundreds of locals gathered for a vigil on Sunday evening to honour Sophia.
Moore Park Beach residents dressed in pink and sparkles as they lit up the foreshore with candles and glow sticks.
One of Sophias 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 Sophias favourite song – Barbie Girl by Aqua.
Last week it was revealed Flanigan had previously made a series of posts about her religion, writing God is calling his army out of hiding.
Its understood Flanigan was a member of the Alive Church in Bundaberg and would often share posts about her faith to her social media accounts.
Faith. Family. Future. Fitness. Built for wealth. Wired for freedom. Digital Systems. Elite Strategy. No Excuses, her account profile reads.
In September last year, Flanigan shared pictures of Sophia in a pink princess dress on Instagram with the caption my divine babies.
In 2021, she shared pictures of her growing baby bump while pregnant with Sophia.
