AU - Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, Charged in Death of her 3 yr old Daughter after Bizarre Social Media Posts 26 May 2025

[tlcya]

• Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, allegedly stabbed her three-year-old daughter, Sophia Rose, in the front yard of their home in Queensland, Australia, on Monday, May 26
• The case was briefly mentioned at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after Flanigan was arrested and charged with murder
• The incident came a day after Flanigan shared a series of disturbing posts on social media, according to multiple news outlets

Mom’s Bizarre Social Media Posts Revealed as She’s Charged with the Death of Her 3-Year-Old Daughter

 

[tlcya]

Flanigan’s case was briefly heard today at Bundaberg Magistrates Court. Her lawyer did not apply for bail and she was remanded in custody.

She will next appear in court on July 21.
https://www.news.com.au/national/qu...n/news-story/cd1d7afb399b380b4006aaf64e27e6fd

The children's father, a MMA fighter, was not at home at the time and travelled back to be with his surviving daughters, aged one and two, respectively.

 

[tlcya]

On Tuesday Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said Mr Ruane lived at the residence, but had been away at work when the incident occurred.

He added that the dad had now returned and was with the two children, but was shattered by the alleged murder.

'He is back in town and he is with the children at the moment, no doubt absolutely devastated,' he said.

'It was a horrific scene,' he said.
Dad back home after daughter's death - her mum is charged with murder

More recent posts have taken a darker tone. Earlier this month Ms Flannigan directed a long message to “every woman who has lived through domestic violence”.

A video uploaded on Sunday shows a woman with bruises on her arms and face, overlayed with “remember your pain as it fuels your purpose” and what appear to be lyrics from a US heavy metal band: “Another nightmare about to come true. Will manifest tomorrow. Another love that I've taken from you,” the text states.
https://www.skynews.com.au/australi...e/news-story/0e30063b572c8c39a5915e15edd456e8

 

[tlcya]

adorable baby girl RIP

https://twitter.com/x/status/1927275510117101660

 

[Marg944]

Seems she may have attempted suicide???

Queensland mum Ingrid Flanigan, accused of killing 3yo daughter, found unresponsive in jail cell​

​

“Queensland mum Lauren Flanigan, who is accused of killing her three-year old daughter Sophia, has been found unresponsive in her cell.

Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) confirmed officers responded to a medical emergency involving a prisoner at Brisbane Womens Correctional Centre on Friday night.

A QCS spokesman said officers responded before paramedics arrived on site and transported the woman to hospital.

“Support is being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues,” a spokesman said.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/queensland-mum-ingrid-flanigan-accused-of-killing-3yo-daughter-found-unresponsive-in-jail-cell/news-story/5ab6f2a5902bed6d51623ece7da38f6e

 

[annemc2]

Three babies in three years? That's a lot. I wonder how often her husband travelled. Her facebook posts, according to the article above, sound like she was having some psychotic symptoms. Sad all around.

 

[confused.mp3]

That's a lot. I wonder how often her husband travelled.

I have no idea of the personal situation, but I did read the spouse was a FIFO, and potentially a coal miner (if reported correctly).

IMO I have heard from friends of mine doing some periods of 2 weeks on - 2 weeks off. Other times i’ve heard 1 week on - 1 week off. But I understand it would change depending on job and company.

2 weeks on is the more common one i’ve heard, but for young people or others without dependents at home, i’ve heard of a month on month off. But imagine unlikely in this situation with 3 kids at home.

 

[Marg944]

I haven’t heard that the husband was a FIFO worker. I can only find that he is an MMA fighter (mixed martial arts fighter).




“Sophia’s father, MMA fighter Jai Ruane, rushed to be by the side of his two youngest children in the wake of the tragedy, which has left the communityof Bundaberg reeling.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/queensland-mum-ingrid-flanigan-accused-of-killing-3yo-daughter-found-unresponsive-in-jail-cell/news-story/5ab6f2a5902bed6d51623ece7da38f6e

 

[Marg944]

One clever sleuth @MIG214222, has found that Lauren’s husband was indeed a FIFO worker from Mackay.


“Sophia's dad Jai Ruane, who is an MMA fighter and mine worker, was not a member of the church and didn't attend the service.

It's understood he was reunited with his remaining two children on Tuesday after making the drive back from his FIFO workplace near Mackay.”

Vigil held for little girl allegedly stabbed to death by her mum

Devastated mourners walked hand-in-hand into the church to contemplate the tragedy that just 24 hours ago no one could ever have comprehended.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[confused.mp3]

One clever sleuth @MIG214222, has found that Lauren’s husband was indeed a FIFO worker from Mackay.


“Sophia's dad Jai Ruane, who is an MMA fighter and mine worker, was not a member of the church and didn't attend the service.

It's understood he was reunited with his remaining two children on Tuesday after making the drive back from his FIFO workplace near Mackay.”

Vigil held for little girl allegedly stabbed to death by her mum

Devastated mourners walked hand-in-hand into the church to contemplate the tragedy that just 24 hours ago no one could ever have comprehended.

www.dailymail.co.uk

thanks for adding this! if it is via road then potentially 6 hours commute? You wouldn’t want to do that too often, let alone there and back. But maybe home more often than an interstate FIFO rotation?

tragic situation all round. I can’t image he will be able to work for a long time considering the trauma, but now I can’t imagine what would happen with a long distance employment. his whole life has been turned upside down in an instant.

 

[Marg944]

Lauren Flanigan, mum charged with murder of 3yo daughter Sophia Rose, dies in hospital​

“A mother charged with the murder of her three-year-old daughter has died in hospital overnight just days after being found unresponsive in her cell.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/lauren-flanigan-mum-charged-with-murder-of-3yo-daughter-sophia-rose-dies-in-hospital/news-story/1d3e9f9a682cd63f800868505d529318

Lauren Flanigan was arrested on the 26th May and jailed. She was found unresponsive in her jail cell on Friday 30th May, and she has died on Sunday 1st June.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1929276459572507103

 

[Marg944]

It will be interesting to learn how the state of being unresponsive, which has ultimately led to her death, could have happened - the woman was in a “high risk” cell within Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre. Which means that the prisoner should be kept “in the line of sight at all times”.


“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.”

Aussie mum accused of murdering daughter, 3, dies in hospital

The mum accused of murdering her three-year-old daughter has died in hospital after she was found unresponsive in a high-risk cell.

www.dailymail.co.uk

https://corrections.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Disclosure-200239.pdf

 

[Eloise]

Yep. Something went wrong there.

JMO but I can't wait for the articles about mental health crisis, awareness of postpartum psychosis, etc etc etc and then nothing will actually happen. Maybe I'm cynical but ... anyway just my thoughts

 

[Marg944]

Yep. Something went wrong there.

JMO but I can't wait for the articles about mental health crisis, awareness of postpartum psychosis, etc etc etc and then nothing will actually happen. Maybe I'm cynical but ... anyway just my thoughts

There has been a spate of them. All over the news and then within a few weeks, no more is heard about it. The matters are being heard in courts, as anyone can see on Lawlink, BUT they are not reported on.

 

[Disturbed.]

The ABC understands Ms Flanigan had an apparent medical episode.

Premier David Crisafulli said there had to be a "full and thorough investigation" following Ms Flanigan’s death.
"It is important that the system is reviewed," he said.
"There are some explanations that do need to be found in that.
"There does have to be some please explains and it’s important that we as a state do that and have that opportunity."

ABC News

 

[katydid23]

Yep. Something went wrong there.

JMO but I can't wait for the articles about mental health crisis, awareness of postpartum psychosis, etc etc etc and then nothing will actually happen. Maybe I'm cynical but ... anyway just my thoughts

I wonder about postpartum psychosis as well. Three babies in three years? That can be a lot of physical and emotional stress on someone. IMO

 

[Notascreenname]

This reminded me of a case very close geographically to me where a mother murdered her daughter in the garden due to paranoid schizophrenia. She was cleared of murder...

Mother who drowned and burned daughter in 'sacrifice' cleared of murder

Carly Ann Harris suffered a mental breakdown and believed she was saving the world by killing her daughter, jurors were told.

news.sky.com

 

[tlcya]

what a tragic case for all involved. It does seem as if this young woman was experiencing a serious mental health issue.

 

[Eloise]

This reminded me of a case very close geographically to me where a mother murdered her daughter in the garden due to paranoid schizophrenia. She was cleared of murder...

Mother who drowned and burned daughter in 'sacrifice' cleared of murder

Carly Ann Harris suffered a mental breakdown and believed she was saving the world by killing her daughter, jurors were told.

news.sky.com

From that article: "On Monday, she was sentenced to a hospital order without a time limit."

The same thing happens in Australia when someone is found not guilty due to insanity - indefinite inpatient treatment, often in secure facilities. Here, where murder sentences are very often not lifelong, it can actually result in longer de facto sentences than if they were found guilty.