Bundaberg child murder charges: Community in mourning, father speaks

The Queensland woman charged with murder of her three-year-old daughter wrote chilling posts about her battle against ‘the system’ just days before allegedly stabbing the toddler.

Sophia, 3, died on the front lawn of her Bundaberg region home.

The Queensland woman charged with the murder of her three-year-old daughter wrote chilling posts about her battle against “the system” just days before allegedly stabbing the toddler.

Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, allegedly stabbed her daughter Sophia multiple times on the front lawn of their Moore Park Beach home on Monday afternoon while two younger children were inside the house.

Horrified neighbours and emergency responders tried desperately to save the little girl, but she died at the scene.

Sophia, 3, has been remembered by her father and church community as a radiant, happy and beautiful girl who brought a burst of joy to every room she entered.

“Always smiling, always wanting to help,” her father Jai Ruane said of Sophia, speaking to 9 News.

“Just full of life and love.

“She just had a huge heart.”

On Wednesday morning, police tape remained around the house and neighbouring properties with a police manning the area, more than 36 hours after the incident happened.

The street was eerily quiet.

Her tragic death comes just days after Flanigan posted a series of strange messages to social media about religion and her trauma, saying “God is calling His army out of hiding”.

“This is Kingdom Rising. We move. We build. We burn with holy fire. No more delays. No more compromise,” one of the posts read.

Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said police received multiple triple-0 calls from neighbours after the three-year-old girl was stabbed multiple times in the front yard of her home.

“Police located a three-year-old child in the front yard of that address,” Superintendent Inskip said.

“Despite multiple attempts from QPS and QAS to apply first aid to that child, that child unfortunately died due to the injuries that she had received.

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

Flanigan was found in the front yard of the home and taken into custody before being charged with murder.

Superintendent Inskip said police seized a knife from the home allegedly used as the murder weapon.

“There were two other children at the address at the time, both younger – aged one and two. Neither of them were injured in the incident yesterday, and they’re currently being cared for by family members.”

Lauren Ingrid Flanigan has been charged with murder.

Superintendent Inskip said the family’s history – including any possible police, departmental or mental health history – would form part of the investigation.

“There’s no indication that there was any long, intensive history with police.”

He said the incident was “horrific” for those who witnessed and attended.

“No doubt it was a horrific scene. It’s a terrible, terrible thing for everybody, including the witnesses and neighbours, including the emergency services who attended … because it’s not something that we ever want to attend.”

The house has been declared a crime scene and specialist police travelled in from Brisbane to assist with the investigation.

Witnesses told The Courier-Mail they heard Flanigan shout after she allegedly stabbed Sophia in front of horrified neighbours.

A neighbour – who wished not to be identified – said they saw the woman being consoled by two residents in the gutter of the front yard.

The neighbour said they also saw Sophia laying on the front yard with her hair splayed behind her.

The father of the children was not at home at the time.

It is understood he returned to the home after being notified by police.

Sophia, 3, died on the front lawn of her Bundaberg region home.

Flanigan posted pictures to Instagram of her growing baby bump in April 2021.

Many of her recent posts talk about rising up, and “to remember who you are”.

In her final social media post on Sunday, Flanigan shared a post about fighting back against “the system” and trauma.

“You are a WARRIOR OF LIGHT,’’ her final post reads.

“Train like it’s war — because it is.”

Another post talks about her children and wanting to spend more time with them.

“Time to watch my babies grow. Time to breathe. Time to live. Time to love.

“We weren’t created to just work, pay bills, and survive the week. We were made to create memories together, lasting legacy, joy, freedom and smiles.”

Flanigan was a member of Alive Church in Bundaberg where Sophia was recently dedicated, and where a memorial was held on Tuesday night.

Senior pastors Adam and Joey Ryan said their church community was devastated.

“As a church family, we are hurting,’’ they said in a statement. “Sophia was a beautiful little girl. Radiant, happy and just a little bit cheeky.

“She brought a burst of joy to every room she entered and she will be dearly missed.

“Our hearts are heavy.”

Flanigan’s lawyer made no application for bail when her case was heard in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday and adjourned to July 21.

Mourners at a memorial on Tuesday night. Picture: Liam Kidston

Originally published as Bundaberg child murder charges: Community in mourning, father speaks