Sophia Rose alleged murder: Mother dies in hospital after being found unresponsive in cell

Authorities have revealed how the woman who murdered her three-year-old daughter died, as the Premier promises answers.

Sophia, 3, was allegedly stabbed to death by her mother Lauren Ingrid Flanigan.

• Vigil for little Sophia: ‘We loved her’

Queensland’s Premier says explanations are needed following the death in hospital of the Bundaberg mother charged with murdering her three-year-old child, after she was found unresponsive on the floor of her high-risk cell.

Lauren Ingrid Flanigan – charged with the murder of her daughter Sophia – was found unresponsive in her prison cell on Friday night, just days after entering custody.

The 32-year-old mother was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but died in hospital on Sunday night.

The Courier-Mail understands Flanigan may have had a medical incident while in custody.

Queensland Police in a statement said it will prepare a report for the coroner, while Queensland Corrective Services has announced it will undertake internal an independent review, despite robust processes to assess and monitor high-risk prisoners.

Flanigan was charged with murder after she stabbed Sophia multiple times in the front yard of their Moore Park Beach home last Monday.

She had not entered a plea.

Flanigan was transferred to Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre last week to await her next court date.

Lauren Ingrid Flanigan remains in a critical condition in hospital

But The Courier-Mail understands that on Friday night she was found on the floor of her cell by correctional officers who tried to resuscitate her.

It is understood Flanigan was in the Crisis Support Unit, a specialised unit for high-risk prisoners.

Premier David Crisafulli said a thorough investigation would be undertaken to determine how the incident happened.

“I think it’s important that we don’t brush it under the carpet, and this is the proof that there is some explanations that are needed, and we owe it to everyone involved, people who work in the facility, families of people who tragically lost their life, to get to the bottom of it and we will,” Mr Crisafulli said.

The Minister for Corrective Services, Laura Gerber, is expected to address cabinet on Monday on the investigation, and Mr Crisafulli said a coronial inquest into the death of Sophia Rose would likely occur.

Premier David Crisafulli says Flanigan’s death “is the proof that there is some explanations that are needed”. Photo: Josh Woning

When asked if overcrowding and under-resourcing within the system was an issue that has yet to be addressed by the government, Mr Crisafulli said there was a focus on improving the state’s correction facilities.

“They’ve been crying out this for a long time, and that’s why we do have a big focus on making sure that we bring some of the facilities that have been sitting in the pipeline for too long, bring them to market, and also look at other ways of making sure that we can accommodate people safely,” he said.

Flanigan allegedly stabbed Sophia multiple times in front of terrified neighbours on their front lawn, while her two other children were inside their home.

Sophia’s father Jai Ruane told The Courier-Mail last week that systems designed to protect his little girl had failed.

“This could have easily been prevented,” he said.

“The system failed us and now my daughter Sophia has paid for it with her life.”

Flanigan was due to appear in court over Sophia’s murder in July.

QCS has rigorous procedures in place to assess and care for high-risk prisoners, including keeping them in a line of sight, psychologist assessments and specially designed cells to reduce risk of self-harm.

A spokesman said QCS was taking the matter very seriously and the incident was being investigated.

“The incident will be subject to an internal management review at the centre and has been referred to the QCS Critical Incident Review and Inspections Group, Professional Standards and Governance Command for an independent review,” the spokesman said.

“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.”

Despite this, QCS did not answer questions in regards to Flanigan’s initial assessment, how she was monitored, and whether there were enough staff working the night of the incident.

Police outside the Moore Park Beach home where three-year-old Sophia was allegedly stabbed to death by her mother, Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32.

Support was being offered to the responding officers and their colleagues.

Hundreds of Moore Park Beach residents held a vigil for Sophia on the foreshore on Sunday evening.

Members of the community dressed in pink and sparkles, Sophia’s favourite, as candles, bubbles and glow sticks lit up the night.

Libby French, one of Sophia’s educators from Kids and Co, said candles were a symbolic representation of the light the little girl had brought into their lives.

“We loved her in the little moments – in the way she twirled, in the way she laughed, in the way she held our hands without hesitation,” she said. “She loved back, so openly, so beautifully.”

Kristielle Burrage, also from Kids and Co, said Sophia loved everything pink, glittery, and beautiful.

“How fitting, because Sophia herself was all those things,” she said.

Guests, including friends from Sophia’s daycare, were invited to dance to her favourite song, Barbie Girl by Aqua.

Vigil organisers Trish Mears and Derek Alcorn said they wanted to help start the community’s healing process.

Ms Mears said they also wanted to honour Sophia at the Moore Park Beach Arts Festival in August.

In his statement following Flanigan’s death, Mr Crisafulli also conceded security would need to be reviewed after four prisoners escaped facilities in just one month.

Originally published as Sophia Rose alleged murder: Mother dies in hospital after being found unresponsive in cell