
An Australian mother who was recently charged after allegedly killing her 3-year-old daughter has died after being found unresponsive in her jail cell. Laura Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was arrested after allegedly stabbing her toddler to death. A week later, the mom also died. The mom of three was in jail and had an undisclosed “medical incident” before her death. An investigation into what caused her death is underway, as her community mourns the death of her daughter. Now, they will be further in mourning over this additional loss.
Flanigan was found in her cell at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre on Friday, May 30, 2025, the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) reported. As soon as she was found, Queensland Police officers provided âimmediate assistanceâ before taking her to the hospital. She died on Sunday, June 1, after spending time in the intensive care unit.Â
According to the ABC, Flanigan died of an “apparent medical episode.”
Queensland Correctional Service shared a statement with People, saying an investigation into the motherâs death was underway. The service will help prepare a report for the coroner, which is âstandard practice for all deaths in custody.â
Laura Flanigan was in jail after being arrested and charged with stabbing her 3-year-old daughter Sophia in the front yard of their home on May 26. Neighbors called police, but when they arrived the girl was already dead.Â
âThere were two other children at the address at the time, both younger â aged 1 and 2,â Superintendent Brad Inskip said, reported News.com.au. âNeither of them were injured in the incident yesterday, and theyâre currently being cared for by family members.â
Inskip said there were âmultiple attemptsâ to revive Sophia. âNo doubt it was a horrific scene, itâs a terrible, terrible incident for everybody,â he said.
While Inskip didnât initially know how much of a role Flaniganâs mental health played in the death, he did say it âwill play a part in our inquiriesâ as the investigation continues. Sky News Australia reported that the woman had recently made posts on Instagram that seemed to address something heavy.
âRemember your pain as it fuels your purpose,â she shared alongside a video of a woman with bruises. In another post, she called herself a âwarrior of light,â and mentioned training âlike itâs war.â She also alluded to trauma, writing that people are âshaped by the rocks weâve been broken against.â