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 “immediate assistance” before taking her to the hospital. She died on Sunday, June 1, after spending time in the intensive care unit.
According to the ABC, Flanigan died of an “apparent medical episode.”
Queensland Correctional Service shared a statement with People, saying an investigation into the mother’s death was underway. The service will help prepare a report for the coroner, which is “standard practice for all deaths in custody.”
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.
“There were two other children at the address at the time, both younger — aged 1 and 2,” Superintendent Brad Inskip said, reported News.com.au. “Neither of them were injured in the incident yesterday, and they’re currently being cared for by family members.”
Inskip said there were “multiple attempts” to revive Sophia. “No doubt it was a horrific scene, it’s a terrible, terrible incident for everybody,” he said.
While Inskip didn’t initially know how much of a role Flanigan’s mental health played in the death, he did say it “will play a part in our inquiries” as the investigation continues. Sky News Australia reported that the woman had recently made posts on Instagram that seemed to address something heavy.
“Remember your pain as it fuels your purpose,” she shared alongside a video of a woman with bruises. In another post, she called herself a “warrior of light,” and mentioned training “like it’s war.” She also alluded to trauma, writing that people are “shaped by the rocks we’ve been broken against.”
