‘Today I rise': Killer mum's chilling posts
Unearthed Instagram posts from the mother who was charged with the murder of her three-year-old daughter before being found unresponsive in her jail cell have revealed a dark decline.
Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was charged with the murder of her three-year-old daughter Sophia Rose, who was allegedly stabbed 'multiple' times in the front yard of their home in Moore Park Beach near Bundaberg on May 26.
Days after entering custody, Flanigan was found unresponsive in her high security cell at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre and rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition. She died on Sunday night.
Though few photos of her life before children were publicly shared, Flanigan's online posts before having her first child in 2021 were filled with joy and carefree fun. She spent time across Queensland, from the beaches at Currumbin to a hike through Mount Glorious and Mount Ngungun with her friends. She fell pregnant with her first child, Sophia, at the tail end of 2020 and shared the news with her Instagram followers in February 2021.
'16 weeks pregnant and totally loving becoming your mama my sweet girl,' she captioned an Instagram selfie cradling her bump.
Comments of support flooded her social media following her announcement, prompting Flanigan to joke about her morning sickness and dreaded weight gain. 'I am enjoying pregnancy a lot more now that I am in the second trimester and not feeling sick all the time haha!' she wrote. 'Just not looking forward to the weight gain but I guess it's all part of it lol.'
Two months later, Flanigan shared an image of her baby bump and discussed the 'rapid transformation' she experienced 'mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally'. She said 'becoming a mum is the most amazing journey'.
Two weeks before Sophia was born, Flanigan shared a final pregnancy selfie, again cradling her growing bump.'Can't wait to hold you in my arms,' she wrote in anticipation.
A little under three weeks later, the first picture of Sophia was published on social media. She was wrapped in a floral swaddle and wore a matching bow headband. The words '7 days old' were written on wooden blocks besides the sleeping baby. Then, for nearly three years, her Instagram account went dark, with no posts published.However, she was seen in other posts attending the Moore Park Beach Festival with a friend and fellow mother in August 2023. Her young son was strapped to her chest and she held Sophia's hand as she beamed towards the camera. January 2024 marked the return to Instagram for the mother of three, sharing a selection of date-night images with her ex-partner.
'Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and above all things, Love,' she captioned the post.Flanigan revealed that she had her third child in September last year in a photo shoot with her 'divine babies', including her son, newborn daughter and eldest child Sophia captured snuggling next to her little sister and dancing around the room in a soft pink tulle and lace dress. In May, eight months after her previous post, Flanigan posted a selfie alongside religious images. 'Today I rise,' the post read. 'Clothed in fire. Covered in grace. Armoured by God.'
The next day, she continued to reference religion in a series of pictures and videos of waves washing onto the sand of Moore Park Beach, this time using hashtags including #JesusOverEverything, #HolyResilience, #DaughterOfTheKing and #ChristianInfluencer.
'Each of us shaped by the waves of life we've passed through, the currents we've endured, the rocks we've been broken against, the storms we didn't think we'd survive, yet … here we are. Seen. Held. Admired,' she wrote. May 4 marked her third religious-infused post on Instagram, expressing that she 'already do have all I need'.
'I have given my life to serve. I have a beautiful little family who remind me of love daily.
A community that uplifts me. A church that grounds me,' she wrote. 'Yes, there are challenges. Yes, there are areas that still need refining. But I wake up every day with breath in my lungs and fire in my spirit.'
Ten days later, a video was uploaded onto Flanigan's social media. Sophia had been filmed playing in a beach hut that would become her memorial less than two weeks later. 'Time won't be on your side forever so try to appreciate every moment of your life and try and create as many incredible memories as you can,' an eerie caption read. Flanigan's final post was shared the day before Sophia's death.
'This is Kingdom Rising,' the caption read. 'We move. We build. We burn with holy fire.
No more delays. No more compromise. Tag your generals. It's time to RISE.'
While there are only 17 posts on her Instagram grid, she actively shared motivational posts and selfies on her Instagram stories, including pictures of herself in her office, attending Alive Church in Bundaberg, and motivational images encouraging people to live life to the fullest. One of the posts she shared to her followers said there was 'no warning, no guarantee of a second chance, no promise that tomorrow will wait'.
'Every breath you take is one closer to your last,' the chilling re-shared post read, shared the same day as Sophia's death.
On Monday, May 26 about 4.45pm, Flanigan stabbed her daughter several times in the front yard of their Bundaberg property.
Her two other children were inside the house at the time of the alleged murder and a bladed knife was seized from the scene.Neighbours told The Courier-Mail that they watched in horror as Flanigan allegedly murdered her daughter and screamed Sophia's name as her three-year-old lay in the front yard.Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip described it as a 'horrific scene' and a 'terrible tragedy for everybody'.He said Sophia suffered 'multiple wounds' to her body and was 'not something we ever want to attend and want our people to deal with'.
Flanigan was charged with murder and transported to Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, where she was found unresponsive on the floor of her high-risk cell on Friday. She was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she died on Sunday evening.
1800RESPECT national helpline: 1800 737 732
Sexual Assault Crisis Line (VIC): 1800 806 292 or sacl.com.au
Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.auKids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au
Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au
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