A community rocked by the loss of a three-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her own mother have united grief at an emotional church vigil.
Emergency services rushed to a Moore Park Beach home on the outskirts of Bundaberg in central Queensland on Monday afternoon following ‘multiple’ reports from concerned neighbours.
Mother-of-three Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was found in the front yard of the home near her dying daughter, Sophia Ruane.
Emergency responders desperately tried to revive little Sophia but she could not be saved.
Hours after Flanigan was charged with murder, 60 locals gathered at Alive Church in Bundaberg on Tuesday night for an evening of prayer and worship.
A senior pastor confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Lauren and her late daughter were members of the church community.
Devastated mourners walked hand-in-hand into the church to contemplate the tragedy that just 24 hours ago no one could ever have comprehended.
Mourners hugged, cried and raised their arms in prayer.
About 60 people gathered at Alive Church in Bundaberg, central Queensland, to offer prayers to a three-year-old who died on Monday
Emergency services attempted to revive Sophia (pictured) but she died at the scene
Some members of the congregation stood as they sang along to a church band.
During the service, Pastor Adam Ryan recalled Sophia and her ‘beautiful, cheeky life’.
‘Tonight we offer our prayers for friends, and families, and (those) directly affected by these events,’ he told the mourners.
‘We lift up the life for little Sophia tonight,’ he said, also paying tribute to Pheobe Bishop who has been missing for more than a week.’
There was no mention of Sophia’s mother during the service.
Earlier on Tuesday night, senior pastors Adam and Joey Ryan shared a joint statement with Daily Mail Australia about the loss of Sophia.
‘As a church family, we are hurting. We are now wrestling with the same questions,’ they said.
‘Unfortunately, ‘Why?’ is not always easily answered. Lauren’s story is a heartbreaking one that led to tragedy.
‘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.’
Alive Church’s senior pastors Adam and Joey Ryan said the community was hurting
Lauren Flanigan (pictured, left) and her daughter Sophia were members of the Alive Church congregation, with the senior pastors saying Lauren’s story is a ‘heartbreaking one’
The service was hosted as its ‘best response as a church to tragedy’.
‘Alive Church’s doors are open to those that are hurting, lost and broken,’ the pastors added.
‘These are tragic circumstances. Our hearts are heavy.’
Sophia’s dad Jai Ruane, who is an MMA fighter and mine worker, was not a member of the church and didn’t attend the service.
It’s understood he was reunited with his remaining two children on Tuesday after making the drive back from his FIFO workplace near Mackay.
He earlier spent time with Bundaberg police.
Speaking to Nine News on Tuesday night, Mr Ruane described little Sophia as ‘the light of his life’.
‘Always smiling, always wanting to help,’ he said of Sophia.
‘Just full of life and love. She just had a huge heart.’
Those attending the vigil offered prayers for friends and families during the service
Sophia’s father Jai Ruane (left) did not attend the service but issued a statement on Tuesday in which he described his daughter as the ‘light of his life’
Flanigan was charged with murder early on Tuesday morning.
Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip declined to confirm if the family was known to police or children’s services, adding that line of inquiry would form part of the investigation.
He said Flanigan’s mental health history will also now be looked into.
It is understood Flanigan would often share posts about her faith to her social media accounts.
‘Faith. Family. Future. Fitness. Built for wealth. Wired for freedom. Digital Systems. Elite Strategy. No Excuses,’ her account profile reads.
In many of her posts, Flanigan wrote about ‘rising up’ and remembering ‘who you are’ as she battled against ‘the system’.
‘You are a WARRIOR OF LIGHT. Train like it’s war — because it is. God is calling His army out of hiding. This is kingdom rising,’ Flanigan’s most recent post read.
‘We move. We build. We burn with holy fire. No more delays. No more compromise. Tag your generals. It’s time to RISE.’
Alive Church had hosted the vigil as its ‘best response as a church to tragedy’. Pictured are mourners wiping away tears during the service
Acting Superintendent Inskip revealed that Mr Ruane lives at the property, but was away at work when the incident occurred.
‘It’s a terrible, terrible incident for everybody including the witnesses and neighbours, the emergency services, police and ambulance who attended and the investigators who are doing the ongoing investigation.
‘This is not something we ever want to attend and want our people to have to deal with.’
Flanigan was not required to appear in person at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Her legal representative made no application for bail and the case was adjourned to the Bundaberg court until July 21.
Flanigan remains in custody.
