Mother Faces Murder Charges After Allegedly Setting Fire to Her Three Children
A Queensland mother accused of pouring petrol over her three sleeping children before setting them alight remains in police custody at a mental health treatment centre. The horrific incident occurred in the early hours of the morning in May 2025 at the family's home in Harristown, west of Brisbane.
Tragic Details of the Harristown Fire
Queensland Police allege that Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, 37, killed her two daughters, aged five and seven, and her nine-year-old son. The three children had all been sleeping in the same bedroom when a massive fire engulfed their home around 12.30am.
The devastating outcome saw all three children perish:
- The nine-year-old son died in the blaze, with his body discovered after firefighters extinguished the flames
- Both daughters were rescued from the burning home but later succumbed to their injuries in hospital
Three other occupants managed to escape the inferno: Gibson's 34-year-old partner, an 18-year-old man, and an 11-year-old boy. All three were taken to hospital with minor injuries and have since been released.
Legal Proceedings and Mental Health Considerations
The 37-year-old mother has been formally charged with arson, three counts of murder, and three counts of attempted murder. Her case received its first mention in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where her legal representatives indicated that a psychiatric assessment was being organised.
Gibson remains in custody at The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment at Wacol, one of Australia's largest psychiatric hospitals. The facility operates three specialised inpatient units:
- The High Security Inpatient Service
- The Extended Forensic Rehabilitation and Treatment Unit
- The Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit
If psychiatric evaluations determine Gibson was of unsound mind during the incident, her case could be transferred to the Mental Health Court, where reporting restrictions would apply. The matter is scheduled for further mention on June 26, though Gibson will not be required to appear via video-link for this proceeding.
The Toowoomba Chronicle reports that the investigation continues as authorities piece together the events leading to this family tragedy that has shocked the Harristown community and drawn national attention to issues of mental health and child safety.
