Mother charged with murder following the death of her children in a horrific house fire

A mother has been charged with murder following the death of her children in a horrific house fire in Toowoomba.

Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, 36, was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson. 

Emergency services rushed to the property on Merritt Street in Harristown, about 127km west of Brisbane, at around 12.30am on May 7 following reports of a fire. 

Gibson’s nine-year-old boy died in the blaze – with firefighters locating his body near the front door of the family’s home shortly after extinguishing the flames. 

Her two daughters, aged four and seven, were rushed to Toowoomba hospital in a life-threatening condition after suffering significant burns in the fire. 

The girls were transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital but died overnight after succumbing to their injuries. 

The three deceased children had all been sleeping in the same bedroom. 

Gibson’s 34-year-old partner escaped with minor injuries along with two other children including an 11-year-old boy and 18-year-old male. 

Ellouisa Brighton Gibson (pictured) is under investigation for allegedly dousing her children in petrol as they slept and setting them alight in a horror Queensland house fire

A nine-year-old boy’s body was found inside the home, while two girls – aged four and seven – died shortly after in hospital from their severe injuries

Gibson remained in a critical condition under police guard at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital as police investigated the incident.

Following the fire, police said the blaze was being treated as suspicious but they had not yet been able to interview Gibson due to her condition.

‘We do know she will be in hospital for an extensive period of time,’ Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said at a press conference.

‘Obviously we want to talk to all those persons that were present, we’ve already undertaken that with some of the people that were at the house and have been released from hospital.

‘Part of our investigation is talking to all people – that will include the 36-year-old woman.’

Mr Marchesini said police had previously dealt with the family but wouldn’t give further details. 

The 34-year-old man was in a stable condition with serious injuries while an 18-year-old male is believed to have a hand injury but have since been discharged.

Both men assisted with removing the children from the burning home while Gibson escaped from the front of the house, police said.

 Gibson (pictured) was put under police guard while in hospital as homicide detectives investigated the cause of the blaze 

Fire crews were greeted with a ‘wall of flame and heavy smoke’ when they arrived at the scene as the blaze mostly impacted the front of the home 

Sources familiar with the investigation said petrol was found at the front of the home, according to The Australian.

One of the surviving children also allegedly told police they witnessed Gibson ‘(allegedly) pouring petrol over the children and setting them on fire’.  

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service station manager Neil Goodman said firefighters were greeted with a ‘wall of flame and heavy smoke’. 

Mr Goodman added the fire mostly impacted the front of the home.  

‘The guys had quite a difficult time making access and getting in to conduct a primary search,’ Mr Goodman told 7News.

After speaking with a family member who was ‘hysterical’, Mr Goodman advised fire and rescue crews on where they might be able to find the missing child.

‘We’re all fathers, we’ve all got children, so its always hard, it’s a little bit harder when its sort of similar to your own situation,’ Mr Goodman said.

Anyone with information or relevant vision, including CCTV or dashcam footage, is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

It took about 30 minutes for four fire crews to extinguish the fire. 

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14