Jordan Monaghan jailed for at least 40 years for murdering two children and girlfriend years later
Father, 30, is jailed for 40 years after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, 23, while he was on BAIL for murdering his two small children six years earlier
Jordan Monaghan, 30, of Blackburn, found guilty of three counts of murderFound guilty of killing daughter Ruby in 2013 and son Logan eight months laterMonaghan also found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Evie Adams in 2019Monaghan was quizzed over deaths of two children but was released by policeBut he was arrested again after giving overdose over tramadol to Ms Adams
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A digger driver who smothered his newborn baby girl and toddler son to death in separate murders and astonishingly evaded justice for six years before later killing his new partner with a drug overdose while on bail for their murders has today been jailed for at least forty years.
Triple killer Jordan Monaghan, 30, a manipulative and controlling gambling addict, obstructed the airways of his helpless children in separate murders in Blackburn, Lancs, in January and August, 2013.
After further information came to light, involving the collapse of another victim, who cannot be named, police reviewed the deaths of Ruby, aged 24 days, and Logan, aged 21 months, and in 2018, Monaghan was arrested.
Astonishingly he was then allowed on police bail. While free to walk the streets, he killed his new girlfriend, 23-year-old Evie Adams, with a deadly cocktail of prescription drugs in October 2019.
Even after Evie’s death Monaghan was still allowed free once more, with police taking 15 months to finally arrest him against in January 2021, raising questions for Lancashire Police.
Today, after a 10 week trial and a 26 hour deliberation by jury members at Preston Crown Court, Monaghan was convicted of three murders and two counts of attempted murder.
He was sentenced to three life orders, with a minimum term of at least 40 years.
Monaghan was also sentenced to 27 years on each count of attempted murder, though his actual sentence will be life with a minimum term of 40 years.
The court heard how Monaghan had secretly harmed his two children to make them appear sick every time his former partner, Laura Gray, the children’s biological mother, had attempted to end their relationship.
Ms Gray, the 28-year-old mother of the children, could be heard weeping in the public gallery as the verdicts were given.
Today, in a heartbreaking statement read out at Monaghan’s sentencing, Ms Gray said: ‘All I ever wanted was to be a mum. I wanted to give children the love and opportunities I never had growing up. Jordan knew how much I wanted that.
‘My children are the most important thing in my life. I loved every single day I had with them.
‘I have the memories and they are truly lovely memories but memories will never beat the reality.
‘I will never be the same person again. When the children went a huge part of me went with them.’
Passing sentence Mr Justice Goose told Monaghan: ‘Your victims were your children, then your partner.
‘It is difficult to know why you carried out these offences. Having listened to the evidence in this trial, in short you are an exceptionally controlling, selfish and cruel man.
‘The trigger to these offences were your volatile relationships. The consequences were the snuffing out of the lives of two very young children and a young woman.
‘You killed them secretively and then pretended it was by tragic accident. I have no doubt Laura, a good mother, would not have remained with you if she had known the truth.’
Triple killer Jordan Monaghan is facing life behind bars after being convicted of murdering his newborn baby girl and toddler son by smothering, and six years later killing his new partner with a drug overdose
Jordan Monaghan was today found guilty of smothering three-week-old daughter, Ruby (pictured left), on New Year’s Day 2013, and 21-month-old son, Logan (pictured right), eight months later
Monaghan, of Blackburn, was also found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Evie Adams (pictured) in 2019 by giving her an overdose of tramadol and diazepam, which he bought on the black market
Jordan Monaghan posted this picture of him proposing to girlfriend Evie Adams, who he has today been found guilty of murdering
Pictured: Jordan Monaghan and his former partner Laura Grey leaving Blackburn Coroners in 2014 after the inquest into their son Logan’s death. Monghan later killed girlfriend Evie Adams
Construction worker Monaghan, of Belgrave Close, Blackburn, smothered Ruby on New Year’s Day, 2013, as she slept in her Moses basket. Monaghan was alone with the child as her mother slept upstairs at the family home.
Eight months later, after Miss Gray discovered that her boyfriend owed thousands of pounds in gambling debts, she told him the relationship was over.
The next day he took their son, Logan, aged 21 months, to a local swimming pool, Waves in Blackburn.
While alone in a cubicle in the changing rooms he smothered the child, the jury heard.
Ruby’s and Logan’s deaths were both investigated as sudden and unexplained events, but the girl’s death was attributed to bronchiolitis and Logan’s cause of death remained ‘unascertained’.
Both had been seen by medics in the days and months before their deaths, but other than usual childhood illnesses no serious medical condition was found.
But a review was carried out by Lancashire Police after further information came to light and Monaghan was arrested and bailed on suspicion of murder in January 2018.
As the highly complex police investigation continued, Monaghan began a ‘toxic’ relationship with mother-of-one Evie Adams, 23, who had suffered ‘chronic abuse’ before becoming a foster child aged 12.
Police warned her not to be with him and a court order was made banning contact.
But the relationship continued and, while on bail for the murder of his children, Monaghan killed Miss Adams after she threatened to dump him.
Monaghan told her: ‘I won’t keep putting up with you saying we are over.’
The defendant illegally bought strong prescription drugs on the black market via WhatsApp and other contacts.
Miss Adams was found to have tramadol, diazepam, amitriptyline, zopiclone and pregabalin medication in her body after her collapse and death on October 24, 2019.
She died from tramadol and diazepam toxicity.
He then faked a suicide note from Miss Adams, discovered apparently by chance falling out of a picture frame as he removed the couple’s favourite photo of themselves to place in her coffin.
Monaghan was re-arrested in January this year and charged with all three murders.
He claimed to have nothing to do with the death of his children, but a dozen experts told the court that while the exact cause of the deaths was difficult to pin down, imposed airway obstruction was either ‘likely’ or could not be ruled out.
Ruby’s and Logan’s (pictured) deaths were both investigated as sudden and unexplained events, but the girl’s death was attributed to bronchiolitis and Logan’s cause of death remained ‘unascertained’.
A construction worker, Monaghan, of Belgrave Close, Blackburn, smothered Ruby (pictured left) on New Year’s Day, 2013, as she slept in her Moses basket. Monaghan was alone with the child as her mother slept upstairs at the family home.
Ruby’s (pictured) and Logan’s deaths were both investigated as sudden and unexplained events, but the girl’s death was attributed to bronchiolitis and Logan’s cause of death remained ‘unascertained’
Laura Gray (pictured here with Monaghan), the 28-year-old mother of the children, could be heard weeping in the public gallery as the verdicts were given.
Monaghan also claimed the illegal prescription drugs were for himself and denied ever giving any to Miss Adams.
Following the conviction of Jordan Monaghan, Martin Hill, deputy head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) North West’s Complex Case Unit, said: ‘Jordan Monaghan’s cruelty is beyond belief and the ruthlessness of these murders is harrowing.
‘It is difficult to comprehend the depravity that went into planning and committing these murders.
‘Three innocent people needlessly lost their lives due to Monaghan’s utter selfishness.
‘Together, the CPS and Lancashire police were able to build a strong case against him by ensuring all possible medical explanations for the deaths of the children could be discounted.
‘I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering that Monaghan’s actions have caused to the families of the victims.
‘They have conducted themselves with the upmost dignity and been incredibly brave and patient throughout.
‘Nothing can make up for the loss of their loved ones, but we can only hope, following today’s conviction, they feel justice has been done.
‘Our thoughts remain with the families.’
