Jordan Monaghan: triple killer jailed for at least 40 years for murdering his two children and partner

The mum of two children killed by triple murderer Jordan Monaghan told how she “loved every single day” she had with them before they lost their lives at their father’s hands.

Monaghan has been given three mandatory life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 40 years before parole for murdering his children - newborn baby Ruby and toddler Logan, and for killing his new partner Evie Adams six years later.

He was convicted of the three murders and two counts of attempted murder to a third child who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The 30-year-old, a manipulative and controlling gambling addict, obstructed the airways of his helpless children in separate murders in January and August, 2013. Six years later he killed Miss Adams with a drug overdose.

In a statement after Monaghan was sentenced the mum of Logan and Ruby, Laura Gray, said she had promised to fight for justice for them, and that she missed her children with her “whole heart”.

At a glance 5 key points

• Monaghan murdered his newborn daughter and toddler son in 2013
• Six years later he killed his new partner Evie Adams with a drug overdose
• He was on bail for the murders of his children at the time he killed his partner
• Jury convicted him on Friday after six days of deliberations
• He must serve at least 40 years.

After further information came to light, police reviewed the deaths of Ruby, aged 24 days, and Logan, aged 21 months, and in 2018, Monaghan was arrested.

He was on police bail for the child murders when he murdered his new girlfriend Evie Adams, 23, with a deadly cocktail of prescription drugs in October 2019.

What have the victims families said?

Laura Gray, the mother of Ruby and Logan, said in a statement:“I loved every single day I had with them and often think about this. I have the memories and they are truly lovely memories… but memories will never be better than reality.”

She said she missed her children with her “whole heart”, and added: “It is so difficult to try and put into words what Jordan has done to me, but I will never be the same person again. When the children went, a huge part of me went with them.

“When the children were born, they consumed my whole heart, they still do. I think this is natural for any mother to say this. I was and still am a good mum… It has taken me a long time to believe this and say it, but I now genuinely do believe it. I would have done and still will do absolutely anything for them.”

She described Logan as “my funny, very, very cheeky little boy”, and said: “To say he was only small he was fiercely independent but of course he loved a cuddle off his Mummy. He was a super little dancer and loved to bop his way around the room to ‘Troublemaker’ by Olly Murs.”

And of Ruby she said: “With Ruby I only had a very short time with her… only a short 24 days. 24 days is not long enough for a newborn to smile, see clearly or develop their own little character. She didn’t get the chance to see me clearly and I didn’t get the opportunity to savour her gorgeous first smile, I know she would have had.

“ I’ve lost out on her first giggle, her first word and the first steps she would have taken. Ruby like Logan, however, did also love a cuddle from her mummy. I only have one photograph of Ruby and I and this will never be enough.

“I promised to fight for justice for them, I have done this with my head held high and with honesty and dignity. Well I did it for you my babies… I hope you are as proud of me as I am of you. I simply could not be any prouder to be your mummy.

In a statement Bernard Adams, father of Evie Adams thanked the police, family liaison officers and the prosecutor.

He said: “It has taken us over two years to get this case to court and it has taken Laura and her family a lot longer. Our thoughts are with Laura and the Gray family as we know what they have been going through.

“Despite the conviction it will not bring back our daughter Evie or ease the pain of her not being with us.”

What was said in the trial?

Monaghan killed because he could not face rejection by his partners, Preston Crown Court heard during his 10-week trial.

A 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.

What happened to Evie Adams?

As the highly complex police investigation continued, Monaghan began a “toxic” relationship with 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.

Monaghan also claimed the illegal prescription drugs were for himself and denied ever giving any to Miss Adams.

What did Monaghan say had happened?

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.

Monaghan also claimed the illegal prescription drugs were for himself and denied ever giving any to Miss Adams.

The defendant, who has been suffering a minor illness, was not in court as the guilty verdicts were delivered by the foreman of the jury following 26 hours of deliberation across six days. He was brought to court for the sentencing.

Passing sentence Mr Justice Goose told Monaghan: “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.”

Speaking of Ruby, the judge added: “Her life had barely started and you extinguished it.”

This article will continue to be updated throughout the day

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