Triple murder twist as questions surround alleged killer’s connection to unborn baby of heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend gunned down alongside her new partner
A man who allegedly shot dead his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend and her new partner could have fathered her unborn baby, one of the victims’ relatives has claimed.
Julian Ingram, 37, allegedly gunned down his ex Sophie Quinn, 25, in a black Suzuki hatchback, alongside her new boyfriend John Harris, 32 in Lake Cargelligo, 600km west of Sydney on Thursday.
He then allegedly went to another residence and killed her aunt Nerida Quinn, 50, and seriously injured her 19‑year‑old neighbour, Kaleb MacQueen.
Ingram has been on the run since the alleged murders, with about 100 police officers searching for him in the surrounding areas.
Ms Quinn, who separated from Ingram last year and was in a relationship with Mr Harris at the time of her death, was due to give birth in March to a baby boy.
Mr Harris’ cousin, Derek, claimed it was unclear who the biological father of Ms Quinn’s unborn baby was.
‘It could have been Julian’s, it could have been John’s. I suppose we’ll never know now,’ he told the Daily Mail.
‘She told Julian a few months ago she doesn’t want to go with him no more. She was seeing John before Julian, and then got back with John.’
Mum-to-be Sophie Quinn, 25, was allegedly murdered by Julius Ingram on Thursday
Police on Friday released a photo of Julian Ingram, who is wanted on an outstanding warrant for murder
Sophie’s boyfriend, John Harris, 32, was killed in the shooting
Pictured is the house where Ms Quinn and Mr Harris were shot dead as they sat in a car
Derek said the family was ‘not doing well’ and he was on his way to see his grieving grandparents.
‘John was (a) good (person). Sophie was good too,’ he said.
Mr MacQueen, the only one who survived the horrific attack and who lived across the road from Nerida, was rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Another neighbour of Nerida’s and Mr MacQueen’s best friend, Jack Henschke, said he heard five gunshots ring out on Thursday afternoon.
He said Mr MacQueen was ‘doing alright now’ in hospital in Canberra.
On Friday, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland confirmed Ingram was still on the run.
Ingram is described as between 165cm and 170cm tall, with a medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ, which has council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility side markings and an emergency light bar on the roof.
Mr Harris’ cousin, Derek, (pictured) claimed it was unclear who the biological father of Ms Quinn’s unborn baby was
Nerida Quinn, pictured left with her daughter, was killed in the shooting
Kaleb Macqueen, 19, was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition following the shooting
Police are seen at the scene of the murders on Friday
Indigenous police community liaisons are seen at an address linked with murdered pregnant woman Sophie Quinn.
Anyone who sees Ingram is urged not to approach him and to contact Triple Zero immediately.
It comes after it was revealed that Ingram appeared at Lake Cargelligo Local Court on December 3 over allegations he stalked, intimidated and assaulted Ms Quinn and damaged her property.
Court records, obtained by the Daily Mail, show he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on the condition that he report to Lake Cargelligo Police Station every day and not go within 100m of her home or workplace.
Records also show Ingram was a known domestic violence offender at the time, having pleaded guilty in 2021 to assaulting another woman in Griffith.
When a reporter asked Assistant Commissioner Holland during a press conference on Friday why Ingram was granted bail, he replied: ‘A risk assessment would have been done at the time.
‘At that time, he he had not committed a violent offence in the last five years and, therefore, deemed fit.
‘Where we can, we obviously grant people bail. We don’t want to keep them in custody. With strict bail conditions and AVO in place, it’s deemed suitable.’
Mr Holland also said Ingram has never held a gun licence.
‘We are still using that as part of our investigation,’ he said.
