Tiahleigh’s killer’s life in balance

A CONVICTED child killer, responsible for one of Queensland’s most shocking murders, is clinging to life after being found unresponsive in his jail cell.

Rick Thorburn was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering 12-year-old foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer. Tiahleigh was last seen at her school south of Brisbane in October 2015.

On Sunday, just two years into his 20-year sentence, Thorburn was found unconscious in his cell at Wolston Prison.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said Thorburn was found unresponsive in his single occupancy cell at morning unlock.

Prison sources said he was rushed to the Priness Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition after a suspected overdose

Authorities have had previous concerns of self-harm.

“Queensland Corrective Services can confirm a prisoner was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital after being found unresponsive in their single occupancy cell at Wolston Correctional Centre at unlock yesterday,” a QCS spokeswoman said. “The prisoner remains in hospital at this time.”

Thorburn was in “critical but stable condition” in the Intensive Care Unit at the PA hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Thorburn murdered the schoolgirl in her bed in 2015 after son Trent, 18, confessed to molesting her. Trent told his mother he was afraid Tiahleigh might be pregnant and bizarrely claimed his foster sister “made” him have sex with her.

After killing Tiahleigh, Rick dumped her body on the banks of the Pimpama River.

He told his family he’d had to do it to prevent Trent from going to prison as a sex offender.

For days the Thorburn family pretended Tiahleigh had run away. Rick was arrested and charged with murder after lengthy investigation. Rick’s wife, Julene, and sons Josh and Trent were jailed for perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Trent also served time for incest.