Honk News (Indianapolis, IN) – A mother in Indiana reportedly provided her two young children, aged 2 and 4, with only one meal a day before leaving them unsupervised at home. Tragically, this situation has led to the death of the 2-year-old girl, and the mother is now in custody.
Chantell Gardner, 33, has been charged with child neglect resulting in death. She is currently held at the Marion County Jail with no option for bond. A recently acquired probable cause arrest affidavit detailed the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., Gardner dialed 911 upon discovering the girl, named Skyler Gardner, unresponsive and “cold to the touch” beneath a bedroom dresser, according to the affidavit.
Gardner informed authorities that she arrived at the apartment to provide meals for her children, noting that while her son approached her, Skyler did not. This is what resulted in the somber finding. She recounted how she quickly took her son and rushed outside to dial for help.
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Emergency responders arrived at the residence and confirmed Skylar’s passing. The affidavit indicated that she had been dead for a while, as rigor mortis had already begun to develop. A young girl sustained a significant puncture wound on her neck, accompanied by bruises on her face, arms, legs, and back.
According to the document, authorities entered the residence and noted the presence of debris, human waste, sharp kitchen utensils, and unclean items covering the floor to such an extent that it was completely obscured. They discovered excrement on the wall and decaying food scattered everywhere.
After the Miranda decision, Gardner admitted that she was aware of her neglect towards her daughter. She asserted that it was common for her to abandon her two children for extended periods, only attending to them once a day to provide food. Gardner revealed that she had not bathed one of her children for almost two weeks and frequently discovered them with feces on their hands and feet.
She maintained that although she may have neglected Skyler, she never inflicted physical harm or engaged in sexual abuse, according to the affidavit.
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Her partner has verified her story. He claimed that she stayed over at his place every night and rarely brought the children along. He informed the authorities that their visits were limited to “once a week at most.”
Authorities subsequently apprehended Gardner and transported her to the Marion County Jail, where she is currently held.