A woman from Indianapolis, Chantell Gardner, has been charged with murder following the tragic death of her 2-year-old daughter, Skylar Gardner, who was discovered lifeless beneath a dresser.
An autopsy indicated that Skylar died from hypothermia and revealed multiple injuries, some believed to have been inflicted post-mortem, potentially caused by a rodent, as reported by WRTV.
On January 25, Chantell Gardner called 911 after finding Skylar unresponsive and “cold to the touch,” according to CrimeOnline. She disclosed to detectives that she often left her children alone for hours but returned daily to provide them with food. Her boyfriend, Brian Thomas, supported her account, stating that she spent most nights with him and that the children seldom accompanied her.
Newly released court documents outline the extensive injuries suffered by the young girl and describe the living conditions in their apartment, which was cluttered and unsanitary, with walls, floors, and furniture covered in filth, some of which was feces. Detectives labeled the apartment a “biohazard,” reported WXIN.
While Gardner has denied physically harming Skylar or her 3-year-old brother, she admitted to neglecting them. She revealed that she had ceased taking the children to medical appointments out of fear they would be taken away, eventually isolating them completely due to the apartment’s “hygiene and smell” issues.
Gardner acknowledged being aware that the furnace in their apartment was non-functional but refrained from reporting it to maintenance, wanting to avoid scrutiny of their living conditions.
Brian Thomas, Gardner’s boyfriend, faces charges for assisting a criminal in this case.
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[Featured image: Interior of the apartment/Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Inset: Skylar Gardner/family handout]
