Mom Allegedly Neglected Kids, Spent Days at Boyfriend's. Then She Found 2-Year-Old Dead Beneath Dresser: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Chantell Gardner.Photo:Marion County Jail

Marion County Jail

An Indiana mom is accused of neglecting her children for long periods of time in her home, culminating when she allegedly found her 2-year-old daughter dead under a dresser.

Chantell reportedly denied accusations of sexual or physical abuse of the children, allegedly claiming her daughter’s vaginal bruising was a result of her diapers not being changed enough, per police.

She allegedly told police that she would spend every night at her boyfriend’s, leaving her two children — Skylar and her 4-year-old son – home alone for hours, according to the affidavit. She would bring them food once a day, she allegedly said.

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When investigators arrived at the scene, they found poor conditions in the residence, including feces on walls and an odor of rotting food, police claimed in court documents, according to the outlets.

Attorney and plea information for Chantell was not immediately available. Indianapolis police and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for further information.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com