Sonya Clayton, who is the grandmother of Dallen Clayton, said she was sickened and has not been able to eat or sleep since she found out her former daughter-in-law, Shanynthia Gardner, allegedly killed four of her children by cutting their throats Friday, USA Today reports.
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Gardner, of Memphis, was charged with four counts of first degree murder, aggravated child neglect and aggravated child abuse.
Commercial Appeal reports that deputies were called to the home of Shanynthia Gardner, 29, at 12:28 p.m. Friday in southeast Shelby County, Tenn.
Gardner has also been charged with child abuse and neglect over the incident.
“I was shaking”, Jones said, while bouncing 2-month-old Carrina in her arms.
According to an affidavit, Dallen ran up to a man screaming that his mother stabbed his siblings, according to KAKE.
“This is a awful act, an egregious act that has shocked, I believe, the community, and has shocked our staff to the core”, Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham said on 2 July.
Gardner’s mother said at the time her daughter had been stressed, but this behavior was unlike her.
Deputies were called to an apartment complex in unincorporated Shelby County on Friday afternoon.
Neighbour Sean Ahearn said he didn’t know the family by name, but that he often saw the children playing in the front yard.
According to the arrest affidavit, police found Garner on the scene with “superficial cuts to her neck and wrists”.
In the living room, rescuers discovered Yahzi Gardner, 6 months old, and his sister, 3 years old, Sya Gardner, who laid dead on the floor. The nature was “a wounding call where four juveniles were found deceased upon Deputies’ arrival”.
Four-year-old Tallen Gardner and 2-year-old Sahvi Gardner were found in a bedroom. I forgive her. I know this was not her.
The behavior started on March 16 when Gardner reportedly left work suddenly, picked up her kids and left.
Deputies said they recovered a bloody butcher knife from the home. She is now married to Martin Gardner to whom she allegedly admitted she did the killings.
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The state Department of Children’s Service has offered its assistance to local law enforcement, but has no record of interaction with the slain children, said spokesman Rob Johnson. Oldham said investigators were trying to determine if Gardner has mental health problems. They prayed for the four children, the surviving boy, and Shanynthia Gardner.
