Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. This story contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some readers discretion advised
In the heart of Indianapolis, a shocking discovery left an entire community in disbelief. A mother’s betrayal, a home in horrifying conditions, and a tragedy that never should have happened.
What really happened to 2-year-old Skylar Gardner? And who is truly responsible?
january 25 2025 indianapols indiana.
an indianapolis mother is in jail accused of child neglect after a 2 year old girls was found dead and living in filth over the weekend.
court records show the mother admitted to leaving her two children under the age of 5 home alone most of the time, only checking on them only once a day to feed them.
now ,she’s under arrest after one of those children was found dead.
according to court records victim´s mother admitted she knew she was neglecting her young kids by letting them live alone .
the suspect did her best to hide the neglect, she insisted she did not physically harm her kids on purpose .
this disgusting bedroom with the feces covered crib and matress is where a 2 year old girl died over the weekend.
police claim the entire apartment with a little girl and her young sibling lived was littered in feces urine garbage and rotten food.
according to police reports, law enforcement lanuched a death investigation in the 6300 block of newberry road around 6:35 p.m. saturday.
on monday , the marion county coroner’s office identified the child who died as 2 year old skylar gardner .
doctors believe skyler gartner died from hypothermia but her body was also covered in bruises and bit mark with a puncture wound on her neck.
police confirmed the child’s mother ,33 year old chantell monae gardner, was arrested in connection to the young girl’s death .
gardner has preliminarily charged with one count of neglect od a dependent under the age of 14 resulting in death- a level 1 felony.
chantell gardner was charged with murder and neglect not because she intended to hurt her children but because prosecutors believe she knowingly placed her daughter in a dangerous situation leaving one question for a jury .
according to court documents ,gardner called 911 after finding her 2 year old daughter unresponsive under a dresser.
police did a sweep of the home and found horrid conditions, including rotting food ,feces smeared on walls and furniture, and trash scattered across the residence.
court documents reveal that while speaking to investigators gardner allegedly admitted to leaving the 2 year old girl and her 3 year old sibling home alone for most of the day ,checking on them ” once a day” to bring them food and a drink.
according to this affidavit ,gardner told police she left her young children hom alone for several hours every day and night while she stated her boyfriend’s house.
that boyfriend brian thomas is also charged with 2 counts of assisting a criminal
over time , conditions inside the apartment got worse and gardner feared the neglect wuld be discovered
the affidavit claims gardner said ” she tried cleaning the walls and maintaining things but it became too overwhelming.
she eventaully strayed away from the home altogether due to the smell inside the house.
while indiana law dosen’t secify an exact age at which a child be left home alone , parents can be charged with neglect if they abandon their children , deprive them of necessary support or leave them in a siutation that endangers their life.
“The law doesn’t specify an age because the law doesn’t want to specify an age,” said Massillamany. “In this situation, you have a 2 and 3 year old. Clearly, they’re not able to stay by themselves.”
Medics examining the deceased child noted several bruises on the girl’s arms, legs, face, back and privates. A large puncture wound was also found in the child’s neck.
Gardner denied physically harming the children, allegedly telling police she neglected the kids by leaving them alone most of the time, including staying at her boyfriend’s house every night, but insisted she did not assault her kids physically or sexually.
“With neglect of a dependent, you don’t have to show she intentionally tried to harm them. She just put them in a situation that risked their lives,” said Massillamany.
If charged and convicted of a Level 1 felony, Gardner faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
this story will shake you to your core…..
the temperature outside hovered just above freezing as patrol cars pulled into the parking lot of timber point apartments.
neighbors peered through their blinds watching officers respond to what initially seemed like a routine call.
a mother reporting her 2 year old daughter missing.
what those officers discovered wasn’t a missing child case at all it was something far worst.
the body of 2 year old skyler gardner lay motionless beneath a fallen dresser , her tiny frame already cold to the touch .
her hands and feet showed signs of frostbite
multiple bruises marked her her small body a puncture wound near her neck told its own horrific story .
but perhaps most distrubing was the state of the apartment itself.
a prison of filth where young skyler and her three year old brother been left for themselves.
garbage piled in corners,human waste smeared on walls and floors empty food containers scattered throughout .
this wasn’t the aftermath of a sudden tragedy ,this was systematic neglect that had been ongoing for months.
yet the women who led officers to the scene of horror 33 year old chantell gardner was known to many in the Indianapolis music community.
by night she performed at local venues, guitar in hand, voice cpativating audiences who knew nothing of what took place behind closed doors.
social media accounts showcased a talented musician with a growing following.
photos captured her smiling on stage seemingly without a care in the world.
but where where was shantel during the long winter nights when her children chivered alone in that freezing apartment.
according to investigators she was varming herself in in the bed of her 39 year old boyfriend brian thomas.
this isn’t just a story about neglect,it’s about choices about a mother who repeatedly chose her romantic relationship over the basic needs of her defenseless children.
it’s about how for months skyler and her brother existed in a parallel universe to their mother’s public life.
one filled with darkness cold and profound abandonment.
how does a mother walk away from her babies ?
how does anyone leave a toddler alone for days knowing there’s no food no heat no supervision.
those questions would haunt investigators as they pieced together the timeline of eventst that led to sklyer’s death.
what began as brief absences in october 2024 a quick trip to the store an hour at thomas ‘s apartment gradually extended into overnight stays.
eventually according to witness statements chantal would disappear for days at a time leaving her 2 year old daughter and three year old son completely alone.
the children had no way to call for help.
they couldnäät reach door handles to escape,they couldn’t feed themselves properly or stay warm.
they were trapped in conditions no human being should endure let alone a toddler.
when officers interviewed chantel after discovering skyler’s body her story changed repeatedly.
first she claimed she’d been home all day and found skyler unresponsive while preparing dinner then she admitted leaving the children alone …just for a couple of hours to visit thomas.
finally after hours of questioning the truth emerged she hadn’t been home for 3 days.
chantel gardner 22 was born in gary indiana to a single mother who struggled with addiction.
court records reveal a childhood marked by instability.
she attended seven different schools before dropping out at 16.
by 20 she had accumulated a record of minor offenses shoplifting possession and disorderly conduct.
at 25 she gave birth to her son followed by skyler two years later.
both children had different fathers neither of whom remained in the picture,those who knew gardner described her as someone who could never quite get ahead.
she moved to indianapolis in 2022,hoping for a fresh start for a while it seemed she might succeed.
she secured an apartment at timber point, found work as a bartender and appeared to be creating stability for her children.
bit beneath the surface gardner batlled demons from her past….
unresolved trauma that would eventually consume not only her lfe but the life of her youngest child.
music became gardner’s escape from her troubled reality.
she performed at small venues across indianapolis under the stage name channy B developing a modest following in the local underground scene.
her raw emotionally charged performances resoneated with audiences who connected with lyrics about struggle and resilience.
she had this haunting quality to her voice recalled marcus wilson owner of the basement of popular music venue where gardner perfomred regularly.
when she sang people listened there was authentic pain there you couldn’t fake that kind of emotion .
gardner’s social media accounts painted the pciture of an aspiring artist on the verge of breakthrough.
she posted videos of performances,studio sessions, and promotional content for upcoming shows.
these carefully curated glimpses into her musical life stood into her musical life stood in stark contrast to her home enviroment.
while she projected the image of a dedicated artist pursuing her passion, her apartment deteriorated into squalor and her children suffered increasingly neglect.
the disparity between her public persona and privat reality would later shock those who thought they knew her.
before brian thomas entered her life ,gardner maintained what neighbors described as a functional relationship with her children.
she wasn’t winning mother of the year awards but she met their basic needs.
daycare workers reported that both children arrived clean adequately dressed and with packed lunches most days.
she seemed to be trying, said leticia johnson who lived in the apartment next door.
“i’d see her taking them to the playground on the playground on the weekends,the little girl skyler was always holding h er hand and smiling.
gardner’s social media occsionally featured photos of her children,birthday celebrations,trips to the park,ordinary moments moments of family life.
these glimpses suggested a mother who who despite her struggles found joy in her children.
what change this dynamic would prove devastating for everyone involved especially for little skyler.
gardner met brian thomas 39 at one of her performances in august 2024,their relationship intensified rapidly consuming her attention and time.
witin weeks thomas became a fixture in her life though notably absent from her apartment.
she started leaving the kids with anyone who would take take them johnson recalled.” she knock on my door at 10 .pm asking if i could watch them just for an hour. she’d come back the next morning”
as fall progressed gardner’s appearances at her children’s daycare became erratic staff noted increasing absences.late pickups and concerning changes in the children’s appearance.
the apartment began to deteriorate as gardner spent more nights at thomas’s residence across town.
by november neighbors reported hearing the children crying through the night , sometimes for hours.
gardner’s performances became less frequent,yet she was rarely home, a troubling paradox that signaled her priorities had shifted dramatically.
what began as brief absences “I’ll be back in an hour stretched into elastic time frames with no definite end.
neighbors recalled seeing gardner leave on friday evenings,keys jangling in hand,promising the children she’d return soon .
soon became saturday afternoon then sunday evening sometimes extending into monday.
the chldren learned to measure time not by clocks but by hunger pangs and dwindling food supplies.
by spring gardner’s disappearances had evolved into a predictable pattern of abandonment.
she would receive a text her face illuminating with anticipation and within a minute she would be gone.
sometimes for hours,sometimes for days.
the apartment door would close behind her with a decisive click leaving the children to wounder when they might see her again,
the apartment’s deterioration mirrored gardner’s increasing neglect, once white walls yellowed with grime and crayon marks that no one bothered to clean.
the kitchen sink overflowed with crusty dishes, attracting small insects that eventually became permanent residents.
food remnants hardened on countertops and tables creating a sticky film that covered every surface.
the refrigerator contained a rotating collection of half empty condiment bottles, expired milk and occasionally a few eggs.
never enough to properly feed two growing children.
garbage bags piled by the door when gardner present to take them out their contents spilling onto the hallway carpet emittng oders that neighbors would later describe as concerning but not quite alarming enough to prompt intervention.
Gardner’s social media trasnformed into a carefully curated showcase of her relationship photos of rmantic dinners and weekend getaways.
conspicuously absent of any mention of her children.
friends later reported that gardner spoke of thomas with reverence describing him as the love I’ve been waiting for and someone who finally puts me first.
when questioned about her children during these outings, gardner would offer vague assurances “they’re fine or ” they’re old enough to manage” she began referring to skyler as ” my little adult”.
a phrase that would later haunt investigators as they piece together the extent of responsibilities placed on the child’s small shoulders.
child psychologist consulted during the investigation explained how neglect typically follows a gradual trajectory.
the parent begins with small absences testing boundaries noted dr simmons in her case assessment.
when no immediate consequences occur these absences extend creating a pattern of abandonment that becomes normalized
for gardner each successful departure reinforced the belief that her children could survive without her
each time she returned to find them alive,hungry and disheveled but alive -it validated her choices.
the children’s ability to endure became perversely permission to leave them again .
school officials noted skylar’s increasing absences and declining academic performance but attributed these changes to typical family stress.
neighbors heard occasional crying but hesitated to interfare in what they considered privat family matters.
the building manager noticed rent payments becoming increasingly late but never inspected the deteriorating conditions inside.
each potential intervention point became instead another missed opportunity another link in the chain of collective inaction that would eventually lead to tragedy.
january 25th 2025 began as an unremarkable saturday ,cold and overcast with snow flurries dusting the city .
at 2:17 p.m. the emergency dispatch center received a call from chantell gardner,her voice pitched high with what dispatchers would later describe as performative panic.
“my daughter is missing” gardner reported
her words tumbling over each other ” can’t find skylar anywhere I’ve looked everywhere”
when asked when she had last seen her dauthter ,gardner hesitated before answering “this morning maybe around 9?”
the dispatcher noted the uncertainty in her voice.
what gardner failed to mention was that she had actaully been away from the apartment for nearly 3 days.
returning only when thomas had ended their latest encounter .
she has spent those days in a motel across town ,her phone deliberately switched off.
a detail phone records would later confirm.
officers were dispatched to the adress arriving at 2:43 p.m.
gardner met them outside the apartment building still wearing her coat as if reluctant to invite them inside.
she might have gone to a friend’s house,gardner suyggested.unable to provide names of any friends skylar might have visited.
but she knows she’s supposed to leave a note.
when officers finally entered apartment 4B they were immediately struck by two things….
the biting cold and the overwhelming stench.
officer ramirez would later testify that the temerature inside felt as cold as outdoors,noting that his breath formed visible clouds as he spoke.
the heating had been shut off for non-payment weeks earlier,leaving the apartment exposed to january.
the temperatures that haad dipped below freezing for several consecutive nights.
the smell, a noxious combination of rotting food,human waste and something deeper and more concerning.
caused officers to momentarily step back into the hallway.
the officer’s body cameras captured the scene in unforgiving detail piles of hargabe reaching waste height bin corners. dishes crusted with mold, dark stains spreading across the carpet. windows sealed with plastic sheets that did little to keep out the cold.
where’s your sister officer ramirez asked chantell gardners son
“skylar sleeping ” he answered.pointing to the closed door at the end of the hallway.
the children’s bedroom revealed conditions even more appalling than the main living area.
human faces were smeared across one wall where the younggest child had apparently given up trying to reach the bathroom.
dirty clothes formed mountains in each corner, a single mattress lay on the floor,its covering long since soiled beyond recognition and there partially obscured by a fallen dresser lay skylar…
officers body cameras captured the moment of the discovery ,their sharp intake of breath followed by the urgent radio call.
we need medial now! child down unresponsive.”
but even as paramedics were dispatched both officers recognized what they were seeing skylar gardner 2 years old had been dead for hours- possible days.
a young victim who family says has a such a bright smile in personality and unfortunately that flame was put out too soon .
her small body was cold to the touch ,her lips and fingertips tinged blue ,rigor mortis had already set in.
the medical examiner would later determine her body temperature at 52 degrees fahrenheit far below what any living person could sustain.
frostbite had marked her extremities,turning her fingers and toes a modled purple black.
the fallen dresser told part of the story .
investigators determined that skylar had likely been attempting to reach something on the top of the six-drawer chest,perhaps food or warm clothing.
the dresser,unstable on the uneven floor and missing its safety anchors had toplled forward pinning her underneath its weight.
but the dresser alone didn’t explain everything
the autopsy would reveal multiple injuries in various stages of healing,bruises on her arms and torso,a partially healed fracture in her left wrist.
signs of chronic malnutrition with a body weight 30 % below normal for her age ,her stomack was empty ,suggesting she hadn’t eaten for at least 24 hours before death.
most damning was the evidence that skylar had been alive for some time after the dresser fell, scratch mark on the floor indicated she had tried to pull herself free.
the position of her body suggested she had managed to partially extract herself before succumbing to a combination of injuries hypothermia and exhaustion .the medical examiner estimated that skylar had been trapped for 8 to 12 hours before death.
the cause of death, the medical examiner would later testify was multiple system failure due to hypothermia compounded by blunt force trauma and chronic malnutrition.
in layman’s terms – she forze to death.
weakened by injury and hunger with no one coming to her Aid.
as officers led gardner away in handcuffs , neighbors gathered in the hallway,their expressions a mixture of shock and guilt.
from the moment police arrived at the timber point apartments , chantell gardner’s statements raised red flags.
initially she claimed that skylar had gone missing while she was preparing dinner, she described searching the apartment frantically before calling 911.
however inconsistencies in her story quickly emerged during her frst interview at the station
gardner admitted she had left the children alone earlier that day to visit brian thomas .she claimed she had only been gone for a few hours and returnd to find skylar unresponsive.
when pressed further her timline began to shift in a later interview she confessed to leaving the children alone overnight stating she had been “overwhelmed” and ” needed a break”.
investigators noted that her demanor alternated between defensive and detached with little visible emotion when discussing her daughter’s death.
as the interviews continued gardner’s story unraveled further.
she eventually admitted she had been leaving her children alone regularly since october 2024.
sometimes for days at a time ,her explanations ranged from blaming financial stress to claiming she believed her children were old enough to manage on their own.
these shifting narratives only deepened investigators suspicions and painted a grim picture of prolonged neglect.
investigators worked tirelessly to piece together the timeline of events leading up to skylar’s death.
witness statements from neighbors,daycare, staff and acquaintances painted a clear picture of escalating neglect.
records showed that gardner had stopped bringing her children to daycare in late october 2024 around the same time she began spending more time with brian thomas.
phone records and interviews revealed that gardner often left her children alone for extended periods
sometimes staying at thoma’s residence for multiple nights.
surveillance footage from the apartment complex confirmed that gardner had not returned home for at least 24 hours before skylar’s body was discovered.
through thomas ,investigators learned that gardner had confided in him about her struggles with parenting,however ,thomas denied ever visiting the apartment or witnessing the conditions firsthand.
his clams wer met with skepticism as text messages between the two reveal that he was aware of gardner’s absences and the children being left alone.
this evidence solidified the timeline of neglect showing a pattern of abandonment that spanned months.
the conditions inside the apartment provided investigators with a grim backdrop to skylar’s death.
crime scene photos, documented piles of garbage, rotting food and human waste scattered across the floors.
the apartment’s heating system was broken,leaving the interior dangerously cold during the harsh january weather.
investigators noted that the children’s clothing and bedding were insufficient to protect them from the freezing temperatures.
the fallen dresser under which skylar’s body wasfound became a focal point of the investigation.
forensic analysis revealed that the dresser had been unstable for months with missing screws and a broken base.
skylar’s injuries including bruises,bit marks,frostbite and a puncter wound near her neck suggested prolonged suffering.
the autopsy confirmed that skylar had died from a combination of blunt force trauma and hypothermia.
with the dressers collapls being the final fatal event.
investigators also found minimal food in the apartment with most of it spoiled or inaccessible to the children .
the refrigerator contained only a carton of expired milk and a few moldy leftovers.
these findings corroborated witness accounts of neglect and painted a harrowing picture of the children’s living conditions in the weeks leading up to the tragedy.
experts in child welfare were brought in to provide insight into the devastating effects of such living conditions on young children.
Dr emily carter a pediatrician specializing in child neglect cases explained that prolong exposure to extreme cold malnutrition and unsanitary environments can have catastrophic consequences on a child’s physical and emotional development.
children as young as skylar are incredibly vulnerable Dr carter stated.living in an environment without adequate food warmth or hygiene weakens their immune systems making them more susceptible to illness and infection .
the frostbite on skylar’s hands and feet indicates prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures which would have caused immense pain and suffering.
Dr carter also highlighted the psychological toll of neglect.
at 2 years old , children rely entirely on their caregivers for safety and comfort,being left alone for extended periods would have caused severe emotional distress fear and confusion.
the bite marks on skylar’s body may even suggest self- soothing behaviors or attempts by her older brother to comfort her in the absence of adult care.
this exper testimony underscored the severity of the neglect and the unimaginable suffering skylar endured in her final days.
following the discovery of skylar’s body and the evidence collected both chantell gardner and brian thomas were arrested .
gardner faced multiple charges,including murder,neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and child endangerment.
prosecutors argued that her repeated absences and failure to provide basic necessities directly led to skylar’s death.
brian thomas while not present at the apartment was charged with assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice.
investigators found text messages in which thomas encouraged gardner to lie to the police about her whereabouts and downplay the conditions of the apartment.
prosecutors alleged that thomas ‘s actions enabled gardner’s neglect by providing her with an escape from her responsibilitites.
the legal proceedings began shortly after their arrest.
during gardner’s initial court appearance,prosecutors emphasized the egregious nature of her neglect.
describing it as a pattern of abandonment that culminated in skylar’s death.
gardner’s defense attorney argued that she was overwhelmed by financial and emotional stress,attempting to shift some of the blame onto systemic failures in child welfare services.
however ,the prosecution countered that gardner had ample opportunities to seek help but instead chose to prioritize her relationship with thomas.
brian thomas’s defense team maintained that he had no direct involvement in the children’s care and was unaware of the full extent of the neglect.
however prosecutors presented text messages and phone records as evidence of his complicity.
arguing that his actions or lack thereof contributed to the tragedy.
both gardner and thomas were denied bail and their cases were set for trial.
the prosecutor’s office vowed to seek the maximum penalties stating: this case represents one of the most heartbreaking examples of neglect we’ve seen, we are committed to ensuring justice for skylar and her surviving sibling.
the legal process would stretch on for months with the community closely following every development .
for many the case became a rallying cry for greater accountability in child welfare and a stark reminder of the devastatng consequences of neglect.
the news of skylar gardner’s death sent shock waves through the indianapolis community.
residents of the timber point apartments, many of whom had seen the children playing outside or heard their cries through the thin walls were devastated.
for some,the tragedy brought feelings of guilt and regret for not intervening sooner.
the broader indianapolis community was equally horrified.
social media platforms were flooded with posts expressing outrage and sorrow,many questioned how such severe neglect could go unnoticed for so long while others called for stricter oversight of child welfare cases.
the story quickly gained traction in local news with headlines describing the appaling conditions of the apartment.
and the heartbreaking details of skylar’s final moment.
local residents organized vigils and online discussions determined to ensure that skyler’s death would not be forgotten.
the tragedy became a rallying point for conversations about child neglect and the responsibility of communities to protect vulnerable children.
community leaders and child welfare advocates spoke out urging action to prevent similar tragedies.
local officials including the mayor of indianapolis pledged to review existing child welfare policies.
we cannot allow another child to fall through the cracks
the mayor stated during a press conference.
skylar’s story is heartbreaking but it must serve as a wakeup call for all of us.
in the weeks following skylar’s death the community came together to honor her memory, a candlelight vigil was held outside the timberpoint apartments where dozens of residents gathered to mourn the loss of a life cut tragically short.
attendees left flowers , stuffed animals and handwritten notes at a makeshift memorial near the apartment building’s entrance.
local organizations also launched initiatives aimed at raising awareness about child neglect.
a nonprofit group organized a fundraiser to support skylar’s surviving sibling who had been placed in foster care.
the funds were used to provide clothing ,toys, and therapy for the young boy as well as to support other children in similar situations
schools in the area began hosting workshops for parents and teachers on recognizing signs of neglect and abuse.
these effort were part of a borader push to ensure that skylar’s death would not be in vain.
for many in the community the tragedy sparked a mix of grief and anger,parents questioned how a mother could abandon her children in such conditions.
while others pointed to systemic failures that allowed the neglect to continue unchecked.
online forums and local news comment sections were filled with debates about accountability with some blaming gardner entirely and others criticizing the lack of intervention from child welfare services.
therapists and grief counselors in the area reported an increase in families seeking support , particularly those who had been directly affected by the case.
recoginizing the signs of neglect early can save lives and prevent long- term harm to vulnerable children.
skylar gardner’s tragic death is not just a story of individual neglect,it is a reflection of systemic failures that allowed her suffering to go unnoticed for months.
despite clear warning signs,no intervention came in time to save her,neighbors heard cries,daycare staff noticed absences and even acquaintances saw the deteriorating conditions yet no one acted decisiverly.
this tragedy highlights the gaps in child welfare systems where overburdened caseworkers and a lack of resources often leave vulnerable children at risk.
the broader implications are clear, communities and institutions must work together to create stronger safety nets for children.
this includes better training for educators,healthcare workers and law enforcement to recognize and report neglect as well as increased funding for child protective services to ensure timely investigations.
sklyer’s story is a painful reminder that the responsibility to protect children extencs beyond their immediate caregivers.
it is a collective duty.
the skyla’rs story is a call to actonfor all of us,it urges us to remain vigilant to speal up when we see signs of neglect and to advocate for systemic changes that prioritize the safety of children.
her life, though tragically short ,can serve as a catalyst for change if we choose to act ….