Stepfather led police to missing 2-year-old's body; autopsy now expected Monday

[Crackers Phinn]

Mother, boyfriend plead not guilty in 2-year-old Nevaeh Allen's murder​

February 07, 2022
BATON ROUGE - A couple accused of beating a toddler to death and then faking the girl's disappearance was formally charged with her murder Jan. 27 and plead not guilty Feb. 7.

Court records show a grand jury indicted Phillip Gardner and Lanaya Cardwell, each on a count of second-degree murder, in the death of 2-year-old Nevaeh Allen. Gardner also faces a charge for obstruction of justice.

The pair was arrested in September after a sprawling search for the missing girl ended with her body being found inside a suitcase in a wooded area of Mississippi. Cardwell initially claimed Nevaeh vanished from her Baton Rouge apartment, but police later uncovered that Gardner dumped the 2-year-old's body after he found her unresponsive at their home.

Cardwell and Gardner were later accused of physically abusing the 2-year-old girl, leaving her with grave injuries that ultimately killed her.

Both are currently jailed in East Baton Rouge on $375,000 bonds.
Mother, boyfriend plead not guilty in 2-year-old Nevaeh Allen's murder (wbrz.com)

As of 8/25/22 the mothers hearing is delayed
Hearing for mom of Nevaeh Allen delayed again (wafb.com)

 

[yamilee21]

Statistically, the most dangerous person in any child’s life continues to be a mother’s male partner who is not their biological father. Really, the surprising story is the one where a male partner/stepfather raises the child as if they were his own. But, from an biological-evolutionary perspective, it would be fascinating to understand what allows so many mothers to go along with harming/not protecting their children.