In a surprise turn of events the mother of two-year-old Neveah Allen, who was reported missing Friday and later found in Mississippi, has been charged with second-degree murder. 24-year- old Lanaya Cardwell of Baton Rouge was arrested Wednesday days after her boyfriend, 30-year-old Phillip Gardner was arrested for unlawful disposal of a body.
“We have developed probable cause, we have presented those findings to a judge who signed that warrant, and she was taken into custody,” said Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul.
According to the arrest report, Cardwell was upset with Allen when the child reached for her contact lens case while she was preparing to leave for work. Cardwell allegedly punched the child with a closed fist in the stomach which caused Allen to fall and hit her head. Gardner told police he then heard arguing and later noticed Allen crying with a gash to her forehead.
The police report then notes that Gardner drove Cardwell to work and when they returned Allen refused to eat, complained of stomach pain, and went to sleep on the couch. Later that morning Gardner says he found Allen unresponsive and he attempted CPR. Police say Gardner did not call 911 for help. Gardner then placed Allen’s body in a suitcase, left his phone at home so he could not be tracked, and then drove to Mississippi to dispose of her body.
An autopsy was performed on the child after her remains were located in a remote wooded area of Hancock County, Mississippi. Paul remained tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation and only stated the coroner’s ruling in the case.
“The coroner’s office is still conducting further tests to determine, it was ruled a homicide but there is still a further investigation going on at the coroner’s office,” said Paul.
When the child was reported missing Cardwell told reporters that she last saw her child Friday morning before she left to go to work. It was originally reported that Gardner was watching the child and when he awoke from a nap, she was discovered missing. Paul was asked when Cardwell became suspect in the investigation.
“I don’t know exactly at what point, but I do know that our investigators were working together with our partners from the beginning to find out the truth,” said Paul.
Both Cardwell and Gardner are charged with second-degree murder. Gardner is also charged with unlawful disposal of human remains and obstruction of justice.
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