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 Philip 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.
An autopsy was performed on the child after her remains were located in a remote wooded area of Hancock County, Mississippi. Paul who remained tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation 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 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.
