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Heartbreaking: What This Memphis Mom Did to Her Four Babies Is Unthinkable

Why did her crime spark a race debate on social media.

Shanynthia Gardner, a Memphis mother was charged with four counts of first degree murder on Saturday after she allegedly stabbed four of her children to death the day before.
According to the AP, the 29-year-old mother killed her four children by slashing their throats. The victims,Tallen, 4, Sya, 3, Sahvi, 2, and Yahzi, 6-months, were all found dead in the family's apartment. Gardner's 5th child, 7-year-old Dallen was able to escape.

 

Gardner reportedly called her husband, Martin Gardner, and admitted to killing four of their five children. When police arrived at the scene of the crime they found the mother with cuts to her neck and wrists and “severe lacerations” on the four children’s throats. They also found a large butcher knife with what appeared to be blood on it.
Many have taken to the comments section on Instagram likening Gardner's case to Andrea Yates, a white woman, who killed her five children in 2001. One commenter said, "Lets see if they give her the same treatment as Andrea Yates..."
It is yet to be seen how public opinion forms regarding this tragic incident as a community looks to rebuild from this horrible crime. “This is a terrible 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 during a press conference on Saturday.
It is not yet known whether or not Gardner suffers from diagnosed mental health problems. She is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, July 5th.

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