Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Crime Alert 02.06.25 | Mom Finds Tot Dead After Leaving Children Home Alone Nearly 24/7

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

A mom who leaves her children alone nearly 24/7 to live with her boyfriend finds two-year-old girl dead. Sisters brawl at father's funeral, just feet from his casket! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Crime Alert, I'm Nancy Grace, breaking crime news now. Chantel Gardner has two children, ages two and four, at home, but she lives with her boyfriend. Gardner leaves the toddlers unattended practically 24-7, only coming home a few hours once a day to feed them. When Gardner returns home for a feeding, her four-year-old son comes to greet her, but the tot girl Skylar does not. Gardner finds the little girl under a dresser, cold and stiff. She runs outside, calls 911. First responders say Skylar died from a large puncture wound on her neck, the rest of her body covered in bruises.

Nancy, first responders have to wade through trash, rotting food, soiled items, and even things like steak knives to get to Skyler. Gardner admits the children are neglected and tells police she only bathes them about every two weeks, often finding them covered in feces when she returns home to feed them. Despite the neglected mission, Gardner denies physically abusing the toddlers and has no explanation for Schuyler's injuries. Chantel Gardner, 33, now charged with child neglect causing death. Florida cops called when a fight breaks out at a funeral. Officers Fye Marine and Kathleen Deegan, 60 and 66, locked in a brawl just feet from their

father's casket. After breaking up the fight, family explains the younger Deegan was upset that her daughter was left out of Kathleen's eulogy. The older sister, Maureen, reportedly chest-bumped Kathleen, who responded by yanking her sister's hair. Maureen then began throwing punches at Kathleen until both women fall to the floor full-on wrestling. The Deegan sisters both booked into Clearwater County Jail on battery in order to have no contact. Well, rest in peace, dad. More crime and justice news after this. Now, with the latest crime and justice breaking news, Crime Online's John Limley. South Carolina has carried out its third execution in four months, marking the first in the U.S. this year.

As Crime Online's Sydney Sumner tells us, a 44-year-old man was put to death, maintaining his innocence until the end. Marion Bowman Jr. was executed by lethal injection at Broad River Correctional Institution. Convicted in 2002 for the 2001 murder of 21-year-old Candy Martin, Bowman has always denied responsibility. His final words? I did not kill Candy Martin. Prosecutors built their case largely on witness testimony from friends and relatives who took plea deals. Bowman had refused a plea bargain, opting instead for trial. His was the first execution in the U.S. this year, part of South Carolina's push to clear a backlog of death row cases after a 13-year pause due to drug shortages. A new state law now shields the identities of lethal injection drug suppliers, allowing executions to resume. Bowman declined to request clemency from Governor Henry McMaster. His attorney, Lindsey Vonn, said he refused to spend decades fighting a system he believed had failed him. In his final statement, Bowman

expressed hope that Martin's family could find peace. Five members and associates of New York's Lucchese crime family have pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling. Federal prosecutors say the group ran a multi-million dollar online sports betting operation called Rhino Sports that took in as many as 1,300 wagers a week, primarily in the Bronx and Westchester County. Among those pleading guilty, Anthony Villani, a 60-year-old Lucchese soldier from Elmsford, New York. He admitted to owning and operating the betting ring since the early 2000s, employing mob-connected bookmakers to collect winnings. As part of his plea deal,

he'll forfeit $4 million. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Federal prosecutors say illegal gambling businesses like this rely on violence to enforce debts and fend off rivals. U.S. Attorney John Durham called the case a reminder that, quote, the defendant's luck ran out. Four others tied to the operation have also pleaded guilty, while a sixth remains at large. Thanks, John. Seven-year-old Patrick Alford and his younger sister placed in foster care while mom finds a good home for the family in New York City. Three weeks later, seven-year-old Patrick, not adjusting well, says he wants to run away and find mommy. Patrick's foster mom gets distracted by a phone call while Patrick helps

her take out trash. Moments later, Patrick disappears. Police use canines to track the boy, but they lose his scent after just a few blocks. Police knock on 9,000 doors, interview 14,000 people, search over 200 buildings. There's no sign of Patrick. If you have info on Patrick Alford, please contact New York Crime Stoppers 800-577-TIPS. That's 800-577-8477. For the latest crime and justice news, go to CrimeOnline.com. And please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and solve unsolved homicides. With this crime alert, I'm Nancy Grace. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.