The Misery Machine - The Case of Skylar Gardner

Starting point is 00:00:00 As a mother, you have a duty to protect your children. No matter if you're going through a divorce, if your child is struggling developmentally, or in the case of today's mother, would rather focus on your rap career. Your children need to come first. At first glance, it would appear this wretched excuse of a mom treated her children like an afterthought. But in reality, it was far more sinister than that. Skyler Rose Gardner was born in early September of 2022. She had a brother who was only one year older than her,

Starting point is 00:00:33 and three half-siblings, the eldest of which was already an adult when she was born. Her mother, Chantelle, announced Skyler's birth to the world on an Instagram post on September 8th, 2022. It was accompanied with a song Free Mind by Thames. She captioned it, God gave me something I never knew I needed. She brings peace to my crazy world.

Starting point is 00:00:56 It was accompanied with a hashtag, premature awareness, indicating Schuyler was born early. Chantel admitted she felt closer to her older son than to Skyler. She described Schuyler as an independent baby and toddler. Maybe it was a trait ingrained early in Skyler's short life. Shantel didn't spend much time with Skyler in the pick you since her son was only a year old when his sister was born and needed a caretaker. Shantelle Monet Bouillet was born on November 23rd, 1991, which makes her 33 years old as of the date of this recording.

Starting point is 00:01:30 She worked as an insurance collector for the company Rehab Medical. Her position was remote, but on days she needed to work in person, she had family or friends watch her children. Chantelle had aspirations of being a rap artist, going under the name Shantel Monet, Shannie B, and Shannie B. Music. She promoted herself on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and released her songs on Spotify. Spotify and Apple Music. She even had some live performances at small venues and music festivals. Prior to 2025, Shantel had 12 charges in the state of Indiana. All of them were traffic violations. The first was in November of 2010 when she was just 11 days shy of being 19 years old. These charges range from speeding, driving with a suspended license, failing to use her signal, violating no

Starting point is 00:02:16 turn on red, and having an occupant failing to wear a seatbelt. These totaled the five misdemeanors, five infractions and two local ordinance violations. Her most recent traffic charges were made in 2019, but the case was dismissed in 2020. She never served jail time. Her Indiana criminal records show between 2010 and 2019 that she'd lived in at least four different residences or at least had them as her mailing address. She also may have lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a short time, as indicated from her Facebook profile and a public background check service. Shantelle got married in July of 2017 and took her husband's last name, Gardner, as her own. Her husband had three older children from a previous relationship, one of which was named godfather

Starting point is 00:03:03 to his oldest child with Shantel. This would be the little boy that was born in September of 2021. The following year, they had Skyler. However, their relationship didn't work out and soon after she was born, Skyler's parents filed for divorce. Shantel met Brian. Thomas from networking in the music scene and the two began dating. He also wanted to be a recording artists and branded himself under the names Beastie or Beastie Armstrong. A police affidavit with Chantelle's statement implies that they were an item while the divorce process was ongoing. Like Chantelle, Brian had numerous traffic violations on his criminal record, the earliest from 2005 when he would have been just 19 years old. But he also had charges for possession of weed,

Starting point is 00:03:49 animal cruelty and domestic battery. He was found guilty for the possession charges, but animal cruelty and domestic battery were dismissed. You heard that correctly. The state of Indiana cares more about smoking a plant than it does for the safety of humans and animals. This is why I hate people. Now, unlike Chantel, he did serve jail time for some of his charges.

Starting point is 00:04:13 Chantel lived in the timber point apartments on Newberry Road. By the time this case made headlines, the apartment was disgusting. There's simply no nice way to put this. Overturned furniture, trash, dirty laundry, toys, and human waste made the apartment look like an episode of A&E's hoarders. One can only imagine a strong eye-watering and nauseating odor, though it wasn't always like this. Chantel said her living space used to be kept up. Not pristine, she had two young children after all, but it was enough that she wasn't embarrassed to have guests over.

Starting point is 00:04:50 Her apartment was the primary meetup spot for her and Brian. It was convenient since she could still be there if her kids needed her. When her divorce was finalized on August 2nd, Shantel was living in Indianapolis while the children's father lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her now ex-husband was disabled, so he gave Shantel full custody of the kids. He did not think he could provide or care for the children the way they needed and deserved. He had tried multiple times to visit Skyler and her brother, or at least speak to them over the phone, until made excuses or ignored him entirely.

Starting point is 00:05:25 Though Chantel's ex-husband couldn't travel to see his children as often as he wanted to, his older children could. The final time they saw Skyler, they told their father that she and her brother smelled like urine. A close friend said Chantel developed postpartum depression after Skyler's birth, which only worsened with the stress of her divorce. Chantelle alleged that in July of 2024, she contacted her ex-husband. She was so overwhelmed that she asked him to care for the children.

Starting point is 00:05:55 She even offered to send him money, but he did not take her up on the offer. One day, she stopped picking up after herself and her children. Between July and August of 2024, the mess became too much for Chantel to handle, so she stopped trying altogether. This extended to her. children's daily needs. As the days went on, she gave them fewer baths, diaper changes, and meals.

Starting point is 00:06:20 Chantelle said she began leaving her children unattended as early as October of 2024. She said the first times were when she met with Brian Thomas in the apartment parking lot. She could spend a lone time with him and regularly check on the children. Brian asked where Skyler and her brother were during these meetings and it's unclear if he knew they were unsupervised at. at this time or if he thought there was responsible trust adult in the apartment with them. Chantelle's son, who is autistic, had a habit of smearing his own excrement on the walls and she stopped caring enough to clean up after him. Gradually, it accumulated until the smell filled the apartment.

Starting point is 00:07:02 Chantelle was under the impression that what her son was doing was normal, that he was cleaning up after himself in his dirty diapers the only way he knew how to. Of course, a visit to the doctor or even a minute on Google would tell her that this is not normal. Skatolia, the medical term for this behavior, is rooted in sensory, medical, behavioral, or psychological issues. At best, he knew it would get his mother's attention as he couldn't speak. And at worst, he was in pain or extreme discomfort. Either way, Chantel did not answer her son's clear call for help. Chantel soon made quick trips to the grocery store or to pick up.

Starting point is 00:07:41 takeout while leaving her children home alone. In her mind, she would be back at home soon enough. She claimed her children could be difficult and she would rather avoid public tantrums if she could. Chintel wasn't in denial that her apartment was disgusting. She knew and one day she decided she just couldn't take it anymore. The obvious solutions would be to either clean it out by herself or with help or to relocate altogether. She chose the second option. But she didn't think that she should bring her children with her. She could be gone for hours, even a day or two, before returning to check up on them. She turned on YouTube to keep them entertained. Children particularly loved the channel Ms. Rachel. She basically treated them more like houseplants

Starting point is 00:08:28 instead of the vulnerable children that they were. Chintel visited the apartment inconsistently to drop off food for her children and would clean them once a week or less. Skyler was said to have human waste caked into her hair and Shantel would clean her daughter off in the apartment's shower. Skyler also constantly had severe diaper rash and possibly even an infection because she wasn't changed often as she should have been. Soon, Shantel realized she couldn't leave her children with family and friends or take them to the doctor. Someone would see their mistreatment and she would be ousted as a bad mother. She didn't even get her furnace repaired when it broke down since the apartment maintenance team would see what had become of the living space. Instead, borrowed a space heater from a co-worker

Starting point is 00:09:14 and she figured that would solve that problem. She planned her visits home when she was expecting phone calls from family. She knew they would ask to speak with her children. She was ready to honor their requests but would never plan in-person visits. By all accounts, Chantelle was well aware enough to know that she would get in trouble, but it was not enough for her to fix her mistakes before it was too late. It seems she was more worried about herself getting caught than the welfare of her own children. While Skyler and her brother were hungry, cold, and stewing in dirty diapers, Chantel began to routinely spend the night at Bryan's apartment. Brian's brother, who lived with him, estimates that Chantel visited three to five days every week. He knew Chantel had children,

Starting point is 00:10:01 but he only saw them a total of three times. The final time was when they visited the apartment in December celebrating Brian's 39th birthday. He said the children seemed fine. He did note that their feet had a red discoloration. Now on January 25, 2025, Shantel's friend, known only as L.A., invited the family to join hers for a day of fun at Chucky Cheese.

Starting point is 00:10:28 L.A. was one of Shantel's go-to sitters before she left the kids completely unattended, but she hadn't seen the children in person since Halloween. Chantelle didn't give much of an answer to L.A.'s invitation. In the evening, Shantel arrived at the apartment with food. Only this time, she would be faced with the consequences of her neglect. Shantel entered her apartment at 6.30 p.m., intending to give her children their dinner, or so she said.

Starting point is 00:10:58 Her son came when she called, but Skyler did not respond. Chantel searched the apartment for her daughter, only to make a grim discovery. Chantel found Skyler underneath a dresser. She was in a state of rigor mortis, the stiffening of muscles after death, which can start two hours after a person passes away and last up to two days. It's covered in bruises, frostbite, bite marks. One of these bite marks is theorized to be from a wrong, rat gnawing at the two-year-old's body. But Chantel didn't call emergency services right away.

Starting point is 00:11:35 First, she changed Schuyler out of her dirty shirt and called Brian. She later told police she didn't want to call him. Not from the shame of being a neglectful mother, but the shame of her disgusting apartment. Brian answered her call. He came to the apartment, but waited in the apartment common area. Chantel finally called 911. Police and firefighters arrived within minutes. The moment Detective Caitlin Harris entered the apartment, she was hit with a strong, repulsive stench. She couldn't even see the floor as they navigated the residence.

Starting point is 00:12:12 An affidavit described the environment in detail. And I quote, Upon entry into the apartment, Detective Caitlin Harris was hit with an overwhelming smell of feces. The apartment floors were covered in human feces, garbage, chicken bones, fast food bags, opened barbecue sauce containers, clothing, toys, other debris, knocked over furniture, and household items. The floors were littered with the above items and more to the point, Detective Harris and crime lab technician Blakely Watson

Starting point is 00:12:44 had no choice but to step on the items as they were walking through. Multiple areas of the walls were covered in feces, what appeared to be barbecue sauce and other unknown substances including a baby crib and mattress that had feces layered on them. Inside of the apartment was also cold, reported to be between 46 to 51 degrees Fahrenheit. The accumulation of spoiled food, trash, sharp objects, and human waste was so bad that investigators would later determine the apartment to be a biohazard. While the scene seemed to suggest that Skyler was crushed underneath a dresser, investigators were doubtful that truly happened to her.

Starting point is 00:13:28 Now, Skyler was small, but the dresser was remarkably light. They did not think the dresser alone killed Skyler. Their suspicions only grew after Skylar's brother was examined at Riley Children's Hospital. Medical professionals said he had many overall signs that he was severely neglected. It's reported that Skyler's brother was possessive of the hospital food that he was served. He devoured it desperately and had a strong emotional reaction when someone tried to take away his plate. He ate so fast that nurses stepped in to get him to slow down. His stomach was distended from being so constipated and his feet were swollen.

Starting point is 00:14:10 He also had scars from hyperpigmentation. When Skyler's father was told that his two-year-old daughter was no longer in this world, he crossed state lines that day to help the detectives. He told them he hadn't seen his children in person since Thanksgiving of 2024. He tried to speak with them on the phone through video calls, but Chantel only let them speak once. The last time Skyler's father spoke with her, she was cuddled up on her mother's chest drifting to sleep.

Starting point is 00:14:42 Skyler was one of four Indianapolis children who died in January of 2025. One of these children, a three-year-old named Asher Robinson, passed away on January 25th, the same day that Skyler did. He was pronounced dead at Riley Children's Hospital. The same hospital Skyler's brother was taken to for evaluation. The similarities are striking. A probable cause affidavit was signed by Detective Caitlin Harris on January 30th. It details the night police were called to Chantel's apartment

Starting point is 00:15:15 in the following few days of investigation. With this, we can build a timeline of events after Skylar. Shantel was brought in for questioning the same night Skyler died. She gave some necessary background information including what she did for work. She worked remotely, but when she needed to go to work in person, Brian or L.A. cared for Skylar and her brother. She active Harris noted in the affidavit that Shantel's timeline changed throughout the questioning. Chantel eventually settled on a series of events which was recounted in the affidavit.

Starting point is 00:15:48 And I quote, Chantel said that since December 9th, L.A. had only watched the children three times. She said her son needed a haircut, so she took him to Brian's residence where she dropped him off. Once home, she became anxious and needed a break. So she took Skyler inside and returned outside to sit in her car. She said she went back inside and began looking for Skyler, who she later found underneath the dresser in the kids' room lying on her back in front of the TV stand. She said she called Brian a 911, performed CPR, and then carried Skylar outside to her car just as the Indiana Fire Department was pulling up. However, Shantel backtracked again.

Starting point is 00:16:26 She didn't drop her son off of Brian. He was in the home and came to the door when she arrived. Skylar didn't come running to greet her as usual. Shantel said she just knew that something was wrong. She said she found Skyler motionless under the dresser. The affidavit reads, she said Skyler didn't deserve that because it was like adding insult to injury. When questioned by police, Shantel said she knew what she was doing was neglect.

Starting point is 00:16:54 But she insisted she never physically harmed them or committed any acts of essay as if that's the only way you can harm your child. She said she understood why leaving children alone was dangerous if they were unsupervised, but I don't really feel she actually got the weight of what she was doing. Now, Brian was also brought in for questioning. He initially reaffirmed Chantel's original story that she dropped her son with him and took Skyler home, but he then admitted to lying to protect his girlfriend. He told Detective Shantel spent many nights in his apartment

Starting point is 00:17:29 without her children present. He believed Chantel when she said her kids were staying with friends or family. The last time he saw the children was in December of 2024 when they visited for his birthday. Before that, he saw them once a week at most. In addition, the police spoke with L.A., Shantel's friend, who watched the children on occasion. She last saw Skyler and her brother in person on Halloween of 2024, and they appeared to be clean and cared for. Spoke with them over a video call on January 6th, and she noted Skyler's hair looked messy and that they were at Brian's apartment.

Starting point is 00:18:05 L.A.'s final words about Chantel and Skyler were paraphrasing the affidavit, and I quote. L.A. stated she had no idea the kids were staying home alone. She said she hadn't been inside Chantel's apartment in a long time, probably several months. She said Skyler's brother has never been verbal. She said Chantel had postpartum depression after having Skylar and going through a divorce. L.A. said many people would have taken the children if Shantel needed help. No one knew she was leaving the kids home alone. She said they have a group of friends who all would have stepped up.

Starting point is 00:18:38 She said she and Chantel talked every day or every other day. Sometimes she didn't answer, but they talked at least weekly. Chantel was initially arrested for neglect of a dependent, but her charges were increased to murder. She was denied bond and had no contact orders filed against her. Brian was also charged with assisting her in lying to investigators. Chantel and Ryan's cars were seized and towed to a crime lab facility. After they were processed, investigators took DNA samples as well as photographs. Police also emitted other items into evidence, including their phones, a receipt dated January 24th,

Starting point is 00:19:19 and a firearm and magazine that was found in Brian's car. Skyler's autopsy was performed on the 27th by Dr. Christopher Poulos of the Marion County Coroner's Office. His findings were summarized in the January 30th affidavit. I quote, Dr. Poulos noted external injuries of what appeared to be multiple bite marks on Schuyler, frostbite on her feet and hands, and round pattern bruising approximately three quarters to one inch in diameter, potential from a PVC pipe or furniture, etc. In addition to the injuries listed above, Dr. Poulos noted multiple injuries believed to be post-mortem, including the puncture wound found on Skyler's neck. These were believed to have been

Starting point is 00:20:00 from a rodent. Internal injuries were also noted by Dr. Poulos, and included subcutaneous bruising throughout Skyler's body, a right frontal bruise, and hemorrhagic pancreatin, possibly due to hypothermia. Dr. Poulos said Skylar was dehydrated as well and had hair and unknown contents, possibly feces, in her stomach. Skylar also had possible paint chips, hair, and foreign bodies in her intestines. As of now, Dr. Poulos believed Skyler died of hypothermia. Detectives also reached out to a nurse practitioner on the Riley Children's Hospital Child Protection Team. They learned that the bruise patterns on Schuyler was suspicious for non-accidental trauma

Starting point is 00:20:44 consistent with inflicted trauma, meaning there was little chance that Skylar was injured by accident. While Skyler's brother was starving in a need of medical attention, the nurse practitioner eventually noted that his hair was recently cut and his nails were trimmed. The boy displayed signs of underdeveloped cognitive ability and gradually warmed up to the medical professionals treating him. On January 28th, Brian's brothers spoke to the detectives. He said Chantel spent at least four overnight visits in the apartment between January 19th and 25th.

Starting point is 00:21:20 He worked nights, so they saw each other as he was returning home and she was leaving for the day. The children were absent, but Chantel acted perfectly fine. He didn't ask her directly where the kids were, but Brian told him they, were being watched by one of Shantel's friends. On the 29th, detectives met with Shantel for a follow-up interview. She's being held in the Marion County Adult Detention Center. Chantel gave more detailed descriptions about her hands-off parenting. She defended herself by saying it was easier to leave her children at home than take them with her

Starting point is 00:21:54 because, according to her, they weren't the most well-behaved. She was convinced Brian could smell the apartment on her as well, but was too polite to say anything to her face so she didn't even return home to shower. She came back to clean the children once a week, give them food, and when she was expecting a video call, because according to her, she knew they were only calling to speak to the children. Shantel also explained her apartment's furnace wasn't working, hence the space heater in the living room. She said she knew if she reported the furnace to apartment maintenance, she would be outed for the neglect of her children and for the biohazard that was in their living space.

Starting point is 00:22:34 Chantel's follow-up interview displays her as self-aware and rational enough to know she would face consequences if she was caught. And I quote, she explained that the smell became overwhelming inside the residence, so she stopped taking the children into public because of their odor from the residence slash environment. In addition, she explained she stopped taking the children to their doctor's appointments due to their hygiene and smell. She said she understood the potential consequences of her improper care.

Starting point is 00:23:02 She was aware of the consequences of them reporting her to Department of Child Services and or taking the children away. Chantel said she knew slash understood the consequences of what could happen while leaving a two and three-year-old child alone. Police Sergeant Nicole Flynn said to the Indianapolis Star newspaper, No child's death from unnatural causes is ever acceptable. Each investigation is heartbreaking, whether a crime is involved or not. Losing a child is an unimaginable tragedy. We grieve for and alongside the families in every case. Brian Thomas had a warrant out for his arrest,

Starting point is 00:23:40 but he was MIA from January 26 to January 30th. During this time, he spoke with Chantel via phone call. She was in jail at the time. He recorded the call and they were published on the Facebook profile for the new site Black Indie Live. In this call, he confronts Chantel for her treatment of her children in the abhorrent state of her apartment. Chantelle admitted to her wrongdoings and expressed confusion as to why detectives were pursuing

Starting point is 00:24:09 Brian. She said, I don't know why they keep including you. Like you wouldn't even be a part of this shit. Chantel also tried to explain her mental health issues and her wish for self-improvement, which ultimately never came to pass. When Brian asked plainly why she didn't ask for help and stated he would have put the children first, she was quiet. Finally, she said, I didn't want to be a burden.

Starting point is 00:24:36 Comments on the Black Indy Live Post speculate Brian is trying to cover for himself and that he knew more than he let on. He did lie in his initial police interrogation to protect Chantelle, and that puts his integrity into question in the eyes of the public and the justice system. We will very likely still be in the dark about what he knew until the trial. Brian was booked into jail on January 30th and was forced to make a court appearance through a writ of body attachment. He has made his $6,000 bond. Skyler's father and half siblings planned a balloon release in her memory on Valentine's Day with pink and purple balloons. They had to cancel this event, but they soldiered on. Just a reminder, the misery machine does not condone balloon release

Starting point is 00:25:22 memorials due to their impact on wildlife and the environment. Instead, they organized a donation of new clothes, toys, and books for Skyler's three-year-old brother. The oldest half-siblings posted a photo of the donation pile along with the caption, The family of Skyler Gardner would like to extend their gratitude for those that have donated to her brother. We really appreciate it. We are forever grateful and are firm believers that what God has for you is for you and he's the only one that can take it from you. Shantel and Brian's trial is set to begin in April of this year. They will both be tried together by judicial officer Charles F. Miller, though they have different attorneys. Chantel will be represented by Lucy Frick and Shelby Van Hoose.

Starting point is 00:26:06 Brian will be represented by Philip Hayes. Four attorneys are set to represent the state of Indiana, prosecuting both Chantel and Brian. The maximum penalty for Chantel's crimes is 40 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If she is convicted, she would be in her 70s upon her release. Since Brian faces lesser charges, his sentence will be lighter if he is served one at all. As always, both of the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. As of the date of this recording in February of 2025, there is yet to be a funeral service or public obituary for Skyler. As there are no recent developments, her story has not received further reports.

Starting point is 00:26:45 As with many active true crime cases, her name and story will be reported again during Chantel's trial, but we will have to wait and see to what extent. We hope that justice will be served and that Skyler's brother is in a much safer place now, free from the filth and neglect that took his little sister from him.

The Misery Machine - The Case of Skylar Gardner

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