MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shanynthia Gardner, who was convicted of killing her four children five years ago, was sentenced to life with parole on Tuesday.
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Gardner was sentenced to a total of 51 years, which must be served before she is eligible for parole. She was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for the murder charges and 15 years for each child abuse and neglect charge.
Gardner, 34, has already served five years after the 2016 killing.
Gardner was found guilty in December on multiple charges including child abuse, neglect and first-degree murder. In all, there were some 20 counts.
“It was important for us to get justice for Martin Gardner and his four beautiful children Tallen, Sya, Sahvi, and Yahzi,” said Chief Prosecutor Eric Christensen of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit.
One of Gardner’s children was six months old during the time of the murder. The other three children were four, three and two years old. The children’s father was present during the sentencing and said he is glad that Gardner can not hurt any more children.
Gardner also had another child, who was seven years old at the time of the murders. He managed to escape from their apartment on Hacks Cross Road and East Shelby Drive and run to a neighbor for help.
Her attorneys and a doctor who evaluated Gardner in Dec. said she suffered from mental illness and did not comprehend what she was doing at the time of the 2016 killings. However, the judge said while he believes that Gardner has a mental illness, she was not insane during the time of the murders.
All sentences will be served concurrently. Gardner can file a motion for appeal in 45 days. If she does, it is likely that her mental issue will be discussed again.
With time already served, she would be around 80 years old before she would be eligible for parole.