Shaynthia Gardner is a 29 year old mother of five from Memphis, Tennessee. Shanynthia was an employee at ALSAC St. Jude, which is the fundraising division of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

She was married to Martin Gardner, together the couple had four children a 4-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl, a 2-year-old girl, and a 6-month-old girl.

She also had a seven year old son from a previous marriage with Detrail Clayton.

Murders

Shaynthia Gardner murdered four of her five children with a butcher's knife at her apartment in Memphis on , 2016. She also attempted to kill her oldest child but he was able to runaway.

Police found the crime scene gruesome and difficult to process. The victims were found with stab wounds throughout the house. Yahzi Gardner was found sitting in her baby carrier and her sister, 3-year-old Sya Gardner, lying next to her dead. Both had severe lacerations to their throats. Four-year-old Tallen Gardner and 2-year-old Sahvi Gardner were found in a bedroom. Tallen was on the floor while his little sister was on the bed.

Shanynthia Gardner faces four counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of her young children.

She is also charged with four counts of first-degree murder in association with aggravated child neglect, four counts of aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect or endangerment.

Her first court appearance is on July 5, 2016.

Martin Gardner, the father of the kids, spoke to Shanynthia on the phone at 12:50 p.m. where she admitted to the murders.

A Go Fund Me page was set up to raise money for the victims' funerals.

Mental Health

Family of Shanynthia Gardner noticed she was behaving bizarrely in the months before the murders but had no outward signs of mental illness.

In March, 2015, Shanynthia was reported missing but was found later in the day after she left for a run and never returned.

Martin Gardner was struggling at her job and was feeling paranoid when she disappeared.

According to Martin,“She also has been feeling that someone is trying to harm her and her family.”

Police said Shanynthia Gardner had no known history of abusing her children or interaction with the Department of Children’s Services.