Man found guilty in death of 2-year-old Nevaeh Allen
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A man accused of dumping the body of a 2-year-old girl, who died after being punched, has been found guilty, according to the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office.
A jury convicted Phillip Gardner, 34, of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
The conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.
A trial began last week for Gardner.
He was formally charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in January 2022.
Gardner was accused of dumping the body of two-year-old Nevaeh Allen in Mississippi after she was punched and died.
Background on the case
Officers contacted Gardner, who identified himself as the child's stepfather, on Sept. 24, 2021, about a missing persons report. He reportedly told police he woke up from a nap to find the front door open and the child missing.
An affidavit stated that detectives later learned that the child had died after her mother, Lanaya Cardwell, 27, became angry and punched her daughter, which led the child to fall and hit her head on a cabinet. Gardner told investigators he attempted CPR after finding Allen unresponsive after he returned from dropping Cardwell off at work.
The Baton Rouge Police Department said Gardner admitted to not calling 911 or police to protect Cardwell and instead put Allen's body in a suitcase, and traveled to Hancock County, Mississippi, to dispose of the body in a 'makeshift grave deep in the woods.' He told detectives that he knew of previous incidents of abuse and did not report them.
According to arrest documents, a forensic pathologist said Allen had severe trauma, causing brain swelling, and could not rule out that she was still alive when her body was placed in the suitcase.
Gardner and Cardwell were arrested and later pleaded not guilty to charges.
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation a little over a week after Allen's death.
Court records show Cardwell's trial is set to start on Nov. 3, 2025. She was formally charged with second-degree murder in January 2022.
Man found guilty in death of 2-year-old Nevaeh Allen
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