Dead body of missing 2-year-old from Baton Rouge, Mississippi found; Stepfather charged with disappearing
BATON ROUGE – The body of a Baton Rouge toddler was found in a remote area of ​​Mississippi after days of searching for the missing child.
Nevaeh Allen, 2, was found dead on Sunday in the Logtown area of ​​Hancock County, Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed on Sunday.
The FBI, in partnership with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, closed Logtown Road near Mississippi 604 in Pearlington on Sunday in an attempt to search for the body of Navaeh, who was reportedly last seen in the Baton Rouge neighborhood, when her stepfather lay her down for a nap Friday.
The girl’s body is taken to East Baton Rouge for autopsy. The examination is planned for Tuesday, said the forensic medicine.
Detectives arrested 30-year-old Phillip Gardner early Sunday afternoon, who was described by the family as the girl’s stepfather. Gardner was booked for unlawful removal of remains and obstruction of justice, suggesting that he hid the toddler’s body.
Nevaeh was last seen when Gardner fell asleep around noon on Friday while he was watching her. She was only discovered missing when she was with her Siblings came home from school around 4 p.m. on Friday and the apartment door was open.
The toddler was reported missing at her home, an apartment complex on La Belle Avenue in the Belaire neighborhood of Baton Rouge.
Regarding the charges against Gardner, police said they had received enough information when questioned this weekend to charge him with a crime related to allegations of hiding the child’s body.
Police, fire services, state police and the FBI were involved in the three-day search.
WBRZ will continue reporting throughout Sunday.
On Friday evening the soldiers issued a Level II Advisory for Missing Child at Risk when Police Searched for Nevaeh Allen. The alarm was canceled on Sunday afternoon.
The mother of the child, Lanaya Cardwell said she left her children with her friend the suspect on Friday.
In an interview with WBRZ, the mother of Phillip Gardner, Kim Holmes said, “I can’t imagine my son hurting a child.”
Her son was later charged in connection with the case. He was detained and interrogated over the weekend.
“It should be the last two adults to see these children, they need to be interviewed,” said Casey Amacker, the missing toddler’s uncle.
Amacker does not believe that his sister had anything to do with the disappearance of the toddler, but understands why she is being questioned.
“I think that [police] should take each, the two adults, and ask them the full questions, for who can tell by leaving this room and going down these stairs. The story doesn’t make sense, “said Casey Amacker.
