Mom Allegedly Neglected Kids, Spent Days at Boyfriend's. Then She Found 2-Year-Old Dead Beneath Dresser: Police

An Indiana mom is accused of neglecting her children for long periods of time in her home, culminating when she allegedly found her 2-year-old daughter dead under a dresser.

The victim, Skylar Gardner, was found with severe bruises on her body in their Indianapolis, Ind., home over the weekend, WRTV, WISH and FOX 59 reported, citing unspecified court documents, a probable cause affidavit and a police report, respectively. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her mother, 33-year-old Chantell Gardner, told authorities she found the child under a dresser when the girl did not respond to her on Saturday, Jan. 25, WISH TV, WRTV and The Indianapolis Star reported.

During the investigation, authorities found several bruises and injuries on Skylar, including on her face, arms, legs, back and genitals; she also had a puncture wound on her neck, according to medical personnel, WISH TV, WRTV and FOX 59 reported.

Chantell reportedly denied accusations of sexual or physical abuse of the children, allegedly claiming her daughter’s vaginal bruising was a result of her diapers not being changed enough, per police.

She allegedly told police that she would spend every night at her boyfriend’s, leaving her two children — Skylar and her 4-year-old son – home alone for hours, according to the affidavit. She would bring them food once a day, she allegedly said.

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When investigators arrived at the scene, they found poor conditions in the residence, including feces on walls and an odor of rotting food, police claimed in court documents, according to the outlets.

Chantell has been arrested on a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent under the age of 14 resulting in death, FOX 59 and WRTV reported, citing Indianapolis police. The Indianapolis Star and WISH TV also confirmed the charge.

Attorney and plea information for Chantell was not immediately available. Indianapolis police and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for further information.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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