Police charge mother in toddler’s disappearance, death

The mother of a 2-year-old girl, whose body was found in a remote part of southwest Mississippi, was arrested Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The mother of a 2-year-old girl, whose body was found in a remote part of southwest Mississippi, was arrested Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder. News outlets report Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul announced the arrest of Lanaya Cardwell at a press conference Wednesday. Cardwell was charged in connection with the disappearance and death of her daughter, Nevaeh Allen, who was reported missing last Friday. The toddler’s body was found two days later in Pearlington, Mississippi. Cardwell’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Phillip Gardner, also faces a charge of second-degree murder along with charges of unlawful disposal of remains and obstruction of justice. It was unknown if Cardwell or Gardner have attorneys who could speak on their behalf.