Gardner is being held on four counts of first-degree murder with
aggravated child abuse, four counts of first-degree murder in
association with aggravated child neglect, plus four more counts each of
aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment.
Deputies were called to an apartment in southeast Shelby County, Tenn.,
on Friday.
According to charging documents, the nature of the call was “a wounding
call where four juveniles were found deceased upon Deputies’s arrival.”
On Monday, a friend of Gardner.
Sarah Eddington described Gardner as a nice person who was happy with
her life when they worked together in 2010.
Eddington recalled Gardner talking about how bad of a father her dad
was, and vowed to maintain a good relationship with the father of her
children.
“Yari was a sweet individual who loved her family,” said Eddington. “I’m
just not sure where things went wrong.”
Eddington said Gardner’s youngest child, 6-month-old Yahzi, came as a
surprise. Gardner did not mention her pregnancy until after she gave
birth.
While working together, Eddington said Gardner got into an argument with
a supervisor at Menlo Logistics and quit shortly after.
“She obviously was dealing with something and people just turned a blind
eye,” Eddington said.
Gardner faces an array of charges, including four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of the children.
