Murder case : Hilarious mother stabs her four kids to death

The Tennessee mother who allegedly stabbed four of her five young children to death was a 'sweet, young lady,' according to the woman's ex mother-in-law.

Sonya Clayton, the grandmother of seven-year-old Dallen Clayton who escaped the knife attack by his mother, also said she does not understand what could have led the mother to attack her children.

'She was a sweet young lady,' Clayton said of 29-year-old Shanynthia Gardner.

'What happened, I don't understand.' 

Dallen is Shanynthia's son from a previous marriage to Detrail Clayton, according to the grandmother.

Clayton said she has not seen her former daughter-in-law for a few years. She later said she forgives Shanynthia.

'I know this is the work of the devil,' Clayton said. 

'I know this is not Shanynthia. And I pray and I love Shanynthia.' 

Clayton said her son, Detrail, is not doing well and wants to see Dallen soon, who he has not seen since the stabbings. 

She told reporters she had the following message for her grandson: 

Clayton told reporters that she had a message for her grandson: 'Dallen, wherever you are, your dad loves you, your brothers love you ... we love you and we are looking for you,' USA Today wrote.

Sheriff's officials said the boy has been under protective supervision.

 

Shanynthia has been charged with four counts of first degree murder while committing aggravated child neglect in the deaths of her three daughters and one son — all under the age of five.

She also faces four counts of first degree murder while committing aggravated child abuse; four counts of aggravated child neglect or endangerment and four counts of aggravated child abuse.

According to court documents, the mother cut their throats open at her home in Memphis.

Sheriff's deputies found a large butcher's knife with what appeared to be blood on it at the apartment where the killings took place.

Their bodies were found after deputies entered her apartment in a gated community in unincorporated Shelby County on Friday. 

Sheriff's deputies have identified the victims as four-year-old Tallen Gardner, three-year-old Sya Gardner, two-year-old Sahvi Gardner and six-month-old Yahzi Gardner, court documents said.

A fifth child, Dallen, fled the apartment and escaped the attack, according to the affidavit.

Shanynthia spoke by phone with her current husband, Martin Gardner, and acknowledged that she killed her children, according to the affidavit.

Attempts to reach him or relatives of the Gardners have been unsuccessful.