Fort Worth: Man pleads guilty in capital murder of wife

TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — A Fort Worth man pleaded guilty to the 2017 capital murder of his estranged wife, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office introduced Monday.

After the guilty plea, 37-year-old Shalen Gardner agreed to serve a time period of life in jail with out the chance of parole in the murder of Elaneia “Lana” Gardner, officers mentioned.

In the early morning of Nov. 2, 2017, Lana Gardner was discovered lifeless by her two kids in their duplex at Fairmount Avenue, in line with courtroom paperwork.

Police mentioned Shalen Gardner sexually assaulted Lana earlier than strangling her because the couple’s kids slept in a close-by room.

Two months earlier than crime, Shalen Gardner served time in a substance abuse facility, and he and Lana separated and deliberate to divorce.

After his arrest for killing Lana, police mentioned Shalen confessed to committing the crime and attempting to cowl it up.

Police mentioned Shalen had a prolonged felony historical past that included threatening relations, hitting the household’s canine with a hammer, a parole violation, unlawfully possessing a handgun and extra.

During the sentencing part following Shalen’s plea settlement Monday, a letter by Lana’s mom – which was directed towards Shalen – was learn.

“We welcomed you into our family as one of our own. We accepted you as a family member,” the letter said. “You decided to take away the very person who made life worth living. She loved you even when you were unlovable.”

It went onto say that the the kids, who discovered their mom’s physique earlier than faculty that day, “will always remember the way you took their mom’s life… God has taken over and we reside fantastic lives. You might have taken their mom away, however you’ll be able to by no means steal their pleasure, their spirit, their future or happiness or their hope.”

Tarrant County Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Allenna Bangs and Emily Kirby dealt with the capital murder case and plea. CDA Investigator Danny Nutt and Victim Advocate Clara Salvatierra helped work the case as nicely. 

“Intimate Partner Violence is never limited to a single victim; the families of those suffering are so often left behind to pick up the pieces,” Bangs mentioned. “Sentences like this are a reflection of how serious the Tarrant County community and the CDA’s office pursue IPV predators.”