Hello, ScannerSquad! Will Solvit here, your guide through the labyrinth of true crime. Today, we’re delving into a chilling case that unfolded on a seemingly ordinary October night in 2018.
The Night That Changed Everything
Heather Gardner, a mother of two, embarked on a late-night trip to the laundromat on October 18, 2018. Accompanied by her sister Jessie and her two sons, toddler Jathan and two-month-old baby Benson, Heather hoped to catch up on her chores for the week.
As they busied themselves with the laundry, Jessie made a shocking discovery. Baby Benson was ice-cold to the touch, his lips had turned blue. Heather immediately began CPR while Jessie made a frantic call to 9-1-1. Despite their desperate attempts and the swift response of the emergency services, Benson was declared deceased upon arrival at the hospital.
The Investigation Begins
The immediate question was whether this was a case of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or if something far more unimaginable had occurred. Heather and Jessie tearfully explained to the officers that they had just picked up the children from their babysitter, Marissa Teetsort.
Detective Jennifer Holtz arrived on the scene and began interviewing Heather and Jessie. The sisters described their interactions with Marissa that night, painting a picture of a woman acting suspiciously. Marissa had been a longtime friend of Heather’s and had been babysitting her kids whenever Heather had to work. However, that night, Marissa had hurriedly handed over the children and shut the door, not allowing Heather and Jessie inside her home.
The Search for Marissa
Detective Holtz and her team set out to find Marissa, but she was nowhere to be found at her apartment. They tracked her down to a local hotel, where she was staying with her boyfriend, Adam. The couple was separated for interviews, and Marissa was questioned about her care of Benson that day.
Marissa’s account of the day was filled with inconsistencies and suspicious behavior. She claimed that Benson had been fine, but her body language and the tone of her voice suggested otherwise. She also failed to incorporate any of her own emotions during her account of what happened, a red flag for deception.
The Unraveling of the Truth
As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that this wasn’t the first time Marissa had been questioned about potential child abuse. Two months prior to Benson’s death, Detective Holtz had been called to Marissa’s home after another child sustained severe head and face injuries while in her care.
Despite the mounting evidence against her, Marissa maintained her innocence. However, her calm demeanor in the face of her child being taken away by Social Services raised eyebrows. Most parents would be quite upset about having their child taken, especially if they didn’t do anything wrong. But Marissa remained notably calm, which seemed more like an act to appear innocent.
The Verdict
Things didn’t go the way Marissa had hoped. She was sentenced to 37 years for Benson’s death and another three years for the injuries caused to the child who had supposedly fallen off her couch just two months prior to Benson’s death.
This case serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind the most ordinary of circumstances. A late-night trip to the laundromat turned into a nightmare for Heather Gardner, forever changing her life and leaving us all with a tragic story that will not be forgotten.
Join me next time, ScannerSquad, as we continue to seek truth and justice in the intricate and captivating domain of true crime.