BAYTOWN, Texas — A Baytown man was sentenced to 46 years in prison for killing his ex-wife in 2016 while she was riding in the passenger seat of her friend's car.
According to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, Allen Dale Edwards, 44, and his ex-wife, Keyanna Cherrell Gardiner, 29, were divorced at the time of the murder and had been living apart for more than three years. Still, the two had a very bitter relationship that included arguments over the custody of their two children.
The day Gardiner was killed, she was riding in the passenger seat of her friend's car. She was asleep when the friend drove them to Edwards' house at about 3 a.m. and reportedly threw an aerosol can to break a window at his house, the DA's office said.
After hearing the commotion, Edwards told his mom to call the police, but instead of waiting for the police to arrive, he grabbed his gun, got into his car and chased down Gardiner and her friend, according to the DA's office.
The two vehicles made their way to Highway 146 -- heading toward Fred Hartman Bridge -- when Edwards shot at the friend's SUV through the driver's side window, the DA's office said. When both vehicles got to the southbound flyover, Edwards pulled in front of the friend's SUV and stopped, causing them to crash into each other. Edwards then got out of his car and shot at least once more into the SUV and one of the bullets he fired hit Gardiner in the chest and killed her.
Edwards walked to the driver's side of the friend's SUV and punched the friend in her face. She had to undergo reconstructive surgery.
Edwards was charged with murder. A jury returned a guilty verdict after a seven-day trial.
“He took matters into his own hands,” Sheridan said. “He admitted that he was chasing them down, and he should have just let law enforcement handle it.”
Edwards must serve at least half of his prison sentence before being eligible for parole.
