by A heartbreaking case out of New York has ended in a plea deal and sentencing for a man who brutally attacked his family — all because his wife was pregnant with another girl.
Drew Garnier, 33, was sentenced to 30 years in prison this week, followed by 15 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and two counts of first-degree assault. The crimes occurred in September 2024, when Garnier fatally stabbed his pregnant wife, 29-year-old Samantha Garnier, at their home in Centerville, New York. She was five months pregnant with what would have been the couple’s third daughter.
According to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Garnier launched into a violent attack after learning the unborn child was another girl — not the son he reportedly wanted. In a powerful victim impact statement, Samantha’s father told the court, “He killed my daughter because she was having another girl.”
That same night, Garnier also stabbed his two daughters, ages 6 and 9. Both girls survived the attack but were left with deep emotional and physical scars. The decision to offer Garnier a plea deal — rather than pursue a full trial on more severe charges — came in large part to protect the children from the trauma of testifying in court.
In a show of strength and compassion, Samantha’s father has since adopted his granddaughters, becoming their legal guardian. “I am their father now. I will protect them,” he said in court, vowing to give them a new life away from the violence they endured.
The judge has prohibited Garnier from having any contact with the girls until at least 2056. The court noted that while the daughters may choose to seek contact as adults, no outreach from Garnier will be permitted.
According to New York State Police, authorities responded to the Garnier residence on September 5, 2024, following a report of a domestic dispute. When they arrived, they found Samantha and both daughters suffering from multiple stab wounds. First responders gave emergency aid before all three were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Samantha was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The daughters, though critically injured, survived.
District Attorney Shawn J. Smith acknowledged the plea deal was not ideal, but emphasized the priority was to allow the surviving girls to focus on healing, not reliving their trauma in court. “Sometimes justice isn’t perfect,” Smith said, “but protecting those girls from further pain was the most important thing.”
Though the tragedy occurred in New York, the ripple effects reached across the country. Family members from Wyoming, where Samantha’s relatives live, stepped in to help care for the girls and rebuild their lives in a safer, more supportive environment. The Wyoming-based relatives say they’re committed to giving the girls the love and stability they need moving forward.
If You Need Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visit childhelp.org. Both hotlines are available 24/7, free, and confidential.
