A Texas father who carried out a nightmare attack on his own family will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Stephen Clare, 53, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for what prosecutors described as the brutal capital murder of his 11-month-old daughter, Willow Gardner, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. He also received life sentences for the attempted capital murder of his then-2-year-old daughter, Rosalie, and for the aggravated assault of his ex-wife, Mariah Gardner.
Clare pleaded guilty ahead of sentencing. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors said he waived his right to appeal and will remain in prison for the rest of his life.
“No sentence can ever restore or erase the suffering endured from the loss of Willow,” First Assistant District Attorney Tamara Strauch said. “But we have achieved a measure of justice.”
A Relationship That Turned Dark
Clare and Mariah met in 2017. By 2020, they had welcomed their first daughter, Rosalie. They married the following year in a backyard ceremony. But behind the scenes, Mariah later said the relationship was unraveling.
“It was as though he had two separate personalities,” she previously said. “He had the ugly personality that caused arguments, said horrible things and was controlling, but he had a sweet side, too.”
Court records show Mariah filed for divorce in February 2022. Willow was born not long after. The divorce was finalized in December 2022, and Clare was granted shared custody of the girls.
Mariah later described escalating behavior in the months leading up to the attack. She said he stalked her, driving past her home repeatedly and making disturbing comments. At one point, she said, he made a chilling remark about which child he would “save” in a violent scenario. She also alleged he previously kicked her out of the house while she was heavily pregnant and “joked” about kidnapping her.
The Attack That Shattered Everything
On April 10, 2023, Clare showed up at Mariah’s San Antonio home angry, according to investigators. Surveillance footage reportedly showed him chasing her through the house before shooting her multiple times. Authorities say he then stabbed both of his daughters.
Mariah’s two sons from a previous relationship managed to escape through a window and run to a neighbor’s home for help.
First responders later testified about the chaotic and emotional scene.
San Antonio Police Officer Veronica Butler told the court she tried to keep Mariah conscious as she applied pressure to her wounds. “I really thought she was gonna die in my arms,” the officer said through tears.
Miraculously, Mariah survived. She suffered seven gunshot wounds, multiple broken bones, and a large abdominal incision. Rosalie also underwent emergency surgery and multiple procedures but survived the attack.
Willow did not.
Clare was arrested about a mile and a half from the home. Months later, a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services worker testified that Clare claimed he could not remember anything from the day of the attack.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Since losing her baby daughter and surviving the brutal assault, Mariah has focused on raising awareness about domestic violence. Her story has resonated across Texas and beyond, shining a light on warning signs that can escalate into tragedy.