To Dabney and the Family: My heartfelt condolences and my thoughts and prayers go with each of you. . My infrequent visits to my home of Richmond were always highlighted when I ran into Dabney and spend some time to catch up with one another. Larry outside his family's home, in Corpus Christi, on November 22. However, Judge Longoria could allow the jury to consider a lesser charge if he felt that the evidence did not support capital murder, and after hearing the states case, he did so, telling both the prosecution and the defense that he was willing to let the jury consider manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Victory Junction, 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317, https://victoryjunction.org or the Charlotte Humane Society, 1348 Parker Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208, https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org, in Pete's name. He was a good guy and a good friend. Shortly after noon, Larry picked her and the boys up and took them to a McDonalds drive-through, and then the chiropractor, before returning to work. I'm so saddened to here the news but I know that Dabney is walking his dogs in the park right now in another very special place. Lane and her children moved to the East Texas town of Lindale, where a missionary organization, the Calvary Commission, allowed them to live in a modest apartment on its grounds free of charge. Overton's original trial attorneys admitted at an appeals hearing that they had made errors. The original prosecutor in the Overton case, Sandra Eastwood, was terminated for reasons unrelated to this case years after the trial concluded. One of her favorite books to revisit is Ruth. Think of your other children, she urged the couple. Dabney always took time to talk to people and was a friend to many. At the time, Overton had four children and was pregnant with a fifth, and had no prior trouble with the law. Frantic, Hannah began administering CPR in the backseat. It was while watching the monitor that Hannah saw him trying to eat part of his foam mattress and paint off the wall. On October 3, while Andrew was still hospitalized, the agency removed Isaac, Isabel, Ally, and Sebastian from their parents custody, placing them in two separate foster homes in Beeville, sixty miles away. If she had taken Andrew to the hospital earlier, what would she have taken him in for? She is awakened every morning at 2:45 a.m., rarely sleeping well; the overhead light above her bed never shuts off, and announcements blare throughout the night over the loudspeaker. But law enforcement and emergency medical personnel who treated Andrew thought otherwise. According to Haller, he told her, Look, shes pregnant and she has all these kids, but it was just too much for her. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Dabney's memory to Aylett Country Day School, P.O. After he completed his probation, the charges were dismissed. Hannahs supporters included a young churchgoer named Dawn Werkhoven, who had lived with the Overtons the year leading up to Andrews death. There wasnt anything that I thought was dangerously wrong with him at that point. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Isaac read John 9 aloud while Larry helped him sound out the difficult words (synagogue, Pharisees). "I could never thank my attorneys enough for fighting endlessly to prove my innocence and bring me home," she said. Frustrated with a naughty child, prosecutors said, she tried to punish him with seasoning mixed in water. I feel honored to have shared his presence. She is amazing!". Shortly afterward, at three-thirty, Hannah called Larry and asked him to come home since Andrew was vomiting and she needed his help. But after Hannahs conviction, the DAs office offered him several plea deals, each of which required him to acknowledge that he had intentionally caused Andrews death. A funeral for Andrew followed at Seaside Memorial Park, alongside Corpus Christi Bay, at which Pastor Rod Carver officiated. Before Hannah got married, when she was still Hannah Saenz, she knew she wanted a large familyat least six kids, she used to tell people. I worked with Dabney at Browder Russell just after he graduated from W & L, and saw him often at FBYC. I am sad that I won't see my friend Dabney again in this life here on Earth. I plan their birthday parties from here, she told me. I was convinced that we were in the presence of a crime.. He was a Southern Gentleman and true Virginian who touched the hearts of many. But at a hearing on the defenses motion for a new trial, Eastwood stated under oath that Cortes had always been a passionate advocate for the prosecution; he had even remarked to her that he thought Hannah should fry. Cortes does not dispute that story. At 13, he served as a page for the General Assembly of Virginia. Hannah and the girls, who complained of feeling achy, were taken to the hospital in an ambulance while Larrys parents picked up the rest of the family and, after dropping Larry off at the hospital, took the boys to a nearby Whataburger. The absence of their mother and their late brother was quietly acknowledged. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. By that point, Hannah had completely broken down emotionally.. Dabney will be missed by so many. Sending hope that your healing is swift. The ministry's name Syndeo is taken from a Greek word meaning "to connect" or "be connected." Loose teeth, first day of kindergarten, last day of kindergarten. Its about trusting God and seeing how he is a god of redemption and restoration, she said. Our condolences to his family and friends. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Anita and John The medical staff at Driscoll Childrens Hospital had determined that Andrew had nearly twice the normal level of sodium in his blooda highly abnormal findingas well as bleeding in the brain, and as Hess questioned her, he tried to ascertain what had happened. By the time Hannah took the stand, jurors appeared to have made up their minds. Given that Hannah was suspected of poisoning Andrew with Creole seasoning, the suggestion that the Overtons had used pepper to discipline their children raised immediate concerns. The families shared an unofficial open-door policy, and when Andrew had begun acting up the previous afternoon, Hannah had called Haller for help, asking if she could look after Sebastian for a little while. We have a child that was well until that afternoon, that had behavioral issues, that was having temper tantrums, that was then given something . Finally he agreed to plead no contest to criminally negligent homicide. I remind them that the Lord loves him more than anyone could and we will see him again someday.. Thendistrict attorney Jimenez did not publicly disclose the reasons for the termination, but it occurred one week after Eastwood informed her superiors that she had been romantically involved in the past with a sex offender; she reported that she feared the information had been used by the offenders defense attorney to get him probation in a criminal case. Overwhelmed, the Overtons sought guidance in prayer. Rotta stopped short of describing the manner in which he believed Andrew had been made to eat a lethal amount of salta dose that, after analyzing Andrews blood, he determined would have consisted of 23 teaspoons of Zatarains Creole Seasoning or 6 teaspoons of salt. This was usually on a road trip up or down the Valley. Channel Three, Channel Six, Channel Ten, the Caller-Timesthey all knew ahead of time, Gilmore said. Hannah Overton, family celebrate her pregnancy months after she's declared innocent in boy's death, Hannah Overton, supporters chant 'Actually innocent' after capital murder dismissal, Nueces County DA to dismiss Overton case, declare woman innocent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I knew Dabney from years ago when we played softball together. When Andrew was two-and-a-half years old, CPS determined that he was in immediate danger, according to an affidavit, and he was put in foster care. CPS launched its initial investigation into Andrews well-being shortly after his first birthday, when his mother took him to a local hospital with a broken arm. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. The defendant has portrayed herself as a nurturing Christian woman, Eastwood proclaimed. What a great sense of comfort to know that I could be greated on the other side by such a kind person. The detective had been alerted to Andrews grave condition when the boy was transported to a nearby hospital the previous afternoon and, as was protocol, had begun looking into the circumstances surrounding the boys unusual and rapid decline. I asked Hannah if her faith had been shaken by Andrews loss and the suffering that she and her family had experienced. There's also a pen pal program and Overton is often featured inFacebook videos in which she talks about ways to help women in prison. As he grasped for the right words to convey the depth of pain a parent feels over the loss of a child, he noticed a row of unfamiliar faces. I remember many lively discussions with Cabell and Dabney about the history of Virginia and North Carolina. God bless you Dabney, we'll miss you. Hannah Overton was just an ordinary homeschool mom. When a four-year-old from Texas died mysteriously of salt poisoning, his foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder and sent to prison for life. Hannah R. (Saem) Overton . A very special person has been taken from our midst and is and will be greatly missed. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. He was a supportive friend to so many people, including me. How can one person get probation and another get life without parole for the same thing? Larry said. New medical evidence shows that Hannah Overton did not force her 4-year-old foster son Andrew Burd to ingest large amounts of salt, causing his death in 2006 and her to serve a life sentence. I will take that trip and take my friends spirit with me. Moritz is the clinical director of pediatric nephrology at the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he specializes in childrens kidney diseases. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. Hess disavowed Garcias account at a court hearing regarding the Overton children, and prosecutors never entered Garcias affidavit into evidence or called him to testify at Hannahs trial. The Huntsville Times Homepage. Veteran defense attorney John Gilmore, whom the Overtons had retained using funds raised by their church, was stunned to learn of the arrests from reporters, who called asking for comment. The paperwork Orr now forwarded to him, which showed that Andrews stomach contained a great deal of water, only confirmed the clinical directors initial conclusion. My husband enjoyed sailing with him at FBYC and running into him during a few running events in Richmond. According to Hannah, Andrew once again asked for an early lunch, and once again, when she told him that he would have to wait, he defecated and smeared feces across the floor. The churchs pastor, Rod Carver, and his wife, Noreen, had initially considered taking in Andrew but ultimately decided he was more than they could handle. movie nights, waking up to their beautiful faces. The Court of Criminal Appeals is currently reviewing her writ, which contends that the information about Andrews gastric contents are grounds for a new trial. She was born April 24, 1945 to Dabney Overton Sr. and Henrietta Mallory Overton and grew up in Warsaw, VA. She was graduated from St. Margaret's School in 1963 where she was awarded the Bishop's Prize all four years. We lived in the same neighborhood a few years back and after meeting at the Dog Park, spent some great time together running, kayaking and meeting for a few cold ones at Melitos. In 2011, Overtons appellate attorney, Cynthia Orr, filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking a new trial. Hannah Overton recently reunited with her husband, Larry Overton, since being released on bond last week. I knew it would probably make him sick, but I wanted him to understand why we were setting limits, Larry explained. Then District Attorney Mark Skurka dropped the case. I always knew I'd be able to catch up with him on occasion at the Village Starbucks. "God is so good!," Overton wrote in the social media post. Hannah and Andrew In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. Hannah must sit on the opposite side of a metal divider, behind Plexiglas. Hannah managed to clean him up, but when she reiterated that he would have to wait until lunchtime to eat, he defecated on the floor again. He served as president of the School of Law. Now they can move forward, grieve the loss of Andrew, and heal, Orr said. 3 Memories Hannah Overton Overton Hannah Jayne Passed away peacefully at Thorpe Hall on the 23rd December 2018 aged 28 years. Thank you Dabney for blessing my life with your presence. Had Andrew sat among them, I realized, he would have been nine years old. He was a nice guy. When she was fifteen, Hannah returned to Corpus Christi with her family to visit, and Larry, who had not seen her since they were kids, was immediately smitten. There was a dead child, he observed. The court, which could rule imminently or years from now, could send the case back to Judge Longoria for a hearing orfar less likelyoverturn her conviction. To never have been producedit was very strange.. Preceded in death by his mother Hannah Spencer Haile Overton and infant brother Charles. (In his 32 years of practicing law, Gilmore told me, he has never run across the charge of capital murder by omission before or since.) If someone was trying to murder Andrew, they would have restrained him and prevented him from drinking water, Moritz subsequently wrote in an affidavit. She's since createdSyndeo Ministries tohelp prisonerstransition back into society. But had jurors fully understood the decision they had been asked to make? Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim? His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim? Orra formidable legal mind whose work recently helped exonerate Michael Morton, a Williamson County man who was wrongly convicted of his wifes 1986 murderhad begun preparing a writ of habeas corpus, a last-ditch effort to persuade the courts to review Hannahs case. To the Overton Family and friends of Dabney: I first met Dabney in the fall of 1972 when he was in fourth grade at Aylett Country Day School. All rights reserved. A church elder, who was himself an adoptive parent, invited the Overtons to dinner one night and encouraged them to consider bringing Andrew into their home. I pray that you will bring Mom home soon.. She and her husband Larry lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, and served faithfully in their church. And we do have some evidence of bruising to his nose [which could indicate] his nostrils were squeezed and he was made to drink it.. . Please enable scripts and reload this page. Andrew had an enraged mother who didnt, I dont think loved him the way that she loved her own biological children, former Nueces County prosecutor Sandra Eastwood said at trial. I would often see him riding with all the dogs in the back of the car. Hannah: i was and remain so sorry to hear about Dabney's unfortunate death. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? His mother was just sixteen, the file shows, when she gave birth to him in Corpus Christi on July 28, 2002. Larry called out that dinner was ready, and we gathered inside around a rough-hewn oak table he had made years ago. He has carried us through.". H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Nueces County District Attorney Mark Skurka had charged Overton a second time for murder after her release. Gemma Mitchell, a phlebotomist, recalled overhearing Hannah tell medical staff that Andrew had stopped breathing after he was punished. No one could corroborate her story, and under cross-examination, she admitted that she had never told anyone this fact until taking the stand. The burden on the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was, Gilmore told me, perhaps less than it should have been. Menu. But Hannah, who was bewildered by Andrews condition, had no ready answers. If convicted, Hannah would receive an automatic life sentence. That was the most uncomfortable service I have ever done. She was unflappable and unfailingly patient with children. We dont know precisely how she got it down Andrew, but we know that he was very, very obedient, Eastwood told the jury, standing before the TV news cameras that Judge Longoria had allowed inside the courtroom. They chattered about an upcoming birthday party and discussed the merits of their favorite colors, finishing each others sentences between slurps of soup. 1 x 120' / Produced for Discovery Networks. Its somebodys worst nightmare, Hannah Overton told ABC News in an earlier interview. For us to go to [the clinic] was a lot faster than it would have been had we called, at that point., As we talked about Andrew, she had to stop several times to compose herself. We were in awe.. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. December 22, 1930 - Hannah was always drawn to stray people.. And how had she forced him to choke down the lethal slurry through a sippy cupa drinking container that is, by design, able to release its contents only when sucked on? He was kind and gentle with me, and he made himself available no matter how busy he was. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Cynthia Hujar-Orr, Gerry Goldstein and John Raley were apart of Overtons appellate team that helped overturn the conviction. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Miller's Tavern, Va. on Sunday, November 22nd at 2 p.m. There's also Syndeo Ranch, a faith-based home to help women transitioning out of prison in Palestine. Larry was charged with injury to a child for failing to get Andrew timely medical attention. He was preceded in. I am so sorry to hear the news. She hugged them and let them climb onto her lap, often returning to Lindale with head lice. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. He had the heart of a lion and graciously allowed me into his circle of friends. It should be noted that during the entire conversation, Hannah Overton showed almost no emotion, he later wrote in his police report. During closing arguments, Gilmore emphasized that Hannah had no motive to kill Andrew and that the state had failed to prove that she had intentionally caused the boys death. Hannah Overton is expected to receive compensation for wrongful incarceration. On October 2, 2006, 29-year-old Hannah Overton and her husband, Larry brought Andrew Burd, their four-year-old foster son whom they were in the process of adopting, to a hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas after the boy stopped breathing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time., With love and warm memories of our Cousin Pete. He was preceded in death by his mot I may harbor doubts, but a jury heard this case and made a decision, and everyone has to respect that decision, he told the Express-News. In the midst of the chaos that followed, no one recognized how distressed Andrew was by the sight of Hannahs bloodied face. I will miss Dabney greatly, having spent hours drinking coffee & talking with him; a kind, gentle soul who made the world a better place and who always had time for people in his life. Please know that you all are surrounded by love, no matter how great your grief. Instead we were arrested.. Hannah, who was left with whiplash and a severely swollen jaw, spent the next several weeks immobilized by a neck brace, mostly confined to bed. Its daily. All those that I know who knew Dabney will miss him greatly. If I failed in my duties of disclosure before the Hannah Overton trial (which the record corroborates I did not), then so did Ms. Jimenez., Orr filed the writ in April 2011, and soon afterward San Antonio Express-News reporter John MacCormackwhose reporting has raised questions about the fairness of Hannahs convictionmade a routine call to the office to gauge the reaction to the recent developments in the case. Moritz, in fact, had been asked to testify as an expert witness for Hannahs defense at her trial. on our list, Other The media coverage of the case stirred widespread outrage. They get to see her for two hours, once a monthtwenty-four hours in a year, Larry said. Died Feb. 18, 2003 Mrs. Nettie Sue Overton, 78, Florence passed away Tuesday at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. Our thoughts, hugs and prayers are with you. The information on this website does NOT constitute legal advice and you may not rely on it as such. Hess remained skeptical of Hannahs account. Her bedroom was just a few feet away from the childrens rooms, which were always open; their doors had been removed so that the kids could easily come and go as they pleased.
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