The salt poisoning case earned international attention because many believed she was wrongfully convicted and her story was featured in the 2017 documentary, Until Proven Innocent. ABC News has followed Overton's and her husband's story since her original 2007 trial. Think of your other children, she urged the couple. The way it was explained to me, thats how I would be charged if I accidentally ran a stoplight and hit somebody, he said. He defecated on the floor of his bedroom, then smeared feces on the bed, the dresser, and the walls. This is a child that came in [to the emergency room] in cardiopulmonary arrest and was dying. The ministry's name Syndeo is taken from a Greek word meaning "to connect" or "be connected." Following college, he worked as a financial consultant and more recently as a consultant for Terrestar Networks. Hannah Overton, a south Texas mother of five whose wrongful conviction for the 2006 death of her foster son was overturned last year, is expected to receive over $500,000 in compensation from the state for the years she spent in jail. It was, Hannah and Larry would later remember, one of the happiest times in their lives. Because we were not thinking we were in a life-or-death situation, she insisted. January 21, 2023 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.. In the eyes of law enforcement, Hannah and Larry were not grieving parents but perpetrators of an appalling crime. Fleeing for Your Life? Before they started a family, Hannah worked as a private-duty nurse for disabled children, and her longest assignmentwith a four-year-old named Michael Subialdeabecame as absorbing to her as her time in Reynosa. One of the recent fundraising efforts involves providing "chill towels" to incarcerated women this summer because most Texas prisons are without air conditioning. Prosecutors had accused her of givingthe boy a mix of water and spicy seasoning that contributed to the high levels of sodium in his system. Hannah Marie Hurtin Overton (1823-1901) - Find a We met when he was helping her move. The burden on the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was, Gilmore told me, perhaps less than it should have been. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. 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 states case would be predicated in part on the findings of Ray Fernandez, the Nueces County medical examiner, who ruled Andrews death to be a homicide. Hannahs supporters included a young churchgoer named Dawn Werkhoven, who had lived with the Overtons the year leading up to Andrews death. Hannah Overton was just an ordinary homeschool mom. I came in the morning, and I left in the evening. Pleading out to that was much better than having my children grow up without a mother or a father. In exchange for his plea, Larry was given five years probation and a $5,000 fine. Hess and a group of CPS workers were standing in the back with dark glasses on, their arms crossed, scowls on their faces, Carver said. Peace be with you, Dabney. Murder Charges Dropped Against Hannah Overton, Texas Mom - ABC News The prosecution portrayed her as a mother who had lost control and tried to punish the young boy by giving him seasoning mixed in water. [I] fully disclosed the DAs offices case file to the defense, she wrote in the lengthy statement. Hannah, my sister, Carolyn, and John and I are very sadden to learn about Dabney's passing. Hannah Spencer Overton (born Haile) in FamilySearch Family Tree Hannah Overton in U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Hannah Spencer Haile in MyHeritage family trees (Baker Family Site (23andMe)) view all Immediate Family Private ex-spouse Private child Hannah Overton Tiffany daughter Private child Edmond Ware Haile father Irene Margarite Tyler He was a loyal Red Sox Nation member and I a Yankees Universe devotee. Hannah was always drawn to stray people.. There were so many bruises and scratches that it would be difficult to describe them all. Rotta allowed that the appearance of Andrews body may have been due in part to the fact that he was coagulopathic, or not able to clot blood properly, a condition that occurs after a person has gone into cardiac arrest and can cause excessive bleeding and bruising. Richard and his wife had tried all sorts of tactics to deter him: redirecting his attention, putting gloves on him, even restraining his hands. He picked at mosquito bites on his body incessantly, prompting Larry to put socks on his hands; still, Andrew would not stop scratching and eventually developed a staph infection on his arm. 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. She had a way with Michael that even my wife and I didnt completely understand, his father, Richard, told me. How had Hannah, who was six months pregnant and recovering from whiplash, managed to overpower Andrew? But what Ive realized is that I can trust his heart, even though I dont understand his plan. The reality that Hannah, who is 34, may spend the rest of her life in prison for capital murdera sentence usually reserved for violent criminals who pose a continuing threat to societyis one she is still struggling to understand; even harder to grasp is the possibility that she might never be reunited with her children. I was one of those who was lucky enough to share a friendship with this kind, strong and loving man. Once a month, Larry loads the kids into his van and they make the trip together, although on those visits, no contact is allowed. As the verdict was read, Hannah looked horror-struck. Why Does He Get to Make That Call? In the midst of the chaos that followed, no one recognized how distressed Andrew was by the sight of Hannahs bloodied face. 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. hannah overton obituary The following evening, Andrew was dead. I am truly shocked and saddened to hear of Dabney's passing. Dinner was potato soupIts good and filling, and its cheap, Larry told mewhich the kids dived into after saying grace. Dabney Overton Jr. | Obituaries | dnronline.com - Daily News-Record In 2011, Overtons appellate attorney, Cynthia Orr, filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking a new trial. The media coverage of the case stirred widespread outrage. I knew Dabney through my daughter. She had been released on bond in December after a Texas appellate court overturned her conviction and life sentence for the death of 4-year-old Andrew Burd, the child Overton and her husband, Larry, were in the process of adopting before he died. I plan their birthday parties from here, she told me. Dabney Overton III (1963-2009) - Find a Grave Memorial Box 70, Millers Tavern, Va.; St. Christopher's School, 711 St. Christopher's Road, Richmond, Va. 23226; or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 1108 E. Main St. Suite 1600, Richmond, Va. 23219. Detective Hess was put on administrative leave in 2008 after it came to light that he had disclosed confidential information to the suspect in an ongoing investigation for indecency with a child. They were no different from other children their age: exuberant, funny, guileless. More outspoken was Andrews Sunday school teacher, who sat Hannah and Larry down and told them that he was a troubled kid. A comment someone made was that it appeared that this child had been in a fight with a porcupine, the physician stated. At 4 a.m., she reports to the laundry, where she folds shirts and hands out clean clothes to inmates. Kids loved her. hannah overton obituary The jury found that Mrs. Overton failed to procure medical care within a reasonable time frame, she wrote in an affidavit that was later filed with Hannahs appeal. — -- Murder charges against Hannah Overton, a south Texas mother of five who had been convicted in the 2007 salt poisoning trial in the death of her foster son, have been dismissed by the district attorney. The prosecutions most persuasive testimony came from Rotta, the pediatric critical care specialist who had originally expressed concern that Andrew had been mistreated. New evidence cited in salt poisoning case - mysanantonio.com I remind them that the Lord loves him more than anyone could and we will see him again someday.. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. But as the afternoon wore on, his symptoms grew troubling; his breathing became congested, and he became less and less responsive. He recalled how Michael used to chew on his fingers, a chronic problem that left his skin bloody and raw. By that point, they had already been shown numerous photos of Andrews small, bruised body postmortem. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Write your message of sympathy today. Hannah Overton, a south Texas mother of five whose wrongful conviction for the 2006 death of her foster son was overturned last year, is expected to receive over $500,000 in compensation from the state for the years she spent in jail. I was blessed to know him, and his family is in my prayers. Despite all the pain, she told me that if she could do it over again, she would not change their decision to bring Andrew into their home. What a great sense of comfort to know that I could be greated on the other side by such a kind person. But just as the prosecution could not show exactly how Hannah had forced Andrew to ingest a lethal dose of salt, neither could the defense give precise details for how the four-year-old had come to have so much sodium in his body. . "We are so excited about all God has done in and through all of this. Hannah was sure I would eventually come around. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. She and Larry were under tremendous financial strain, she admitted, but she stressed that they had rushed for help as soon as they realized how critical Andrews condition was. The kids took me out back, where they jumped on the trampoline and played hide-and-seek in the salt grass. She believed that Andrews eating habits were not the stuff of pathology but those of a growing boy. Thats what Im trying to get you to tell me. With no obvious explanations to consider, he focused his attention on Hannah. This was not a child that came into the office looking well, with a story of, you know, Hes just a tomboy, and he falls and hits himself, Rotta would later testify. Channel Three, Channel Six, Channel Ten, the Caller-Timesthey all knew ahead of time, Gilmore said. Skurka ended up dropping the new case against her in 2015 but Overton remained in legal limbo until Gonzalez officially declared her innocence last year, thus closing a significant chapter on this decade-long case. 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. I kept denying that Hannah could do such a thing, she told me. There was no evidence of external bleeding or injuries to Andrews head, however, and at a pre-trial hearing, Fernandez conceded that the hemorrhaging could have been related to elevated sodium in the blood. And given that abuse and neglect during the first year of life can profoundly affect behavioral development, they were not surprised that Andrew was different. At a subsequent family court hearing, in which Hannahs civil attorney argued that she should be given access to the infant so that she could continue nursing her, Judge Lewis returned Emma to her parents, but with conditions. He was a very sweet and kind person. (Hannahs mother and stepfatherwhom the courts had named managing conservators of the childrenwere then able to return them to Larrys custody.) Hannah R. (Saem) Overton . Hannah R. (Saem) Overton (born 1977) - Texas Early in the pregnancy, Hannah and Larry were informed that the boy would likely have Down syndrome. Short on time as the trial drew to a close, the defense had asked Moritzwho needed to return to Pittsburghto sit for a videotaped deposition; when the deposition ran long and could not be completed, the defense was unable to enter it as testimony. Larry turned them down. The absence of their mother and their late brother was quietly acknowledged. I feel so fortunate to have spent time with him. Days after she gave birth to her daughter Emma, CPS took the newborn into protective custody. Hannah understood little of what had taken place except that she, her mother, and her brother had to leave Corpus Christi behind. On several occasions his fits had grown so extreme that she had resorted to asking a male parishioner to physically remove him from the classroom until he could regain self-control. Hess became exasperated. A more thorough investigation would have uncovered ample evidence to suggest that Andrew had an undiagnosed eating disorder, raising the possibility that he had unintentionally consumed too much salt on his own. Then, abruptly, Andrew grew quiet and stumbled to the floor. See production, box office & company info. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Other witnesses testified that they had detected signs of abuse. Dabney was always smiling, no matter what was going on in his life. So it is the context and the totality of the injuries that worried me. Im supposed to be done crying, she said apologetically at one point, brushing away tears. When I first learned Andrew had died, I was angry, he explained to me. There were days I had to remind her to eat, to brush her teeth, to get out of bed, Noreen told me. But after the girls, the Overtons conceived their fourth child, Sebastian. The Registry also maintains a more limited database of known exonerations prior to 1989. Andrew accompanied his foster mother to services every Sunday, and with his thatch of blond hair and beaming grin, he was hard to miss. Even more devastating to Hannah were the actions that CPS took that January. Dabney always took time to talk to people and was a friend to many. Yet according to the unusual wording of the jury charge, jurors had to believe just one of two scenarios to find Hannah guilty: that she deliberately made Andrew ingest a lethal amount of salt or that she purposely neglected to get timely medical attention, knowing that this would kill him. When Michael put his fingers in his mouth, she would call his name softlythere was no anger in her voiceand he would smile and slowly slide his fingers out, Richard said. Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim? Does anybody remember that? News reports that followed, prominently featuring their grim-faced mug shots, cast the Overton home as a house of horrors. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. The Overtons moved forward with the adoption process, and in the spring of 2006, they received word that Andrew would be coming to live with them for a six-month trial period before the adoption was finalized. 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. She also described her unease with Eastwoods trial strategy, claiming the prosecutor had told her that they would not be calling Cortes because a record in his file indicated that Andrew had behavioral problems. I wasnt thinking, obviously, or I would have just taken him to the hospital, Hannah told the detective. Guest Book Not sure what to say? Its not even a consideration, she said. He. But as devoted Christians, their desire to adopt a foster child was rooted in faith more than in practicality. Overton was released on bond in December 2014 after a Texas appellate court overturned her conviction and life sentence. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Cynthia Hujar-Orr, Gerry Goldstein and John Raley were apart of Overtons appellate team, http://pr-prod.com/project/until-proven-innocent/, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/10/da-declare-texas-woman-innocent-salt-poisoning-case/315400001/, https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-mother-freed-spending-years-prison-foster-sons/story?id=26186920. My husband Al and I were shocked and saddened to hear of Dabney's death. Heritage Funeral Home 3700 Forest Lawn Dr, Matthews, NC 28104, Weddington Methodist Church 13901 Providence Rd, Weddington, NC 28104. At the clinic, she continued giving him mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions until paramedics took over, but the four-year-old lay motionless. I wish his family well. She was unflappable and unfailingly patient with children. Sadly she lost her . If you would like a copy via email, please let me know. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. CORPUS CHRISTI - Early on Oct. 3, 2006, the morning after her neighbor Hannah Overton had rushed a dying 4-year-old boy to a nearby urgent care clinic, Kathi Haller got a visit from police. After your child dies to be told that somebody think its your fault. I knew Dabney in highschool and we became reaquainted through sailing and always remarked "what a small, small world." Despite all the pain, she told me that if she could do it over again, she would not change their decision to bring Andrew into their home. Andrew flew into a rage. Larry and Hannah knew that Andrew loved Spider-Man, so they made sure to have all manner of Spider-Man-themed necessities for him: sheets, pajamas, a toothbrush, a towel, a swimsuit, and even a plate embossed with the superheros image. Meny Lukk national monument bank uk; will arnett brothers and sisters celebrity wifi packages cost. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. In his role as single dad, he is aided by his extended family and his many friends from Calvary Chapel, who pitch in to do cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, and babysitting. Overton cites a Bible verse from Hebrews 13:3 on the ministry website to explain its mission: "Remember those in prisonas if you were bound with them! Dabney will be missed by so many. He will be missed by his many friends. (After his arrest, he lost most of his clients. Murder by omission or conviction by design? - San Antonio Express-News In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. By the time Hannah took the stand, jurors appeared to have made up their minds. Although he hung back when his siblings embraced their parents in group hugs, Larry and Hannah learned that if they asked Andrew to join in, he would do so enthusiastically, throwing his arms around them. It was like they were arresting Bonnie and Clyde, Gilmore said. I think I'll always remember him as simply super cool himself. Hess suspicions had developed the previous evening during an interview with Hannah, who had consented to talk to him without an attorney present. Much loved daughter of Andrew and Susan, dearly loved sister of. The newly discovered documents, Moritz later told me, were a monumentally important piece of evidence., The discovery soon exposed strains among the prosecution team. Obituary | Alton Overton | Ashby Funeral Home We were just waiting for someone to look at it and say this is just an accident, Larry Overton added. 1 x 120' / Produced for Discovery Networks. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians, The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. I am a better person for knowing him. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. Nevertheless, the idea that Andrew had sustained a head injury propelled the case forward, further casting Hannah as an abuser. I also could never begin to thank those who supported us, prayed and prayed for us, and walked with us along the entire way, Overton said. Michael, who had been born prematurely, was severely impaired; he had cerebral palsy, was blind, and could not walk or talk. He was a good friend and a great dancer!! Larry Overton was also charged with murder, but after his wife's conviction, he was offered a plea deal and was given probation. She reported Andrews unusual eating habits to his adoption supervisor when she visited the Overton home on September 25. To find Hannah guilty, jurors had to believe either of two scenarios: that Hannah Overton force-fed Andrew salt knowing it would kill him or that she neglected to get medical help fast enough knowing that it would kill him. Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim? If anything had been wrong, I would have known it, she insisted. The physician only said that the scratch marks he had noticed on the boys neck had been caused, he believed, by another person. "Wow, we don't even know where to begin," Hannah Overton told ABC News exclusively after she heard that her case had been dismissed and she would not have to endure another trial. Hannah Overton announced the birth of her sixth child, Gabriela Aliana, this week in a Facebook post that described a difficult delivery. lakers celebrity seating chart 2019 bottle caps candy root beer only bottle caps candy root beer only Their arrests came so quickly after Andrew died, they said, that they had no time to grieve for the boy they hoped to permanently make a part of their family. Dabney will be missed by many. The marks could be consistent with many things, including a fight, an altercation, someone trying to hold this childs neck forcefully, he said. To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our. May your memories bring you comfort. His other passion was his beloved dogs. Sue and I were certainly saddened to learn of the death of Dabney. Standing just five feet tall, with wide-set brown eyes, a girlish laugh, and a warm, easy manner, Hannah was almost childlike herself. I feel honored to have shared his presence. Though the kids were in poor health, Hannah was unreserved in her affection. Not long after his arrest, a grand jury upgraded the charges against him to capital murder, and he feared that he too might face life in prison. The information on this website does NOT constitute legal advice and you may not rely on it as such. When they took him along on errands, they had to keep him from eating the old gum and cigarette butts he found on the ground. If you would like to discuss your case with an attorney at Goldstein & Orr, then please contact us to schedule a consultation. (Haller, their next-door neighbor, has since moved to Houston.) Looking for any information that might bolster the appeal, Orr requested access to the prosecutions case file. They chattered about an upcoming birthday party and discussed the merits of their favorite colors, finishing each others sentences between slurps of soup. Alton Lewis Overton, age 66, of Bryant; passed away Wednesday March 7, 2007. That perception would throw her other children into the investigation as well. The death of a childparticularly a sudden, unexplained death in which abuse is suspectedevokes strong emotions, even among seasoned investigators, doctors, forensics experts, and prosecutors. Hannah Overton from Fengate was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia shortly after a match in July with the Parkway Bowling Club which plays its home matches in Maskew Avenue. Larry and Hannah caught him trying to eat cat food, crayons, toothpaste, glow sticks, tufts of carpetinganything he could get his hands on. That official statement granted her access to state funds that are provided to the wrongfully convicted and also prevented her from being tried for the crime again. Obituary OVERTON, Dabney III, died peacefully on Monday, November 9, 2009 surrounded by family and friends. Hey dear, so sorry to hear this newstake care of yourself and your familythinking of you!! "I could never thank my attorneys enough for fighting endlessly to prove my innocence and bring me home," she said. To the Overton's; Please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss. She's since createdSyndeo Ministries tohelp prisonerstransition back into society. . The best memory is of riding camp the following summer when Dabney and a friend opted for motorcycle helmets rather than riding hard hats.