He displayed hyperactive behavior and possibly had some cognitive delays as well. The doctors assessment of Andrew as developmentally delayed was significant because it dovetailed with Hannahs testimony. A church member who homeschools her daughters educates the Overton children, using lesson plans Hannah sends her. If you would like to discuss your case with an attorney at Goldstein & Orr, then please contact us to schedule a consultation. Before she was led away in handcuffs, the couple embraced for several minutes, overcome with emotion. If anything had been wrong, I would have known it, she insisted. I asked Hannah if her faith had been shaken by Andrews loss and the suffering that she and her family had experienced. Write your message of sympathy today. Witnesses outside the home said they had seen Andrew's bizarre habits, too. Our condolences to his family and friends. During the consultation the attorney can discuss whether our firm can assist you. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. State district judge Jose Longoria, who would oversee Hannahs trial the following fall, would later rule Fernandezs finding of blunt force trauma to be inadmissible because it was not based on sufficient data or reliable methodology. Does God want a child to go to bed hurting, in pain, fearful, being looked at by closed-circuit television? 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. Andrews standard answer whenever he was asked to perform a simple task was Sorry, I cant, but Hannah was heartened one day that summer when he deviated from the script. Before they headed to bed, Larry turned up the lights for their nightly devotions. See production, box office & company info. 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. Jonah Lee Overton Obituary It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Jonah Lee Overton (Charlotte, North Carolina), who passed away on January 21, 2023, at the age of 92, leaving to mourn family and friends. Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. I am sorry to hear of Dabney's passing. 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. While he was relieved not to have to serve prison time, the discrepancy between his wifes punishment and his own left him stupefied. Knew him well growing up. Absolutely not, Hannah shot back. He recalled how Michael used to chew on his fingers, a chronic problem that left his skin bloody and raw. Dabney was a great guy. . He touched my heart and those of my dear friends. He was an example to many by the way he lived his life and his loyalty to those values that determine a true friend. She could not recall later what, exactly, he had been holding in his hand. At Andrews request, he made a plate of sausage and more than a dozen eggs, all of which the boy eagerly devoured. a few minutes before we actually took him in, she testified. 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. I worked with him at Branch, Cabell many years ago. 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. I see Dabney very clearly at the dog park with Moose and Betsy, gliding along with that long stride of his and his big smile for everyone. 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. She is amazing!". They chattered about an upcoming birthday party and discussed the merits of their favorite colors, finishing each others sentences between slurps of soup. The Corpus Christi Caller-Timess online comments section filled with the vitriol of readers, some of whom called for Hannah to receive the death penalty. The cause of death was determined to be salt poisoning, an extremely rare occurrence that, in children, results from either a child inadvertently ingesting too much salt or a caretaker deliberately forcing the child to do so. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. It was, Hannah and Larry would later remember, one of the happiest times in their lives. On their honeymoon, they stopped at the orphanage in Reynosa, where Hannah wanted Larry to meet some of the children she had told him so much about. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Gilmore and his defense team, which included two civil attorneys versed in the intricacies of medical testimony, tried to counter the prosecutions claims that Hannah had poisoned Andrew and purposely delayed medical treatment. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Former prosecutor Anna Jimenez, who had assisted Eastwood as second chair at Hannahs trial, subsequently wrote a letter to Orr claiming that a sheaf of medical records that Eastwood had asked her to fax to an expert witness before trial had not included the documents that Orr had uncovered. I was assured that they would be seeking lesser charges. During the trial, he said, I sat at the courthouse for five days, waiting to testify. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Hannah would remind him, quoting Philippians. Zion Church of the Brethren. He had a speech delay and spoke haltingly, sometimes with a stutter, but every week, when his Sunday school classmates went around in a circle to say their prayer requests, he made the same wish aloud: that he would be adopted. What a loss for all of us; he will be missed. Hannah Overton, far right, sits next to her attorney, Cynthia Orr, center, and prosecutor, Doug Norman, April 26, 2012 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Yet the Overtons were not too concerned. There have been a few tear-filled nights because one of the kids misses Andrew, Larry told me later. Sending hope that your healing is swift. He was such a kind person, always with a smile on his face and a warm hug. After her shift ends in the late morning, there are letters to write home, in which she tries to stay present in her childrens lives by choreographing what she can from a distance. There was a dead child, he observed. At the clinic, she continued giving him mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions until paramedics took over, but the four-year-old lay motionless. . 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. 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. We are grateful for the help and support of so many over the years who contributed to achieving what, for the Overton children, is a joyous result. Exhausted from the previous night, she briefly dozed off, then awoke to discover that Andrew had slipped out of the room. There are really no words. Mommy, Im cold, he said, and threw up. He was an avid sailor who was active in the Fishing Bay Yacht Club and raced with the crew of La Maga. 1 x 120' / Produced for Discovery Networks. 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 believe that the same God who made him is with him now in the most immediate sense. 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. The kids now range in age from four to twelve, and when I visited them late one afternoon, not long after I had seen Hannah, they seemed unencumbered by the tragedy that had engulfed their family. Andrew spent his first night at the Overtons modest ranch-style house on Mothers Day, when he was two months shy of his fourth birthday, and he seemed to quickly grow attached to his new family. He was good to everyone he met. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Once reunited with their childrenwho were terrified by the ordealLarry and Hannah had to break the awful news to them about Andrew. Dabney will be missed by so many. One of the recent fundraising efforts involves providing "chill towels" to incarcerated women this summer because most Texas prisons are without air conditioning. Andrew seems very happy in this home.. The Overtons were returning from a visit to the obstetricians office, where they had brought the children to find out whether the baby they were expecting was a boy or a girl. Its not even a consideration, she said. Hannah must sit on the opposite side of a metal divider, behind Plexiglas. I first met him shortly after the death of my husband 4 years ago and his kind, gentle spirit and wonderful sense of humor made such a difference at that time and ever since. My prayers and thoughts are with you all. Hess suspicions had developed the previous evening during an interview with Hannah, who had consented to talk to him without an attorney present. Not long afterward, Larry and Hannah heard about Andrew at their church, Calvary Chapel of the Coastlands, which Andrews foster mother also attended. Larry left for work the following morning, and Hannah, who was still in considerable pain from the car accident, gave Andrew and Sebastian breakfast before bringing them into bed with her to watch cartoons. He inspired me to take up running, and to go from owning 1 dog to 2! We were in awe.. He was a supportive friend to so many people, including me. This is a child that came in [to the emergency room] in cardiopulmonary arrest and was dying. Only Hannah had been able to break through. Larry attempted to restore order upon his return, putting Andrews soiled sheets in the garbage and hosing off the boy and his foam mattress in the backyard. She was always smiling, always laughing. As a teenager, she was captivated by missionaries stories of serving in far-flung places, and she began going on group mission trips herself, once venturing as far as Romania. Before the family returned home, Andrew asked if he could have lunch, and Hannah told him that he needed to wait; Larry was bringing them something to eat, she explained, and he would be back in a few minutes. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Andrews former foster mother, Sharon Hamil, who was devastated by the boys death, testified that Andrew had not exhibited significant developmental or behavioral problems, aside from his speech delay, during the time that he lived with hera characterization that was rebutted by numerous members of Calvary Chapel later in the trial but that cast Hannahs credibility into doubt. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? 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. But he was adamant that the boys death had not been accidental. lakers celebrity seating chart 2019 bottle caps candy root beer only bottle caps candy root beer only The absence of their mother and their late brother was quietly acknowledged. I enjoyed each conversation we had about fishing, sailing and other things we both were interest in. Although the adoption agency that had worked with CPS to find Andrew a home had described him as developmentally on target except for his speech delay, Larry and Hannah observed otherwise. I will always remember Dabney's love of animals, nature and good music. They said Andrew was going through a very difficult time, she said. He was a gentle and kind person always willing to help others. Could it be that you held his nose, held his neck, and made him drink this horrible concoction? the prosecutor challenged her during a withering cross-examination. The jury was not just going to let her walk.. Fleeing for Your Life? I was just trying to fix itto do anything I could to fix my baby, she said. . Regardless of how much food he consumed, he complained that he was hungry. Report an error or add more information about this case. 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. My job requires me to be an advocate for the state. Because we were not thinking we were in a life-or-death situation, she insisted. His mothers and fathers parental rights were terminated soon after he turned three. The entire Davila family sends our heart felt condolences to Dabney's family. They speculated Andrew might have had pica, an eating disorder characterized by an obsessive appetite and that Andrew accidentally poisoned himself by consuming a fatal amount of sodium. Dabney always took time to talk to people and was a friend to many. You can ask, Why didnt she go to the hospital sooner? but in hindsight, everything is obvious. My sons in high school now. 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. Several crossed their arms; others looked away. I wish you and your family peace in this difficult time. 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. The mood in the car was giddy; the kids were excitedly discussing the news that they would have a baby sister when Larry, distracted, ran a stop sign and collided with another car. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. My Mother and Father will miss his visits to the house and his heartfelt caring and concerns for all of us. He was the first one to introduce me to kayaking from Aylett to Walkerton on the Mattaponi. Yet the image they conjuredof a woman grinning at the sight of a comatose four-year-oldwas devastating. I made sure that he saw that we had an identical set of Spider-Man sheets so he would calm down., That evening Larry laid a sleeping bag on top of Andrews plywood bed frame, where, he told the boy, he would have to spend the night while his mattress finished drying. And thanks for the movie, even though it was kind of weird. The kids took me out back, where they jumped on the trampoline and played hide-and-seek in the salt grass. Throughout the meal, Andrew repeatedly asked, Is my mom okay? He also kept requesting more food. He hoarded food and sometimes ate from the trash, she warned, and he threw intense temper tantrums, which could be tamed only by holding and rocking him. Rather than let him remain in his wheelchair most of the day, as previous caretakers had done, Hannah kept him moving; she took him into his familys pool to stretch and used massage to loosen his contracted muscles. Left: Andrew and Isabel playing together. It was very tense. Dabney and I were great friends while I lived in Richmond back in the late 80s - Browder,Russell days. After nearly eleven hours of deliberationduring which jurors sent out thirteen notes to the judge, primarily seeking to clarify medical testimonythe jury found her guilty of capital murder. The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence. Until then, she said, Andrew was doing nothing that my other kids hadnt done with the flu. But Saenzs account of his whereabouts on the evening of the murder did not jibe with the evidence, and blood that matched the victims type was discovered inside his van. Frantic, Hannah began administering CPR in the backseat. As long as I can make a nonfrivolous argument, Ill make it, but nothing in my job prevents me from praying for a more just outcome., There have been a few tear-filled nights because one of the kids misses Andrew, Larry said. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. The Overtons rushed him to a nearby urgent care clinic after his breathing became labored and he stopped responding to their questions, but by the time they arrived, he had fallen unconscious. The boy was diagnosed with a toxic salt overdose and died the following day. I know he will be missed by all his family and friends. Loose teeth, first day of kindergarten, last day of kindergarten. In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. Overwhelmed, the Overtons sought guidance in prayer. God bless you Dabney, we'll miss you. He was a nice guy. I feel happy. A very special person has been taken from our midst and is and will be greatly missed. Dabney was loved and treasured for his gentle nature, ready smile, and intelligent wit. Overton had to have a blood transfusion and her new daughter spent a few days in a neonatal intensive care unit. No amount of money will ever bring back the years that were taken away, and the seven years of freedom I lost. She reported Andrews unusual eating habits to his adoption supervisor when she visited the Overton home on September 25. Hannah Overton, far right, sits next to her attorney, Cynthia Orr, center, and prosecutor, Doug Norman, April 26, 2012, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Hannah Overton is expected to receive compensation for wrongful incarceration. There was a time when I questioned how God could allow this to happen, she said. Even more devastating to Hannah were the actions that CPS took that January. In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. According to her family tree, she married Larry D. Overton on August 9, 1997 in Texas . I miss everything, she later wrote to me. Hess had given me his word that he would tell me if and when warrants were going to be issued, so that Hannah and Larry could turn themselves in. Instead, law enforcement officials had apprehended the Overtons by making a felony traffic stop, a practice usually reserved for suspects believed to be armed and dangerous. Andrews foster mother, who had provided refuge to roughly three hundred children over three decades, was also supportive. . She left nursing behind, channeling her energy instead into raising the large family she had always wanted. Larry was charged with injury to a child for failing to get Andrew timely medical attention. They also discovered that Hannah was pregnant again. We loved him and will miss him. There wasnt anything that I thought was dangerously wrong with him at that point. Then he corrected himself. The jury was not just going to let her walk. Capital murder carries two possible punishments in Texasthe death penalty or life without paroleand the district attorneys office had already decided not to seek death. We know that Hannah R. (Saem) Overton had been residing in Texas . (Like Eastwood, neither Norman nor Jimenez would comment for this article.) Larry had also tried to rouse him by giving him a warm bath. 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. I have mitigating testimony that I think would have been very useful to your client, he said in a voice mail he left for Gilmore. Sue and I were certainly saddened to learn of the death of Dabney. 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. I wasnt thinking, obviously, or I would have just taken him to the hospital, Hannah told the detective. Died Feb. 18, 2003 Mrs. Nettie Sue Overton, 78, Florence passed away Tuesday at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. So she had to find a way out. (Hess did not respond to interview requests for this article but has previously denied Hallers version of events.) Still, the overall impression was a damning one. I dont see what caused the trauma to the brain, he said. Over the course of the three-week-long trial, Eastwood sought to convince jurors that a mother with no history of violence or mental illness had force-fed her child to deatha scenario that each prosecution witness helped, incrementally, to suggest was possible. Published in Legacy from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, 2009. After examining Andrews medical records, he had determined that the boys death was likely accidental. With guns drawn, police officers had surrounded Hannah and Larrys car as they returned from an errand, forcing them to the ground and handcuffing them. May God wrap his loving arms around you until we meet again. Here are the tributes to Jonah Lee Overton. The children liked to hang out in her room and talk to her, particularly Andrew, who always visited her for an extra hug before bedtime. Then, abruptly, Andrew grew quiet and stumbled to the floor. But others at Calvary Chapel expressed their concern. information about the Registry, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. 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.
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