My husband, Tom, and I were deeply saddened to hear of Dabney's sudden passing. Taken together, the disparate details formed a disturbing picture. (Both carry shorter sentences and differ from capital murder on the issue of intent; a motorist who hits and kills someone while driving too fast is often deemed to be criminally negligent in that he did not set out to take a life but was aware of the danger of speeding.) Thank you Dabney for blessing my life with your presence. Andrew was a sweet boy who had significant neurological and developmental disorders. The sheets were filthy, and he was getting poop everywhere. In the classes they had been required to take by CPS to become adoptive parents, they had been warned that foster children often hoarded food and were more likely to have eating disorders. I worked with Dabney in the mortgage industry a few years ago and he was everything you described. 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. ), As the Overtons wait on the appellate courts, Larry goes about the task of raising their five children, while also trying to rebuild his business. Sending hope that your healing is swift. My Mother and Father will miss his visits to the house and his heartfelt caring and concerns for all of us. Its not even a consideration, she said. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. That was the most uncomfortable service I have ever done. Because he was vomiting? I came in the morning, and I left in the evening. 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. This is a child that came in [to the emergency room] in cardiopulmonary arrest and was dying. Instead we were arrested.. Larry hurried home to help, but Andrew, who had been vomiting, only grew worse. As Andrews condition deteriorated, CPS barred the Overtons from visiting their son. How had Hannah, who was six months pregnant and recovering from whiplash, managed to overpower Andrew? 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 enjoyed each conversation we had about fishing, sailing and other things we both were interest in. Every Saturday for the past several years, Larry has ridden his motorcycle from Corpus Christi to the Murray Unit, the maximum-security womens prison west of Waco where Hannah is incarcerated: a squat, concrete building walled off from the world with cyclone fencing and coils of razor wire. Elaine and I are deeply saddened by his sudden passing. I am truly saddened to hear of Dabney's sudden passing. He acted more like a toddler than a preschooler, they noted; if he wanted an object, he pointed to it and grunted. When she refused to give him a second helping, he threw a tantrum and shouted, I hate you! Finally, Hannah resorted to sprinkling some Zatarains into a sippy cup of water, hoping that the taste alone would appease him. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hannah Spencer Haile Overton and infant brother, Charles. 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. 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. Emma, the youngest, trailed behind them with a doll, occasionally running inside to bang on the piano. Dabney was born on July 31, 1963 and grew up in Essex County, Va. By the time Hannah took the stand, jurors appeared to have made up their minds. We spoke last Tuesday about a biking trip we had plan in the spring to Cherokee,N.C. Until his arrest, Saenz had led a seemingly normal life: in addition to leading his nondenominational congregation, he worked as an office-machine mechanic while his wife, Lane, stayed home with their two children. 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. Hannah shrugged off the teachers warnings, certain that Andrew would improve once he had the stability of a permanent home. As Larry stood in the kitchen and peeled potatoes, the kidsexcited to have a visitorshowed me around their house, pointing out their favorite hiding places and the plaster cast of their footprints in the hallway, which includes the letter A for Andrew. . People who knew the Overtons were certain that Andrews bewildering death was accidental. Larry called out that dinner was ready, and we gathered inside around a rough-hewn oak table he had made years ago. He didnt drink or smoke, and the bands he listened to sang about glorifying God. The burden on the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was, Gilmore told me, perhaps less than it should have been. Overton's case drew national attention and she was the subject of the documentary "Until Proven Innocent.". The intentional poisoning of a child is usually perpetrated with sedatives, anticonvulsants, or medications like injectable insulin, not food, he told me. At 13, he served as a page for the General Assembly of Virginia. God bless you Dabney, we'll miss you. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Knowing Hannah, it was inconceivable that she would ever hurt a child, said Noreen. (More shocking details on abuse suffered by four-year-old before death, began one breathless report.) . Dabney was loved and treasured for his gentle nature, ready smile, and intelligent wit. (A subsequent investigation by the attorney generals office found that no crimes had been committed. He is in my thoughts and his family in my prayers. There was a dead child, he observed. We were just waiting for someone to look at it and say this is just an accident, Larry Overton added. Absolutely not, Hannah shot back. Overton spent seven years in prison before the Texas Court of Appeals overturned her capital murder charges on September 17, 2014. Lane earned her college degree and became an elementary school teacher, while Hannah played with, and later babysat, the children of missionaries who used the campus as a home base between trips abroad. The Overtons already had four children, and Larrys incomehe installed landscape lightingwas barely enough to make ends meet. I remind them that the Lord loves him more than anyone could and we will see him again someday.. Overton spent seven years in prison before the Texas Court of Appeals overturned her capital murder charges on September 17, 2014. In anticipation of his arrival, Larry built a three-tiered bunk bed for Andrew and the two Overton boys: Isaac, who was seven years old, and Sebastian, who was two. Hannah was sure I would eventually come around. She would later admit, according to one report, to using alcohol, methamphetamines, cocaine and crack cocaine, LSD, marijuana, cigarettes, and taking prescription Xanax. His father was seventeen and worked for a traveling carnival. 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. In the eyes of law enforcement, Hannah and Larry were not grieving parents but perpetrators of an appalling crime. Funeral service for Wendell Leon Overton, 81, of Cullman, will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 24, 2021 in the Cullman Funeral Home Chapel. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Nicole . He soon lapsed into a coma. The world was a better place because of him. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks. "We are over the top in love with our new blessing! Inside the Bro-tastic Party Mansions Upending a Historic Austin Community, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. My husband enjoyed sailing with him at FBYC and running into him during a few running events in Richmond. To never have been producedit was very strange.. 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. Preceded in death by his mother Hannah Spencer Haile Overton and infant brother Charles. I enjoyed his company and was truly blessed to have shared time with him. 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. Hannahs supporters included a young churchgoer named Dawn Werkhoven, who had lived with the Overtons the year leading up to Andrews death. Myron attended Longfellow elementary, Panama Union and Kern In 2011, Overtons appellate attorney, Cynthia Orr, filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking a new trial. In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. We have a child that was well until that afternoon, that had behavioral issues, that was having temper tantrums, that was then given something . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. . Dabney will be missed by a wide range of supportive friends and family. But law enforcement officials are accustomed to handling child abuse cases, not medical mysteries, and salt poisoning is rare enough that most emergency room doctors will never encounter a case during their careers. Then he corrected himself. 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 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. Andrew was not a normal child, Cortes explained to me. Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim? He had a speech disorder called echolalia, which is one of the things we see typically in children who have autism spectrum disorders. She had told the jury of the boys unusual habitsthe inappropriate eating, the obsessive picking and scratching, the head bangingbut her version of events had been tainted by the specter of abuse. But as devoted Christians, their desire to adopt a foster child was rooted in faith more than in practicality. Would I really have stayed with a family that would abuse a child?, The most unsettling aspect of The State of Texas v. Hannah Ruth Overton, which got under way in August 2007, was how effectively a woman who had spent most of her life as a do-gooder could be recast as a monster. When Andrews condition worsened, she and Larry had debated whether to call 911 or go to the nearby urgent care clinic, a concern because Andrew lacked health insurance. We shared wonderful times together as we mused over Rumi and different flavor ice creams. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration Sending a prayer to all his family & friends. We thought that he would stop turning to food for comfort when he learned that he could trust us. To try and curtail Andrews compulsive eating, they put him in time-outs, though to little effect. Following college, he worked as a financial consultant and more recently as a consultant for Terrestar Networks. But he was adamant that the boys death had not been accidental. Hannah and Andrew In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. Reaching for his shoes, he announced, I can do all things. Larry remembered, We felt like we were really making headway with him.. He will be missed. 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 writ is the final opportunity a defendant has to introduce new evidence into the record. (92 years old). There are really no words. 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. 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. Hannah, we are all so sorry for the loss of your brother. Before they headed to bed, Larry turned up the lights for their nightly devotions. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time., With love and warm memories of our Cousin Pete. Other witnesses testified that they had detected signs of abuse. I knew Dabney in highschool and we became reaquainted through sailing and always remarked "what a small, small world." But as the afternoon wore on, his symptoms grew troubling; his breathing became congested, and he became less and less responsive. The kids took me out back, where they jumped on the trampoline and played hide-and-seek in the salt grass. He was loved by many for his gentle nature and loyalty. 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. 1 x 120' / Produced for Discovery Networks. The very dilute gastric sodium contents suggest . I dont see what caused the high salt content. She and her husband Larry lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, and served faithfully in their church. Not until Sebastian was born did doctors discover that his only impairment was a hole in his heart, which healed on its own. Dabney will be missed by many. . Hannah would never harm a child. Even setting aside her loyalty to her friend, the detectives theory made no sense to her. They considered adopting a nine-year-old girl who was deaf, but when, after much prayer and deliberation, they decided to move forward with the adoption, they learned that the girl had been placed with another family. I was so shocked and saddened to learn today of Dabney's sudden and all too premature death. If you would like to discuss your case with an attorney at Goldstein & Orr, then please contact us to schedule a consultation. 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. Very sad to hear this news. Hannah Overton was just an ordinary homeschool mom. In the context of a criminal investigation, the calm that she had always exhibited in the midst of crisis was suddenly a liabilityan indication, perhaps, that she was cold-blooded enough to have killed a child. We know that Hannah R. (Saem) Overton had been residing in Texas . Hannah, I am very sad to hear this news. 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. that he had unrestricted access to water. Given these facts, he explained, There is not a single piece of evidence which suggests that Hannah Overton salt-poisoned Andrew. Instead, Moritz added, the most likely scenario was that Andrew accidentally salt-poisoned himself., In light of this information, Moritz felt certain that Andrews prognosis would have been the same whether or not Hannah had called an ambulance. They chattered about an upcoming birthday party and discussed the merits of their favorite colors, finishing each others sentences between slurps of soup. During the consultation the attorney can discuss whether our firm can assist you. Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim? OBITUARY - HANNAH OVERTON (HUNTINGDONSHIRE) Bowls England regrets to inform you that former Women's Junior International captain Hannah Overton passed away on 23rd December at the age of 28, after. I am so sorry to hear the news. She had a way with Michael that even my wife and I didnt completely understand, his father, Richard, told me. 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. Hannah Overton announced the birth of her sixth child, Gabriela Aliana, this week in a Facebook post that described a difficult delivery. I visited Hannah at the Murray Unit one bright, cloudless afternoon, when the warden granted her a few hours to speak with me. 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. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. Each pregnancy felt extraordinarily fortunate; after Isaac, Hannah had suffered two miscarriages and been advised that she might not be able to have more children. At first, the transition with Andrew went smoothly. The National Registry of Exonerations is a project of the Newkirk Center for Science & Society at University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. The following day, family court judge Carl Lewis awarded temporary custody to Hannahs mother and stepfather. Both womens accounts were problematic; Gonzalez had never made a statement to police and was testifying from memory after nearly a years worth of negative media coverage, while Zapata had failed to mention anything about Hannah smirking when she wrote her initial report about the incident. Sadly she lost her . They declined to do any further chromosomal testing and turned to prayer instead. She reported Andrews unusual eating habits to his adoption supervisor when she visited the Overton home on September 25. The passenger side of their old Ford van was not equipped with an air bag, and Hannah, who had pulled down her seat belt so she could turn to talk to the kids, was jolted forward, her face hitting the dashboard. We truly thought his obsession with food was a behavioral issue, not a medical one, Larry said. There's also Syndeo Ranch, a faith-based home to help women transitioning out of prison in Palestine. Dabney and I had spirited conversations about baseball. We truly thought his obsession with food was a behavioral issue, not a medical one, Larry said. Overton was convicted of capital murder, an automatic life sentence in Texas because the child was under the age of 6. Despite Eastwoods zeal, there were still basic questions that the prosecution could not explain. The Overtons daughters, four-year-old Isabel and three-year-old Ally, reported back to their parents that the new boy in their class needed a family. I am over the moon that Hannah has been granted compensation by Texas for her wrongful imprisonment, Orr told ABC News. Then District Attorney Mark Skurka dropped the case. Submit an Obituary . One paramedic recounted how he had seen two sores on Andrew that looked to me like cigarette burns because they were round. Another paramedic also believed the sores were cigarette burns, though he admitted he had only looked at them from a distance. Fernandez, the medical examiner, said he had observed burnlike scarring on Andrews arm that had likely been caused by contact with a hot surface. But neither Larry nor Hannah smoked. It was like they were arresting Bonnie and Clyde, Gilmore said. Its daily. Then, in the spring of 2010, Hannahs appellate attorney, Cynthia Orr, made a startling discovery. 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. Sign . Overtons conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal. His mother was just sixteen, the file shows, when she gave birth to him in Corpus Christi on July 28, 2002. An attorney-client relationship will arise between you and our firm only if we specifically agree to act for you. I knew Dabney from years ago when we played softball together.
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