information about the Registry, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. 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. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? 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. Its daily. The nondenominational church, on the south side of Corpus Christi, drew many young evangelicals with its emphasis on a verse-by-verse understanding of the Bible, and Larry and Hannah were well-regarded members. Dabney and I were great friends while I lived in Richmond back in the late 80s - Browder,Russell days. He had so many interests and was loyal to those he knew and was involved with, especially those he sailed with as that is where I knew him. Dabney will be missed as one of the "regular" offshore racing crew members at Fishing Bay. Last year, new District Attorney Mark Gonzalezfiled a motion toofficially declare her innocent. Submit an Obituary . Not long afterward, Larry and Hannah heard about Andrew at their church, Calvary Chapel of the Coastlands, which Andrews foster mother also attended. Love Carl Robertson, My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. 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. Once a month, Larry loads the kids into his van and they make the trip together, although on those visits, no contact is allowed. A funeral for Andrew followed at Seaside Memorial Park, alongside Corpus Christi Bay, at which Pastor Rod Carver officiated. At Andrews request, he made a plate of sausage and more than a dozen eggs, all of which the boy eagerly devoured. I spent many nights beating myself up over Could I have done this or could I have done that? Hannah told me, staring at her hands. Myron attended Longfellow elementary, Panama Union and Kern Sorry to hear of Dabney's passing. They asked us, Can you pray that we have discernment and wisdom in helping him through this?. All rights reserved. The experience had affected her deeply, and she told Larry that she was willing to adopt a child with disabilities or an older child who had been unable to find a permanent home. (Haller, their next-door neighbor, has since moved to Houston.) The sodium content of Zatarains is not listed on its packaging. Mr. Overton was a U. S. Army Veteran and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bryant. Nettie Overton Obituary (2003) - Huntsville, AL - The Huntsville Times Then District Attorney Mark Skurka dropped the case. New evidence cited in salt poisoning case - mysanantonio.com Dabney will be greatly missed, but not forgotten. We truly thought his obsession with food was a behavioral issue, not a medical one, Larry said. He inspired me to take up running, and to go from owning 1 dog to 2! Diane and Peter. He reached Doug Norman, who was part of the prosecution team at Hannahs trial and who is now responsible for fighting her appeal. Larry turned them down. The court ruledher trial lawyers were ineffective, and sent her case back to be retried. Hannah Marie Hurtin Overton (1823-1901) - Find a Find Hannah Overton obituaries and memorials at Legacy.com I remind them that the Lord loves him more than anyone could and we will see him again someday.. How can one person get probation and another get life without parole for the same thing? Larry said. I am so sorry to learn of Dabney's passing. This small benefit will allow her and her sweet family to continue to share their goodness with all of us with some degree of comfort. Larry Overton was also charged with murder, but after his wife's conviction, he was offered a plea deal and was given probation. January 21, 2023 Had Andrew sat among them, I realized, he would have been nine years old. Brother Paul Campbell will officiate the service. He was a great classmate and teamate at St Christopher's. Peace be with you, Dabney. 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. I am so sorry to hear the news. They had 4 children and were expecting their fifth. I dont see what caused the high salt content. 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. We will always remember him fondly as a fellow Friend of Bandy Field. (During the third week of the trial, moments before the case was sent to the jury, Eastwood had asked Judge Longoria if she could call Cortes as a rebuttal witness, but the judge, who had grown impatient with the length of the trial, denied her request.) Although I believe that Mrs. Overton was remiss in seeking timely medical care for Andrew Byrd, I do not believe that she intended or knew that this would result in his death. The wording of the jury charge, she added, had been ambiguous and confusing. Ultimately, Warfield wrote, I do not feel that justice has been served., Two days after Hannah was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a pediatrician named Edgar Cortes took the unusual step of contacting Gilmore. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. He was an example to many by the way he lived his life and his loyalty to those values that determine a true friend. Sue and I were certainly saddened to learn of the death of Dabney. 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. 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. 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. 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. Share Obituary. "We are over the top in love with our new blessing! But had jurors fully understood the decision they had been asked to make? My two boys will remember him always as "that tall man with the super cool motorcycle". Im supposed to be done crying, she said apologetically at one point, brushing away tears. Murder Charges Dropped Against Hannah Overton, Texas Mom - ABC News They said Andrew was going through a very difficult time, she said. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; Register; Sign In; Memorial updated successfully. (A subsequent investigation by the attorney generals office found that no crimes had been committed. What little is known about Andrew Burds early life is contained in a slim Child Protective Services case file that chronicles the boys descent into the child welfare system. According to her family tree, she married Larry D. Overton on August 9, 1997 in Texas . In loving memory of Jonah Lee Overton, One woman said she didnt want to work with a child killer, Larry told me.) At four, he spent most of his time playing with Sebastian, who was two, rather than Ally, who was his own age, and his motor skills lagged far behind those of his peers. So it is the context and the totality of the injuries that worried me. Yet if anyone was up to the task, most everyone agreed, it was the Overtons, and Hannah in particular. She and her Menu. She left nursing behind, channeling her energy instead into raising the large family she had always wanted. Obituary | Alton Overton | Ashby Funeral Home Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? May your memories bring you comfort. 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. (92 years old). Hannah was always drawn to stray people.. At the clinic, she continued giving him mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions until paramedics took over, but the four-year-old lay motionless. Ive missed, you know, so many things, she said at the time. To never have been producedit was very strange.. He embodied the characteristics of a Saint and we will miss him very much. Mr. Overton was also very active in the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. 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. In other words, if the jury could not agree conclusively that she had poisoned Andrew, it could still rule that she was guilty of capital murder by omission, or by failure to act. Once reunited with their childrenwho were terrified by the ordealLarry and Hannah had to break the awful news to them about Andrew. Updated: June 20, 2015 . Dabney was always smiling, no matter what was going on in his life. Standing just five feet tall, with wide-set brown eyes, a girlish laugh, and a warm, easy manner, Hannah was almost childlike herself. But he was adamant that the boys death had not been accidental. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Some people love stray animals, remembered her mother, now remarried. All he needs is lots of love and attention, she told Larry. Moritz is the clinical director of pediatric nephrology at the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he specializes in childrens kidney diseases. The absence of their mother and their late brother was quietly acknowledged. . Hannah, we met a couple of times, and Dabney and I visited your grandparents several times in Tappahannock. 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. I wish you and your family my sincere condolences. He was a loyal Red Sox Nation member and I a Yankees Universe devotee. Absolutely not, Hannah shot back. The thoughts and prayers of your co-workers are with you and your family. The following day, family court judge Carl Lewis awarded temporary custody to Hannahs mother and stepfather. Share Dabney's life story with friends and family. According to the ministry's website, Syndeo Ministries helps provide women in prison support including Bible studies, visitation and aftercare. Because he was vomiting? Our paths crossed later in life and we renewed our friendship. I wish his family well. 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. The Huntsville Times Homepage. An Unforgettable Texas Tale of Envy, Embezzlement, and Fruitcake, How the Texas Rangers Became One of the Most Powerful Forces in the State. If he had Downs, that was the blessing that God had chosen to give us, Larry said. 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. He was predeceased by : his parents, Theodore Roosevelt 'Jack' and Annie Overton of Washington; and his wife Claudia Cotten. Hannah and Andrew In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. Pam Rooker. Overwhelmed, the Overtons sought guidance in prayer. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. 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. Dabney was born on July 31, 1963 and grew up in Essex County, Va. Hannah Overton, exonerated in boy's death, welcomes new baby to family 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. I knew Dabney from the Richmond Athletic Club. I never saw Hannah be anything but patient and loving with all the kids, the now-married mother of two told me. I feel at such a loss, as do all of us who were fortunate enough to have been graced with Dabney's presence. 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. 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. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration When people are under severe stress, their judgment becomes poor., Cortess perspective was revelatory. But there were many other things she had missed from behind bars. The next morning, Corpus Christi police detective Michael Hess paid a visit to Kathi Haller, the Overtons next-door neighbor, who knew the family well. 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. Inside the Bro-tastic Party Mansions Upending a Historic Austin Community, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools. Obituary: Wendell Leon Overton (Updated) - The Cullman Tribune Before she was led away in handcuffs, the couple embraced for several minutes, overcome with emotion. I was shocked and saddened to hear of Dabney's premature death last week. He seemed a peaceful man. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. After drinking a little, he threw another tantrum that continued unabated for twenty minutes. He and Hannah are allotted two hours, during which they sit together in the dayroom, flanked by other inmates and their families. Today I will thank God that I knew Dabney, if only a little. (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.) He and Noreen had recently lost their own son, who had been stillborn, making his grief particularly acute. Take it one day at a time. Disclaimer: We created this website to give you general information about a variety of criminal offenses and possible defenses that might apply to those charges. I am sorry to hear of Dabney's passing. Dabney Overton III (1963-2009) - Find a Grave Memorial I miss everything, she later wrote to me. 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. Created by: Red; Added: 9 Apr 2016 . 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. Frustrated with a naughty child, prosecutors said, she tried to punish him with seasoning mixed in water. 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. That Larry is able to be with the children at all, much less raise them, is a huge blessing, he told me. 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. . 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. In May 2017, Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez officially declared Overton innocent in the death of 4-year-old Andrew Burd, the child Overton and her husband, Larry Overton, were in the process of adopting before he died more than 10 years ago. All NRE reports represent a moment in time. Hannahs conviction was upheld in 2009 by the Thirteenth Court of Appeals. Bowls England - OBITUARY - HANNAH OVERTON | Facebook It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. Because he felt cold? He suspected that as the boys condition worsened, Hannah had fallen victim to what he calls stress blindness, a phenomenon he had witnessed many times during his 42 years of practicing medicine. He was a good friend and a great dancer!! Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. 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. A block away from the clinic, as they waited at a red light, Andrew stopped breathing. He was the first one to introduce me to kayaking from Aylett to Walkerton on the Mattaponi. 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. Myron F. Overton June 29, 1935 - June 6, 2013 Myron was born in Bakersfield, California to his loving parents Earl C. and Hazel J. Overton. At 13, he served as a page for the General Assembly of Virginia. 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. My friend Dabo - thanks for the fun at Washington and Lee but mostly for these last few years when your selflessness and wisdom were refreshing to see and experience. 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. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. I was convinced that we were in the presence of a crime.. He was always happy, Hamil testified. a few minutes before we actually took him in, she testified. He had a speech disorder called echolalia, which is one of the things we see typically in children who have autism spectrum disorders. He introduced me to Bandy Field and our Labs also became friends. There was a dead child, he observed. The burden on the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was, Gilmore told me, perhaps less than it should have been. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Dabney Overton III Birth 30 Jul 1963 Death 9 Nov 2009 (aged 46) Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Todd Yates/AP Photo, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Whenever he got scaredand there was a long list of things that petrified him, from swimming to large crowds to the sound of balloons poppingthe Overtons worked to help him overcome his fears, reassuring him that they loved him and that he was in safe surroundings. Andrew was not a normal child, Cortes explained to me. It was a catastrophic decision. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Hannah liked the tall, serious-minded student who shared the same hopes she had of creating a life centered on children and Christian outreach. They were no different from other children their age: exuberant, funny, guileless. Before we ever tried to adopt, we had been warned that this was going to be difficult, that this was not going to be the Little Orphan Annie story, Larry told me. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. To the Overton's; Please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss. ", More:Hannah Overton, supporters chant 'Actually innocent' after capital murder dismissal, More:Nueces County DA to dismiss Overton case, declare woman innocent. Right, a photo of Andrew Burd held by Larry Overton. Ill put it this way. I worked with him at Branch, Cabell many years ago. I feel sad. 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. The best memory is of riding camp the following summer when Dabney and a friend opted for motorcycle helmets rather than riding hard hats. Hannah, my sister, Carolyn, and John and I are very sadden to learn about Dabney's passing. But as devoted Christians, their desire to adopt a foster child was rooted in faith more than in practicality. We spoke last Tuesday about a biking trip we had plan in the spring to Cherokee,N.C. I am so sorry to hear of Dabney's sudden passing. Round-trip, the journey is 632 miles. 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. 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. 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. I knew Dabney years ago while living in Richmond. 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. He had the heart of a lion and graciously allowed me into his circle of friends. He will be missed by his many friends. I knew Dabney in highschool and we became reaquainted through sailing and always remarked "what a small, small world." 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. He was a good guy and a good friend. Overton's original trial attorneys admitted at an appeals hearing that they had made errors. In Marchshetold ABC News she would receive nearly $600,000 in compensation, along with other benefits, though she acknowledged no sum could give her back the years of freedom she lost. (After his arrest, he lost most of his clients. "I'm very thankful that this compensation is finally coming through," Overton told ABC News. The congregation quickly dissolved. Then, abruptly, Andrew grew quiet and stumbled to the floor. My only hope is that I will see him again. Hannah R. (Saem) Overton was born c. 1977. Yet the image they conjuredof a woman grinning at the sight of a comatose four-year-oldwas devastating. Dick and Sue Kemper; St. Christopher's School, Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Larry with (from left) his children Ally, Isaac, Sebastian, Emma, and Isabel. I remember him as a fun loving gentle person that loved life. At Sunday school, he became more expressive, stringing words into sentences and holding hands with his new sister Ally. probably to punish his behavior, that then goes into cardiorespiratory arrest.. Throughout the meal, Andrew repeatedly asked, Is my mom okay? He also kept requesting more food. As a former private-duty nurse, Hannah felt equipped to handle the challenges of a foster child; she had spent several years caring for special-needs children, some of whom were profoundly disabled. God bless you Dabney, we'll miss you. 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. 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. 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. The intentional poisoning of a child is usually perpetrated with sedatives, anticonvulsants, or medications like injectable insulin, not food, he told me. They convicted her based on the latter argument, that she did not seek help quickly enough. EMTs and hospital staff had vigorously poked and prodded the boy as they attempted to revive him, first at the clinic, then in an ambulance, then at Christus Spohn Hospital, where he was initially taken, and finally at Driscoll, where he was transferred to the intensive care unit. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. How do you poison someone with a substance you dont know the contents of? That Hannah had not sought immediate medical attention did not change his view. She looked after dozens of children, including my grandchildren, and in all the years she was here, I cant recall one negative thing being said about her, the commissions founder, Joe Fauss, told me. I am happy that he has gone before us because I know if God has taken him before so many other people then he must be going to someplace better. The website is updated daily, frequently with exonerations that occurred in the past. I figured, Well, weve got to start with one, so lets see how far we get. Isabel, and then Ally, followed. He left me with that gift. A committed Christian, he had gone on mission trips with his family since he was a child, including a fourteen-month stint in Papua New Guinea and several treks across Mexico.