But Rotta was alarmed by his overall appearance. Pam Rooker. Peace & Strength to your family at this time. Please know that you all are surrounded by love, no matter how great your grief. Dabney OVERTON Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information I am over the moon that Hannah has been granted compensation by Texas for her wrongful imprisonment, Orr told ABC News. No amount of money will ever bring back the years that were taken away, and the seven years of freedom I lost. The Overtons had to remain at the Carvers home, where they had been staying to avoid the camera crews that were camped out on their own doorstep, and they were never to be left alone with the baby. 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. 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 never saw Hannah be anything but patient and loving with all the kids, the now-married mother of two told me. A church member who homeschools her daughters educates the Overton children, using lesson plans Hannah sends her. While Larry tried to scrub down the bedroom, Andrew pulled his sheets out of the trash several times, despite repeated warnings not to do so. Gilmore urged Hannah more than once to agree to have the jury consider a lesser charge, but she was uneasy with what she perceived as an underlying suggestion of wrongdoing. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? New evidence cited in salt poisoning case - mysanantonio.com 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. 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. He was a Southern Gentleman and true Virginian who touched the hearts of many. 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. What a shock and a life cut too short. Obituary OVERTON, Dabney III, died peacefully on Monday, November 9, 2009 surrounded by family and friends. Her bedroom was just a few feet away from the childrens rooms, which were always open; their doors had been removed so that the kids could easily come and go as they pleased. Some people love stray animals, remembered her mother, now remarried. Several crossed their arms; others looked away. They had also watched the video of Hess questioning Hannah, during which she described calling a paramedic friend in Oklahoma for guidance when the boys condition deteriorated, and even using her cameras flash to check if his pupils were reactive, but never calling for an ambulance. They convicted her based on the latter argument, that she did not seek help quickly enough. To the Overton's; Please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss. We thought that he would stop turning to food for comfort when he learned that he could trust us.. 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. 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. And Eastwood was fired from the DAs office in 2010. 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. 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. 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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. In the midst of the chaos that followed, no one recognized how distressed Andrew was by the sight of Hannahs bloodied face. That was the most uncomfortable service I have ever done. Hannah was sure I would eventually come around. 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. At the time of his retirement, he was one of the three oldest practicing attorneys in the Commonwealth. Two years later, the Overtons learned that their adoption application had been approved and that Andrew would be joining their family. Would you like to offer Jonah Lee Overtons loved ones a condolence message? 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. As a frequent witness for the state in child abuse cases, Cortes was not in the habit of reaching out to defense attorneys, but he was so angered by the verdict that he picked up the phone. 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. 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. Much loved daughter of Andrew and Susan, dearly loved sister of. My prayers to the family. The defense presented the jury with a medical mystery. (Like Eastwood, neither Norman nor Jimenez would comment for this article.) He was a good guy and a good friend. Today I will thank God that I knew Dabney, if only a little. We had been told to expect a lot of the things we were seeing with Andrew, Larry told me. The Carvers, like most members of Calvary Chapel, never doubted her innocence. Dabney Overton Jr. | Obituaries | dnronline.com - Daily News-Record It was later believed the boy suffered a rare medical condition called hypernatremia, which can cause fatal sodium levels in the body. Moritz, in fact, had been asked to testify as an expert witness for Hannahs defense at her trial. In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. I was convinced that we were in the presence of a crime.. If he was denied a second or third helping, he would routinely throw a tantrum or get down on his hands and knees to scavenge the floor for crumbs. 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. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? Larry called out that dinner was ready, and we gathered inside around a rough-hewn oak table he had made years ago. I worked with Dabney at Browder Russell just after he graduated from W & L, and saw him often at FBYC. Yet to find her guilty, theyd had to believe that she knew he would die if she did not get him immediate medical attention. Prosecutors exploited that uncertainty in final arguments, asserting that Andrew did not have pica. Another nurse, Dina Zapata, remembered Hannah smirking as she tried to resuscitate him. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. Other witnesses testified that they had detected signs of abuse. Peace be with you, Dabney. He was such a kind person, always with a smile on his face and a warm hug. Absolutely not, Hannah shot back. 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. Dabney was loved and treasured for his gentle nature, ready smile, and intelligent wit. As Andrews condition deteriorated, CPS barred the Overtons from visiting their son. We were in awe.. Hannah Overton, exonerated in boy's death, welcomes new baby to family 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. At 13, he served as a page for the General Assembly of Virginia. He. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. To the Overton Family and friends of Dabney: I first met Dabney in the fall of 1972 when he was in fourth grade at Aylett Country Day School. How can one person get probation and another get life without parole for the same thing? Larry said. Dabney was born on July 31, 1963 and grew up in Essex County, Va. If you would like to discuss your case with an attorney at Goldstein & Orr, then please contact us to schedule a consultation. I was blessed to know him, and his family is in my prayers. He was a nice guy. According to her family tree, she married Larry D. Overton on August 9, 1997 in Texas . 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. 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. Then, abruptly, Andrew grew quiet and stumbled to the floor. 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. My husband enjoyed sailing with him at FBYC and running into him during a few running events in Richmond. In the eyes of law enforcement, Hannah and Larry were not grieving parents but perpetrators of an appalling crime. The intentional poisoning of a child is usually perpetrated with sedatives, anticonvulsants, or medications like injectable insulin, not food, he told me. Kids loved her. So it is the context and the totality of the injuries that worried me. All he needs is lots of love and attention, she told Larry. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. They asked us, Can you pray that we have discernment and wisdom in helping him through this?. In 2011, Overtons appellate attorney, Cynthia Orr, filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking a new trial. Nettie Overton Obituary (2003) - Huntsville, AL - The Huntsville Times A Federal Judge in Amarillo Could Effectively Ban the Abortion Pill. Then District Attorney Mark Skurka dropped the case. We were in it for the long haul.. He seemed a peaceful man. As I read the comments of so many I realize he touched everyone's lives just the same. They were not allowed to be at Andrews bedside on the evening of October 3, when he experienced massive organ failure. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration Regardless of how much food he consumed, he complained that he was hungry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time., With love and warm memories of our Cousin Pete. She was unflappable and unfailingly patient with children. . 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. 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. Its not even a consideration, she said. Write your message of sympathy today. The ministry's name Syndeo is taken from a Greek word meaning "to connect" or "be connected." . I enjoyed his company and was truly blessed to have shared time with him. The new charges were dismissed because of a myriad of factors which came about after a careful review of the previous trial, re-interviewing some of the key witnesses, consulting with some of the medical experts involved in the case, reviewing evidence adduced at recent hearings and staffing the case with the current prosecutors assigned to the case, Skurka said in a news release Wednesday. One of the recent fundraising efforts involves providing "chill towels" to incarcerated women this summer because most Texas prisons are without air conditioning. According to Haller, he told her, Look, shes pregnant and she has all these kids, but it was just too much for her. 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.. Hannah, I am very sad to hear this news. Dabney OVERTON Obituary (2009) - Richmond, VA - Legacy 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. (CPS had not yet sent them his Social Security card, which they needed to get him insured.) Sorry to hear of Dabney's passing. Dabney will be missed as one of the "regular" offshore racing crew members at Fishing Bay. She's since createdSyndeo Ministries tohelp prisonerstransition back into society. I look forward to them reclaiming their childhoods unburdened by involvement in such serious adult matters.. Knowing Hannah, it was inconceivable that she would ever hurt a child, said Noreen. Until Proven Innocent (2016) - IMDb What a loss for all of us; he will be missed. Michael, who had been born prematurely, was severely impaired; he had cerebral palsy, was blind, and could not walk or talk. Hannah Overton - National Registry of Exonerations It seemed to me, based upon the wording of the charge, that we had no choice but to find her guilty of capital murder. But, Warfield added, I do not believe that Mrs. Overton knew that her actions (or lack thereof) would kill Andrew Byrd [sic]. He was simply "a wonderful person" I am so sorry for your loss. Hannah Overton spent seven years in prison until her conviction was overturned. 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. By clicking or navigating the site, you agree to allow our collection of information through cookies. 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 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. [I] fully disclosed the DAs offices case file to the defense, she wrote in the lengthy statement. Once reunited with their childrenwho were terrified by the ordealLarry and Hannah had to break the awful news to them about Andrew. 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. I dont see what caused the high salt content. Im very thankful that this compensation is finally coming through, Overton told ABC News. Moritz is the clinical director of pediatric nephrology at the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he specializes in childrens kidney diseases. 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. To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our. Im a pretty easygoing guy, but I remember thinking, Six kids? Larry told me. 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. Our condolences to his family and friends. 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 and Andrew - Texas Monthly Obituary: Wendell Leon Overton (Updated) - The Cullman Tribune Please enable scripts and reload this page. Mr. Overton was a U. S. Army Veteran and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bryant. Hannah Overton announced the birth of her sixth child, Gabriela Aliana, this week in a Facebook post that described a difficult delivery. 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. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? I wish you and your family peace in this difficult time. He was a member of Mt. Updated: June 20, 2015 . He was preceded in death by his mot A pediatric critical care specialist who treated Andrew at Driscoll, Alexandre Rotta, grew equally troubled. 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. 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. Hannah was always drawn to stray people.. Any God, Christian or not, would have wanted a better mother for Andrew.. Finally he agreed to plead no contest to criminally negligent homicide. It has been a long time since I saw Dabney last. As he grasped for the right words to convey the depth of pain a parent feels over the loss of a child, he noticed a row of unfamiliar faces. 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. Then he corrected himself. 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 believe that the same God who made him is with him now in the most immediate sense. May God bless you and. This is a child that came in [to the emergency room] in cardiopulmonary arrest and was dying. See production, box office & company info. He was a very sweet and kind person. Dabney was born on July 31, 1963 and grew up in Essex County, Va. During the consultation the attorney can discuss whether our firm can assist you. 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. Overton had to have a blood transfusion and her new. 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. hannah overton obituary 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. Hannah Ester Hall Overton (1660-1732) - Find a Grave Memorial She had studied years earlier to be an EMT, she explained, and although she had never worked as a paramedic, she had felt confident in her training. But after Hannahs conviction, the DAs office offered him several plea deals, each of which required him to acknowledge that he had intentionally caused Andrews death. 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.