. Overton had to have a blood transfusion and her new daughter spent a few days in a neonatal intensive care unit. Dabney is survived by his sister, Hannah Overton; and nieces Emma and Lizzie Schmidt, all of Tappahannock; a half-sister Mallory Overton McKendry of Jacksonville, Fla.; and his father, Dabney Overton Jr. of Harrisonburg. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. OVERTON, Dabney III, died peacefully on Monday, November 9, 2009 surrounded by family and friends. 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. Anyone who knew Dabney loved him. 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. Exhausted from the previous night, she briefly dozed off, then awoke to discover that Andrew had slipped out of the room. I shall miss him greatly. My prayers to the family. We had been told to expect a lot of the things we were seeing with Andrew, Larry told me. If I failed in my duties of disclosure before the Hannah Overton trial (which the record corroborates I did not), then so did Ms. Jimenez., Orr filed the writ in April 2011, and soon afterward San Antonio Express-News reporter John MacCormackwhose reporting has raised questions about the fairness of Hannahs convictionmade a routine call to the office to gauge the reaction to the recent developments in the case. She and her Menu. My husband Al and I were shocked and saddened to hear of Dabney's death. I miss everything, she later wrote to me. 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. Menu. At Andrews request, he made a plate of sausage and more than a dozen eggs, all of which the boy eagerly devoured. Larry called out that dinner was ready, and we gathered inside around a rough-hewn oak table he had made years ago. Find Hannah Overton obituaries and memorials at Legacy.com I pray that you will bring Mom home soon.. Another nurse, Dina Zapata, remembered Hannah smirking as she tried to resuscitate him. Obituary - Middle Island, L.I., December 5 - Mrs. Hannah M. Overton died yesterday morning after a short illness. Larry and Hannah caught him trying to eat cat food, crayons, toothpaste, glow sticks, tufts of carpetinganything he could get his hands on. Her second husband was Hampton Overton, who died about. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. After your child dies to be told that somebody think its your fault. Meny Lukk national monument bank uk; will arnett brothers and sisters Those charges were not considered double jeopardy because Overtons conviction was overturned by the higher court on the basis of ineffective counsel, which granted her a new trial. Only Hannah had been able to break through. Thats what Im trying to get you to tell me. With no obvious explanations to consider, he focused his attention on Hannah. 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. It was, Hannah and Larry would later remember, one of the happiest times in their lives. I knew Dabney through my daughter. EMS records show that the boy was admitted with no more than a bruised knee and sores on his right elbow, but during his hospitalization, other significant black-and-blue marks emergedin particular, on his trunk and nose. But I was frustrated. The burden on the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was, Gilmore told me, perhaps less than it should have been. He is survived by : his children, Valerie Overton Castano (John), Glenn Overton (Donna) and Allen Overton (Amy); his grandchildren, Morgan Castano Petty (Kyle), Jordan Castano, Zack Castano (Andie), Julia Overton Kahsar (Alex), Alyssa Overton McSteen (Dylan) and Drake Overton; his great grandchildren, Overton Petty, Cotten Petty, Davant Petty, Preston McSteen and Layton Kahsar; his brothers-in-law, Bruce Preston Cotten and Grant Cotten; his friends, Jimmy, Sarah Trado, Joyce, Jerry Dellinger, Betty Jo Mullis and Bob Butler; and also, Scott and Tana Lloyd. information about the Registry, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. Larry Overton was also charged with murder, but after his wife's conviction, he was offered a plea deal and was given probation. He was a very sweet and kind person. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? 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. I wasnt thinking, obviously, or I would have just taken him to the hospital, Hannah told the detective. Hess remained skeptical of Hannahs account. "After further review of all the evidence and meeting with her defense attorneys and everyone involved, my office decided that we're going to dismiss the case and include language in there that would actually indicate that she's not guilty of the charge that we charged her with, or the previous administration," Gonzalez said at the time. The intentional poisoning of a child is usually perpetrated with sedatives, anticonvulsants, or medications like injectable insulin, not food, he told me. Please call me at your earliest convenience.. Because the court has not been inclined to intercede so far, members of Calvary Chapel have begun a letter-writing campaign to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in hopes of securing a pardon or a commutation. Please know that you all are surrounded by love, no matter how great your grief. 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. Before they headed to bed, Larry turned up the lights for their nightly devotions. Hannah must sit on the opposite side of a metal divider, behind Plexiglas. A funeral for Andrew followed at Seaside Memorial Park, alongside Corpus Christi Bay, at which Pastor Rod Carver officiated. I dont see what caused the high salt content. After examining Andrews medical records, he had determined that the boys death was likely accidental. The ministry's name Syndeo is taken from a Greek word meaning "to connect" or "be connected." Larry taught Sunday school, Hannah led a Bible study, and their children, whom Hannah homeschooled, attended youth group and socialized with other members kids. The onus for the boys death fell on Hannah, who was charged with capital murder. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. hannah overton obituary It is unlikely that any intervention would have made a significant difference as Andrew had already taken the most critical step to save himself [by consuming] copious amounts of fluid, he wrote. Overton spent seven years in prison before the Texas Court of Appeals overturned her capital murder charges on September 17, 2014. Kids loved her. She is awakened every morning at 2:45 a.m., rarely sleeping well; the overhead light above her bed never shuts off, and announcements blare throughout the night over the loudspeaker. The world was a better place because of him. Dear Overton Family and Friends of Dabney. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? 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. 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. Moritz is the clinical director of pediatric nephrology at the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he specializes in childrens kidney diseases. Here are the tributes to Jonah Lee Overton. His tantrums grew longer and more extreme, and he often banged his head against the floor. Dabney was born on July 31, 1963 and grew up in Essex County, Va. They declined to do any further chromosomal testing and turned to prayer instead. In 2011, Overtons appellate attorney, Cynthia Orr, filed a state petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking a new trial. Both sides worked hard independently to determine the truth and achieve justice for the Overton family, the entire family. That Andrew had sustained a head injury was based on the presence of a half-inch area of hemorrhaging under the scalp. 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. In the eyes of law enforcement, Hannah and Larry were not grieving parents but perpetrators of an appalling crime. Until then, she said, Andrew was doing nothing that my other kids hadnt done with the flu. We spoke last Tuesday about a biking trip we had plan in the spring to Cherokee,N.C. Hannah Overton recently reunited with her husband, Larry Overton, since being released on bond last week. He embodied the characteristics of a Saint and we will miss him very much. Hannah Overton, far right, sits next to her attorney, Cynthia Orr, center, and prosecutor, Doug Norman, April 26, 2012, in Corpus Christi, Texas. 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. 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. Fueling the publics antipathy was an affidavit written by a CPS child abuse investigator named Jesse Garcia, who claimed that Hannah had admitted to forcing Andrew to drink two cupfuls of chili with water and quoted her as saying that she then beat the shit out of him. Garcia never produced any documentation or witnesses to corroborate his claim, and internal police memos show that law enforcement officials doubted the veracity of his story. 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. She is amazing!". The physician only said that the scratch marks he had noticed on the boys neck had been caused, he believed, by another person. Ive seen doctors and nurses freeze up when a patient comes in convulsing or in extremis, he said. 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. The Overtons have said they believed he instead had a rare medical conditioncalled hypernatremia that caused the fatal sodium levels. Then he corrected himself. 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. There have been a few tear-filled nights because one of the kids misses Andrew, Larry told me later. 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. . 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. The Overtons are nurturing, loving, patient, and very family-oriented, an adoption supervisor noted in her paperwork. Andrew flew into a rage. — -- 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. She was native of this place and had been twice married. Dabney will be missed by a wide range of supportive friends and family. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. 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. It did not matter that Haller, who had seen Andrew in the days leading up to his hospitalization and who was frequently in the Overton home, had never observed any suspicious bruises or indications of abuse. A short discussion followed about the passage, in which Jesus heals a blind man, and then Larry closed his Bible and said, Okay, guys, lets pray. One by one, the kids spoke their prayers, each of which ended with the same wish. AP. Larry, who was sitting behind her, broke down. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. (A former pastor of Hannahs had advocated reprimanding children when they were dishonest by putting a single red pepper flake on their tongues.) The best memory is of riding camp the following summer when Dabney and a friend opted for motorcycle helmets rather than riding hard hats. 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. Normans remarks were hardly the stuff of a cocksure prosecutor. Standing just five feet tall, with wide-set brown eyes, a girlish laugh, and a warm, easy manner, Hannah was almost childlike herself. But after the girls, the Overtons conceived their fourth child, Sebastian. It is unclear, read the courts ruling, whether the state actually knew of Dr. Cortess opinion. The court also ruled that the wording of the jury charge was free from error. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declined the opportunity to reconsider the decision. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Peace be with you, Dabney. If you need legal advice, then retain an attorney to discuss the facts of your case. He will be missed. It was while watching the monitor that Hannah saw him trying to eat part of his foam mattress and paint off the wall. Overton, 38, was convicted in 2007 after being accused of force-feeding young Andrew Burd enough salt to kill him, even though she had no previous problems with the law and was raising four children and was pregnant with a fifth. All those that I know who knew Dabney will miss him greatly. This is where Andrew used to sleep, Isaac told me softly as he led me into the boys room. Richard and his wife had tried all sorts of tactics to deter him: redirecting his attention, putting gloves on him, even restraining his hands. Overton was convicted of capital murder after being accused of force-feeding Burd enough sodium to kill him. Hannah and Andrew In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. It was very tense. Hannah understood little of what had taken place except that she, her mother, and her brother had to leave Corpus Christi behind. I fear she may have purposely withheld evidence that may have been favorable to Hannah Overtons defense, Jimenez wrote in her letter, which Orr would include in the writ. She and her husband Larry lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, and served faithfully in their church. Sue and I were certainly saddened to learn of the death of Dabney. We met when he was helping her move. In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Share Obituary. So it is the context and the totality of the injuries that worried me. Elaine and I are deeply saddened by his sudden passing. Hannah managed to clean him up, but when she reiterated that he would have to wait until lunchtime to eat, he defecated on the floor again. Anita and John Finally, Jimenez stated, I do not believe that there was sufficient evidence to indicate that Hannah Overton intentionally killed Andrew Burd. In response, Eastwood penned an affidavit, asserting that she did not engage in any misconduct. I feel at such a loss, as do all of us who were fortunate enough to have been graced with Dabney's presence. Nueces County jurors believed she failed to seek medical care for her foster son in a timely manner. 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. Dear God, thank you for the soup, Isaac said, his head bowed, his eyes closed tightly. He defecated on the floor of his bedroom, then smeared feces on the bed, the dresser, and the walls. 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. He acted more like a toddler than a preschooler, they noted; if he wanted an object, he pointed to it and grunted. Dabney Overton Jr. | Obituaries | dnronline.com - Daily News-Record The Carvers, like most members of Calvary Chapel, never doubted her innocence. Still, the overall impression was a damning one. Weeping, they told the children that their brother had gone to be with Jesus. Search by Name. I am glad to have had the chance to know him and will pray for your family during this difficult time. I worked with him at Branch, Cabell many years ago. Guest Book Not sure what to say? And anyone who loves dogs as much as Dabney did is a special soul indeed. Orra formidable legal mind whose work recently helped exonerate Michael Morton, a Williamson County man who was wrongly convicted of his wifes 1986 murderhad begun preparing a writ of habeas corpus, a last-ditch effort to persuade the courts to review Hannahs case. 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. At the time of his retirement, he was one of the three oldest practicing attorneys in the Commonwealth. 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. Being in the Overtons home had afforded Werkhoven an intimate view of the family. The day Andrew died Hannah said she found him in the kitchen pantry but could not determine what he had consumed, if anything. There wasnt anything that I thought was dangerously wrong with him at that point. 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. During a wide-ranging interview with a social worker to determine if he had ever been abused, Isaac mentioned that he and his siblings had been given pepper, which he described as spicy stuff, as a punishment for lying. I visited Hannah at the Murray Unit one bright, cloudless afternoon, when the warden granted her a few hours to speak with me. The defense presented the jury with a medical mystery. Not until Sebastian was born did doctors discover that his only impairment was a hole in his heart, which healed on its own. He inspired me to take up running, and to go from owning 1 dog to 2! Dabney was born on July 31, 1963 and grew up in Essex County, Va. (You can just tell by looking at her how evil she is, one wrote.) I feel sad. He has carried us through.". And when he became less responsive, she had pulled out her old EMT books to assess what was wrong. Larry was charged with injury to a child for failing to get Andrew timely medical attention. Sifting through it one afternoon, Orr came across documents she had never seen before, which showed that Andrews stomach contents did not have an elevated amount of salt when he arrived at the urgent care clinic. As you know, Dabney and I had a lot of good times and he was a dear friend and fraternity brother. 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. Our thoughts, hugs and prayers are with you. Relatives, neighbors, and members of the Overtons church pitched in to look after the kids during Hannahs recovery, but the revolving door of caregivers proved to be difficult for Andrew, who began acting out on a scale they had not seen before. 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]. Overton, who has long maintained her innocence, spent seven years in prison for the young childs death. What a loss for all of us; he will be missed. The sheets were filthy, and he was getting poop everywhere. Find the obituary of Hannah Mason "Tess" Overton (2019) from Gunnedah, NSW. Hannah shrugged off the teachers warnings, certain that Andrew would improve once he had the stability of a permanent home.