Hannah Overton is appealing her murder conviction

[Unamused Cat]

Andrew Burd, Hannah Overton

MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=425296516

Free Hannah: Free Hannah: http://sarahwalstonsblog.wordpress.c...annah-overton/ Bah!

Some of you may remember this case. On October 3, 2006, Hannah Overton punished her 4-year-old foster child, Andrew Budd, forcing him to drink water laced with chili powder, salt, pepper and other spices. He died the next day from sodium poisoning. Hannah and Larry Overton were charged with Capital Murder.

The Crime:

Corpus Christi - The couple's other children each separately told authorities that this was a common form of punishment, but that Andrew got it worse than all of them because he was "always in trouble." They also told police that their mother often confined Andrew to his bed for long periods of time, that he had to pee and poop in the bed, and that she would watch him through a security camera to make sure he didn't get up. The children also said that Andrew was not ever allowed to go with the family on trips.

Part of recent court documents is an affidavit containing Hannah Overton's confession to authorities. Her story had changed from the original one, and she stated that on the day of his death, she had been angry with Andrew (for what is unclear) and had made him two sippy cups of water mixed with chili powder: one to teach a lesson, and the other as a punishment. He drank the water, then threw up and fell and bumped his head. She said she then picked him up and beat the s*** out of him. When she discovered he was not breathing, she panicked and called her husband who came home from work. Eventually, the husband took Andrew to a clinic. Authorities say the couple waited hours before taking him anywhere.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...?page=3&cat=62

The Trial:

Jurors in the capital murder trial of Hannah Overton were shown photos of 4-year-old Andrew Burd's injured body Monday. Ulcerated lesions on one of his hands, bruises to his knee, face, chest and buttocks, along with sores on one of his elbows, were depicted in the photos.

"There were so many bruises and scratches it would have been difficult to describe them all," Rotta said, adding that photos made documenting the injuries easier.

Overton and her 31-year-old husband, Larry Overton, are charged with capital murder. They were in the process of adopting Andrew through Spaulding for Children.

Some of the areas on Andrew's body with scratches were unlikely to be self-inflicted, Dr. Alexandre Rotta said.

Rotta testified it would have taken 23 teaspoons of Zatarain's Creole Seasoning to reach the toxic level of sodium in Andrew's system. A 17-ounce container of that same brand was found at the Overtons' house.

http://www.caller.com/news/2007/aug/...boys-injuries/

Guilty Verdict and Appeal:

The 31 year old mother of five is currently serving a life sentence for the death of her 4 year old foster child Andrew Burd.

But, this case is far from over. It's now on appeal.

On Thursday morning, (today) the 13th Court of Appeals made up of three judges will hear oral arguments from both sides.

It's one of those cases that stirs up emotion and strong feelings in this community. It's been a high profile one and was just recently featured to a national audience on ABC's 20/20.

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/33936144.html

Hannah Overton is a good Christian woman who believed, 'spare the Zatarain's and spoil the child'. Here's hoping that her appeal fails.

Hat tip to Hunnie.

[Nell]

This bitch can lick my ass as punishment! I remember this case. I also remember wondering why this nasty, whorish excuse for a mother was even bothering to foster. So that she had a handy target for her rages? I tried to foster and was turned down for being in rehab once! Well, I learned my lesson. You are obviously a better foster mom if you think it is appropriate punishment to poison babies. I guess I should try being meaner.

[DamagedGoods]

in a comment on that free hannah site :

"But it was just shocking that IN THE HOSPITAL the nurses thought she was abusing her daughter. It was incredulous."


Next time someone asks me how my day was:

"It was incredulous!"

awesome....

[hunnie]

[QUOTE=Unamused Cat;83229]
Andrew Burd, Hannah Overto

I find this case very interesting, and informative at the same time.
I notice her myspace, it looks like shes up and running , last log in was October 30 2008, shit is she online in jail ????? I might have to make a myspace account really quick....seeing as TOM is her only friend. It's not set to private .....yet (snickers a little )

This BITCH heartless to me, it seems she singled this little adopted boy out
and tortured him.

I never heard of 'SALT POISONING EVER IN MY LIFE TIL NOW'
she often punished him for eating too much, the way i see it if a child hasn't had enough food to begin with, of course he'd still be hungry.
She tied him to the bed and had a security camera watching, he has to release himself in the bed?????? She probably beat him for that too .

And it kills me how this Church rallies to her defense, i hope the church crumbles beneath them all. This lady made the baby drink Cajun spices in a juicy cup and then delayed medical treatment, cuz she knew why he was sick. She was buying time for it to pass, no telling just how many other times she did this, what a crazy bitch....

God i hope she doesn't get off on the charges

[Peeperann]

I was actually watching this on Good Morning America yesterday. There are so many people supporting her. I cannot believe it.

She was all crying and saying how much she loved him. The reporter asked her if she regretted trying to adopt Andrew. She no, that she wouldn't "lose those 4 months for anything".

She said that he had mental and emotional issues. And that they were trying to make a loving safe home for him. The ER doctor is going to testify FOR her. He says that her conviction was wrong and she needs justice.

Holy hell, I hope they don't overturn the conviction. And it may take up to 60 days before we find out.

[Ladyeridan]

I'm withholding my thoguhts on this entirely. I've seen reports of the little boy having pica (eats strange things that are usually inedible) and i've seen reports that it was forced... Too much conflicting information.

the salt thing wouldn't surprise me, though, if he had pica. plus, speaking as myself, when i was growing up, i had REALLY unnatural salt cravings, to the point where i would sneak into the bag of rock salt we kept in the garage to melt ice on the sidewalk. I would carry rock salt in my pocket ALL THE TIME, and almost always had a piece in my mouth. and yes, it started when i was about three. never ate anything ELSE weird, just... rock salt.

[witzah]

from the article - she filled a sippy cup with 17 TEASPOONS (before the edit, I had this incorrectly stated as "tbsp") of cajun spice & forced it to him as punishment: one sippy to "teach him a lesson" and "another for punishment". the other kids said she did this all the time to all of them but particularly focused on this boy. so, we have the source of sodium, and its not from the boy eating non-food items or being attracted to salt.

when he threw up & fell down - hitting his head in process - report says she said she then picked him up & "beat the shit out of him"

if the article is correct - i dont see anything to be sympathetic about here.

how can anyones reaction to a child getting sick or hurt be - hey, lets beat the shit outta them?

poor poor baby. RIP.

[Ladyeridan]

wait... 17 tablespoons of cajun spice in a sippy?
I have a two year old, we're drinking from sippies right now. Most of the sippycups I have are 6-8 ounces. I have ONE that is 12 ounces. a tablespoon is 1/2 ounce. how the hell did she fit 8 ounces of cajun spice in a sippy and have room to make it drinkable?

even looking back and reading, one of the articles says 23 teaspoons to be enough salt to hit the levels, that's still 8 tablespoons almost, which isn't a drinkable liquid, it's sludge.

[witzah]

Oh gosh darnit . . . I wrote down tablespoons, but I meant teaspoons. That's what the article posted initially stated - 17 teaspoons over 2 sippy cups (not 17 tablespoons in one sippy cup).

And for my toddlers, the sippy cups we use are bigger than just the 6-8, we got a couple of 10'ers - lemme tell you, those rock hard when the kiddos get a bit bigger but not yet quite there . . .

[Silvahalo]

There is no doubt in my mind this child was wronged. We have a dead child. I don't care what oddities he might have performed. As a foster child he has come from likely a very bad place. He needed compassion, love and understanding....not fuck'n beatings and torture tactics.

The bitch can die as far as I'm concerned.

Rest in peace little Andrew. You did not get the happy life you much deserved.

[Silvahalo]

There is no doubt in my mind this child was wronged. We have a dead child. I don't care what oddities he might have performed. As a foster child he likely came from a bad place. Instead he needed compassion, love and understanding...not beatings and torture tactics!

The bitch can die as far as I'm concerned.

Rest in peace little Andrew. You did not get the happy life you much deserved.

[DeVineOne]

I'm withholding my thoguhts on this entirely. I've seen reports of the little boy having pica (eats strange things that are usually inedible) and i've seen reports that it was forced... Too much conflicting information.

I second the holding of thoughts. A lot of the info that has been given on this issue has now been disavowed by police. She did not make him sippy cups of salt water to drink, she did not beat the shit out of him, and I bet the same CPS worker who claims she told them this is the same one who said the kids told the same story.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/loc...ted=y#comments

Church members created a Web site with photos, news articles, legal updates and Hannah’s letters from prison. The page also includes a list of lies that members believe have been told about her.

Chief among them were claims made by a CPS worker in an affidavit that Overton had confessed to forcing Andrew to drink two sippy cups of salty water as punishment, and then “picked him up and beat the shit out of him.”

Although the statement was later disavowed by police, the image was fixed in the public mind.

When polled, the jurors indicated they believed Overton had not acted quickly enough to save him. They found her guilty of capital murder “by omission” according to the unusual wording of the jury charge.

Later, one juror complained to the judge, saying the charge was confusing and that justice was not served.


Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[witzah]

If I were on the jury, of course I'd keep an open mind and only listen to the evidence presented. If I were charging the case, I'd only look at the facts likely to be elicited at trial and whether the large picture presents a reasonable likelihood of conviction. From where I'm standing, however, I've seen enough to make me doubt this woman's innocence.

"There were so many bruises and scratches it would have been difficult to describe them all," Rotta said, adding that photos made documenting the injuries easier.

Some of the areas on Andrew's body with scratches were unlikely to be self-inflicted, Dr. Alexandre Rotta said.

So, where did all these bruises come from if not her? Testimony & opinions can change, sure - but not autopsies.

Irrespective - the fact is this boy was a foster baby. Foster parents have a heightened duty of care for these kids because they know the child was abused and/or neglected (whether physically or emotionally). This woman did this boy wrong on so many levels . . .

[Etoile]

Appeal denied!
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Law/famil...ory?id=9861943

[Jerri Blank]

Appeal denied!
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Law/famil...ory?id=9861943

Allot of shocking memories representing there selves to day, I'd never forget this one. Yay wonderful update!!

[Whisper]

Hearing over Salt Poisoning Death of Boy

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — An appeals court has ordered an evidentiary hearing for a South Texas woman convicted in the 2006 salt poisoning death of her 4-year-old foster son.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday ordered the hearing for Hannah Overton of Corpus Christi, who is serving life in prison. She claims to have had ineffective counsel during her 2007 trial over the death of Andrew Burd.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports the appeals attorneys for Overton also allege the state withheld evidence during the trial. The prosecution maintained Overton forced large amounts of salt or Cajun seasoning down the boy's throat.

[...]

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news...obref=obinsite