Hannah Overton & Larry Overton: Did Hannah Overton poison Andrew Burd?
By Clarencia Cynrae on October 25th, 2008Did Hannah Overton poison her foster child, Andrew Burd, 4? Hannah Overton and her husband, Larry Overton were tried and convicted for poisoning to death Andrew Burd, 4.
The prosecution claimed Hannah Overton fed Andrew Burd at least 23 tablespoons of hot pepper, in whatever seasoning sauce it was commercially made into. Hannah Overton admitted only giving Andrew Brd some seasoning in water, her recipe of soup, because she did not want Andrew Burd to become overweight after eating his meal.
Hannah Overton claimed Burd ate something without her knowledge. She denied poisoning him with salt. The jury found Hannah Overton guilty of not getting medical help for Burd fast enough to prevent his death Hannah Overton claimed she had no idea Andrew Burd was dying as she could not see the signs.
Hannah Overton is in jail awaiting an appeal to overturn the conviction of the previous verdict of murder. Her husband, Larry Overton is left with 5 children to care for. The detailed story is at the source. What do you think?
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October 27th, 2008 at 8:42 am
The likelihood of a whopping 23 tablespoons force fed is absolutely absurd. It just seems much more plausible that Andrew got into the cupboard and dumped salt into his mouth (among other things I’m sure). This mother has compassion for her children and I have no doubt she was trying to work around his disorders by feeding him the broth. Accidents happen all the time and instead of helping the family to cope, the prosecutor took their mother away. The jury doesn’t even know what they voted on! I hope and pray the mistrial gets her back to her family by the testimony of the doctors.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Andrew was known to eat until he literally got sick. THAT is why she did not want him to have a 3rb bowl. Not because she didn’t want him to be overwieght.
Andrew had an eating disorder. Maybe pica or Prader Willi Syndrome. He would take bites out of bars of soap. He would eat the cat food. or glue, or dry macaroni. or toothpaste, or try to drink the contents of a glow stick.
It was more reasonable to believe he ate the salt himself when he got into the cabinet than to think a small, 5 mo pregnant woman with a back injury managed to force a 4 yr old to drink a cup of water with half a cup of Zatarains creole seasoning!
October 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I saw this story on the tv last week and I was utterly appauled! I could not believe the things the prosecution was saying and how they twisted everything painting this woman out to be a monster. They did not let either of the doctor’s testimony in because it would work against them, and they even had witnesses state that Andrew would eat out of the garbage can at school. The investigator asked the other children leading questions and twisted that around also. This woman was trying to provide a loving home for a boy who wanted a real family and they made it seem like because he was not her biological child she tourtured him. I think that is what the real issue is that he was a foster child. When she appeals this and they read the doctors testimony and realize that it was an accident, who will be held responsible for taking years away from this woman who could not even spend time with her new born child? No one, and that is part of the problem with the legal system, they are not held responsible for their mistakes, but heaven forbid you make a mistake!
January 17th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
OK, I believe that Hannah Overton was wrongfully convicted; however, this is only because I believe the jurors did not understand what it was they were deciding. I do not believe this is a capitol punishment case and that Hannah should not have been sentenced with life in prison. Having said that, I do not believe that Hannah Overton is as completely innocent as we might think. If Andrew had Pica and other behavioral problems, which I agree is very probable in drug babies and children in the system that have experienced abuse, then why was this not easily disclosed and why wasn’t this so well known that there were procausions put in place. For instance, on the day this tragedy ocurred, if in fact Andrew was left to his own devices for a period of time as Hannah suggests, then why? If Hannah was in bed having taken a tylenol w/codine and had fallen asleep who was watching Andrew and there other five children? If andrew had been left alone for a period of time and he ingested salt, would there not be evidence of that? A four year old gets the salt down from the pantry ingests several tablespoons of salt places the salt back in the pantry and then goes about his business leaving no evidence? No spilt salt, no salt canister left out or placed on a shelf lower than the shelf it was origanlly on. If Andrew had these problems than why were the cabinets and pantry and refrigorator not locked, which is typical in foster homes that must take these percausions with children with behavioral problems such as this. Again these are things that just do not seem resonable to me. Such as the camera in Andrew’s bedroom facing his bed. Andrew had only been in the Overton’s home less than or a little more than four months, installing a camera seems like a project that would take time and money, wouldn’t a babysitter, a family member, Larry, Hannah’s husband, seem like a more logical choice if Andrew needed to be watched? This inncident with the smeared poop, I believe this, again, such behavior is well known among children in the system whom have experienced abuse; however, burnning the sheets? Maybe this did happen the way Larry Overton suggets, but it is not reasonable behavior. Take the sheets, put them in a plastic bag and tie it down tightly and place the soiled sheets in the trash cans outside of the house, but who thinks of sparking up the Bar-bar-Q and burnning them, it’s not reasonable. If the Overton’s are completely innocent and are otherwise diligent loving parents, then why all of these strange facts about their home and this case. It’s not as though someone could walk into my house at any moment and find all of these strange things that could be twisted around to build a child abuse case against me and my wife, every thing in this case on the part of innocence points to things too convenient for the Overtons, I am not saying they are guilty of abuse, but things just do not add up in my mind as the Overtons being reasonable with all of these strange occurrences…..God knows, and I hope that God has mercy upon Hannah and pray that her return to her family and restoration as a mother and wife is blessed by the LORD. But I do not intirely believe the Overton’s story! Andrew is with the LORD, and this was His will because I believe God is sovereign and all things work for the good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose, even the death of a child……..
January 19th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
This is unbelievable. Hannah was a nurse and had paramedic training. A whole team of doctors testified at trial, including a world recognized Pediatric critical care ICU doctor and a highly resoected medical examiner. Over 100 professionals assisted in the investigation and treatment of the Andrew Burd. They all agreed (and they actually treated and or performed the autopsy for this case) that Andrew was the victim of child abuse. The ICU Dr said it was one of the worst cases of child abuse he had ever seen. The Doctor who became the defense darling after the trial totally discredited himself: he wrote a report shortly BEFORE the murder stating that Andrew had no behavioral problems or physical problems and was suitable for adoption, he told other Doctors on the first day of Hannah’s capital murder trial that Hannah “ought to fry,” he was listed as the number 1 expert witness for the defense PRIOR to trial, he never interacted with Hannah (unlike the team doctors who did testify)and he was not specially qualified as a forensic psychiatrist or medical examiner. Further, the only foster mother that Andrew had (for a continuous 18 month period) testified that she NEVER observed Andrew to have any mental or physical problems and that he never exhibited an eating disorder and never got into the salt and did not like spicy foods. She knew the Overtons because they attended the same church- she was widowed and wanted Andrew to have a mother and father and was happy about the adoption. Andrew went straight from her (foster mother) to Hannah Overton and was murdered soon after. Hannah Overton admitted to the ICU doctor and socialworker that she had fed Andrew a slurry of hot pepper (she gave the brand) mixed only with water and that he drank the whole thing and then collapsed. This was acute sodium poisoning and symptoms would have begun manifesting ASAP. Hannah Overton also said the night of the murder that he drifted in and out of consciousness, went into shock for over an hour and she did not call 911. He was struggling to breathe. The defense came up with Andrew did all of this to himself and they were only “flu like” symptoms. Please, someone needs to speak for poor Andrew, a 4 year old boy who has been unfairly attacked by Hannah Overton and her church.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
The Free Hannah Overton supporters should read the recently released Lost in Lima Ohio indepth analysis of the Hannah Overton trial and of the victim, Andrew Burd.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Hannah Overton murdered a 4 year old boy. That Doctor was unconscionable to claim it was all just an accident. Thank you for the insightful information. I heard Andrew Burd had bruising to his face and neck consistent with being force fed.I also heard that Hannah Overton admitted to giving Andrew Burd a cup of spicy seasoning mixed only with water, and that Larry Overton said in his police video that Andrew was well-behaved and had no problems. Of course, now they are claiming it was all Andrew Burd’s fault. Ridiculous. Loved the Lost in Lima Ohio article. Very informative! Another news group issued a warning that the ABC 20/20 article was inaccurate.
January 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Some expert friends of mine have said the Free Hannah Overton church causes them some concerns. There is an excellent article on the website http://www.ex-cult.org/General/i…ntifying-a – cult called “Identifying a Cult” by author Jan Groenveld. The Hannah Overton church has many of these characteristics, according to my expert friends:
Hannah Overton’s pastor gives the impression that he and the church elders are the supreme authority on God; Larry Overton called a church elder when Andrew Burd went into cardiac arrest instead of calling 911; the live-in relative at the Overton home, Dawn, refused to give a statement to law enforcement under the advice of a church elder; the Hannah Overton supporters have viciously attacked those who supported the prosecution of Hannah Overton, including the prosecutors, the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate for children), CPS and the police department. The Free Hannah Overton supporters, including a pastor, has sent hate mail including threats of “burning in Hell” and receiving the “Vengeance of God” for prosecuting this case, and accusations of “perversion” and “wickedness” for standing up for Andrew Burd. One pastor who sent hate mail justified his position by saying the first evidence of the Wrath of God was the ABC 20/20 story on Hannah Overton. BTW, ABC 20/20 story was highly inaccurate because it left out most of the material evidence against Hannah Overton. One major news site has even issued a warning the ABC 20/20 story was inaccurate. At the same time, the Free Hannah Overton supporters have attacked (physically) the media in Corpus Christi and have spewed forth accusations that the media is corrupt. Several people who were present during Hannah Overton’s trial noticed the defense witnesses, who were part of Hannah’s church or groups, did not appear credible in their attempts to protect Hannah Overton. It gives me some concerns. What does anyone else think?
January 25th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Can’t believe how the Free Hannah Overton “followers” have misled the general public! Does Hannah Overton now have groupies. Even Dahmer had groupies. Hey, Bundy came across as a real swell guy. Thanks to Red Alerts, Parents Behaving Badly and Lost in Lima Ohio for the reality check! This is messed up. Get a grip.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:57 am
The new article at Lost in Lima shows this child really did have burns. Lost in Lima Ohio has done 2 articles on Hannah Overton and then Red Alerts has done one as well. It’s nice to read there are those out there who do take up for Andrew Burd, the 4 year old child! 20 20 and the Free Hannah people have lost all integrity. I also read that abc 20 20 is being boycotted by some groups for supporting pedophiles with their pro pedophile articles. Normally, I’d never believe it, but after seeing how 20 20 completely misrepresented Hannah Overton’s case, all bets are off! I also read a major news source issued a warning the 20 20 piece may be inaccurate.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:47 am
If the Free Hannah Overton facebook and website are wanting to bring up Andrew’s troubled past, then they should also be bringing up Hannah Overton’s family history. Hannah Overton’s father, who helped raise Hannah, founded and was the Pastor for Calvary Church (same church as Calvary of the Coastlands) on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi. Hannah’s pastor father murdered a teenage girl by bludgeoning her to death with a crowbar and dumping her body by Bob Hall Pier (you can see this pier in the background of some of the photos where Hannah is posing on the beach), and he was convicted for the murder. When Hannah’s father, Pastor Bennie Saenz, was charged with this young girl’s murder, he made up an abduction story to explain her blood in the church van (he claimed he and the murder victim were both kidnapped, but only she was killed while he was unscathed). The authorities didn’t buy this story, especially after he confessed, but Calvary Church did buy his lies- after all, he was a man of God, a Pastor, and Calvary church rallied to Saenz’ defense. I heard from a reliable sourse that Hannah Overton, when she filled out her adoption application to adopt Andrew, wrote that her father was unjustly convicted of murder. THAT is the mentality of Hannah Overton and the Calvary Church. But, it doesn’t end there. Hannah Overton’s grandfather was Marshall Applewhite, the Heaven’s Gate Cult leader, who led 22 people to suicidal death by drinking poison in San Diego, California. I wonder how much Rod Carver, the current Pastor of Calvary Church of the Coastlands and Hannah’s most ardent supporter, and others, are leaving out in their continued misleading efforts to free Hannah. I do know they have raised $ 700,000 from naive, kind-hearted Christians who haven’t heard the whle story. So, sure, Free Hannah Overton supporters, continue to slam Andrew for his past. Just be sure to tell the entire story… Sharon Hamil’s testimony (his only foster mother who said Andrew was a wonderful child with no eating disorders for the 18 months she continuously fostered him), Dr. Cortes’ last medical report finding no behavioral or physical problems, the testimony of world expert, Dr Alexandre Rotta, who found this was child abuse, the video statement of Hannah Overton admitting to making Andrew sleep on plywood and giving him zatarains, and the testimony of a highly-respected Medical Examiner who autopsied Andrew and found burns, abrasions, a life threatening head injury caused by blunt force trauma to the head and ruled Andrew’s death a homicide (not a suicide, not from natural causes, but a HOMICIDE)with the cause of death acute sodium poisoning and secondary cause of death, blunt force head trauma. Incidentally, he also found jalapeno peppers in Andrew’s enflamed stomach.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
What a sick woman supported by a sick church. Any real church wouldn’t be threatening others. This sounds like a cult. I’ll check out the Lost in Lima Ohio article. Hannah Overton, you’re one messed up woman.
January 30th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I’ve heard Hannah Overton is not likely to win on her appeal. A major news source has said the 20 20 Hannah Overton story may be inaccurate. Love being able to read the rest of the story on celebgalz and Lost in Lima Ohio and Parents Behaving Badly. Thank you for getting the real word out.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Even Gacy came across well. He worked as a clown for kids’ parties. The Hannah Overton case is open and shut. She murdered a 4 year old boy. She also burned him, made him sleep on exterior plywood amd withheld food. Andrew had a festering sore on her arm, and bruises and scratches all over his body. Thanks celebgalz for all the positive posts!
January 30th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
In Hannah Overton’s case, Hannah was shaped by her family. She, her family and her church, which are her biggest supporters, are anti-law enforcement. Didn’t she write in the adoption application when she adopted Andrew that her father was falsely accused of murder. Hello.
Marshall Applewhite didn’t kill himself and his followers until the 1990s. Hannah’s uncle (Hannah’s mother’s brother) was a spokesperson for Applewhite (his father) after the mass suicide. So, now, suddenly we’re hearing Hannah wasn’t at all influenced by Applewhite. Her family, the Applewhites, emailed harrassing notes to those who posted identifying information in comment blogs. Her Pastor supporters have sent threatening hate mail to those who handled Hannah Overton’s case. Get a grip on reality, Free Hannahites!
January 30th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
The Hannah Overton San Antonio Express story wasn’t nearly as indepth as the Lost in Lima Ohio articles, and we all know the Hannah Overton 20 20 story, with a featurette on Larry Overton, was anything but accurate. Trade-off- exclusive interview for biased journalism. The Free Hannah Overton supporters need to quit threatening, exploiting, misleading and repressing the truth. Thanks to celebgalz, Parents Behaving Badly, Stop Child Molesters, Red Alerts and Crime Shadows for posting something different from the propaganda.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
My favorite part of all this: When Dr. Moritz, the self proclaimed sodium expert who never examined Andrew, said, “Hannah Overton wouldn’t have known it was sodium poisoning- she wouldn’t have known to recognize the symptoms.” Only problem- the symptoms were drifting in and out of consciousness, struggling to breathe, shock. It came out in Hannah Overton’s trial that she was a pediatric nurse for 2 years. Let’s put it another way: if one of my children suddenly came in from playing outside and collapsed, went into shock, drifted in and out of consciousness and struggled to breathe, I wouldn’t be saying, “Hmmm. I don’t know what that is. I can’t diagnose the problem, so I’ll just hold off for over and hour and not call 911. In fact, I’ll never call 911. I’ll just drive my child to a clinic. Not the hospital but a clinic.” Incidentally, the clinic where Hannah drove Andrew was not just around the corner. It was right across the street from a hospital and the actual Children’s Hospital was just as close to her house. SHe didn’t call 911 or go to the hosptial because Andrew had festering burns, bruises, scratches on his body, and she knew she’d get into trouble for child abuse, so she knowinlgy let him die so she wouldn’t get in trouble. That’s the part of the Hannah Overton case the trial showed, contrary to the farcical Hannah and Larry Overton production by 20 20. And, we know Hannah fed it to him because she admitted to feeding it to him.
January 31st, 2009 at 9:21 am
There’s a newly created Facebook site called Justice for Andrew Burd. It’s fantastic people are supporting a helpless little kid who was burned, forced to sleep on exterior plywood, hit in the head (secondary cause of death), underfed, poisoned and suffered in agony for 2 hours while Hannah and Larry Overton watched him die. The truthful news is now out there thanks to celebgalz and Lost in Lima Ohio!
January 31st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Hannah Overton’s case wasn’t about intent. The prosecution never alleged intent- the prosecution always argued knowingly. There’s a big difference between forming the intent to kill someone versus knowing that you are seriously hurting someone by burning, severely hitting someone in the head, forcing someone to drink a cajun sodium slurry and then knowing, as a nurse, that the person was dying and needed 911 medical care.
January 31st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Brewsky, I couldn’t agree more. How idiotic for a doctor to say “it could very well be an accident- the mother may not have known the victim had sodium poisoning.” Who cares? The point is, whether the mother knew WHY or not, she DID see him going into shock, passing out, gasping for air, for over an hour and didn’t call 911. She IS a nurse and still had her nursing gear with her, including CPR equipment. She knew he needed major medical help but didn’t call because she didn’t want to get in trouble for the physical abuse. And, the only one qualified to make a cause of death ruling, the medical examiner, found it was a homicide. The two defense darling doctors were not forensic psychiatrists and completely discredited themselves.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:47 am
The Free Hannah Overton supporters and Pastor Rod Carver of Calvary Church have created a new jury “education” group in Corpus Christi, Texas. The District Attorney has warned this might be brainwashing. Lost in Lima Ohio has written yet a another report on this group and the Hannah Overton & Larry Overton case. It shares much more evidence, (left out in the San Antonio Express News story and the Hannah Overton 20 20 piece). A major news group has issued a warning that the Hannah Overton 20/20 piece may be inaccurate. Lost in Lima Ohio is much more indepth.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I’ve been reading comments on Hannah Overton all over the internet. One of the jurors, the same one who was interviewed by abc 20/20, gave an interview on Lost in Lima Ohio. It seems that she was taken out of context by 20/20. She felt that she was the victim of unfair Reporting and editing by Ju Ju Chang.
February 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
The Corpus Christi Caller Times wrote an excellent editorial last Sunday criticizing the Hannah Overton jury “education” group created by Hannah’s church.
February 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
The Lost In Lima article does have a lot of great facts. But steer clear of the comment board unless you 100% agree with the conviction. If you disagree with any point, you will be labels a “Hannahite.”
I beleive Hannah is guilty of Felony Injury to a Child. If she was charged with that, she could get a max of life in prison. And I would be happy with that. And for that view, the commment board at the Lima site thinks I am a member of the “brainwashed cult.”
February 19th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Has anyone seen the jury charge- there’s a Hannah Overton update on Lost in Lima Ohio with the charge. it’s nothing like what the defense and abc 20/20 and the San Antonio Express are claiming. It’s simple to follow and spells out the law. Anyone reading up on the Hannah Overton case would really enjoy Lost in Lima’s articles.
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
Saw a Free Hannah Overton bumpersticker- read Lost in Lima Ohio
If you are a Larry Overton case fan- read Parents Behaving Badly
Curious about Hannah Overton’s case- read Red Alerts
Wondering if the Hannah Overton abc 20/20 special was accurate- read Lost in Lima Ohio, Blonde Sagacity and Stop Child Molesters
Wondering about the Hannah Overton San Antonio Express article- read Crime Shadows, the Corpus Christi Caller Times and KRIS Channel 6 news.
Want a Hannah Overton update- read Lost in Lima Ohio and KRIS Channel 6
Wondering about Hannah Overton’s appeal- read Corpus Christi Caller Times Editorial on In the Name of Justice Group formed by the Free Hannah Overton people
Want Hannah Overton news- watch KRIS Channel 6
Want the real story on Hannah Overton and victim, Andrew Burd, read Lost in Lima Ohio
Thank you celebgalz for showing an interest in this case!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:22 am
i think larry overton got guilty too!!!
coz hannah and larry are the one who take care of Andrew Burd, if hannah got guilty, why larry aren’t??
they should go to jail together!!