Posts
Obviously the court should not have changed custody in may
'via Blog this'
Joyce Hardin Garrard (left) and Jessica Mae Hardin (right) have been charged in Savannah Hardin's death.
Sheriff Todd Entrekin spoke about the murder charges at a press conference Wednesday. Photo by Jonathan Hardison.
The Hardin home, where Savannah Hardin was allegedly made to run around the house for three hours without stopping. Photo by Jonathan Hardison.
Savannah Hardin's yearbook photo. She was a 3rd grader at Carlisle Elementary School.ETOWAH COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -
The stepmother charged with the murder of her nine-year-old stepdaughter in Etowah County has given birth in a Gadsden hospital while under the guard of sheriff's deputies.
Jessica Mae Hardin is charged in the death of her stepdaugher Savannah Hardin. Savannah was allegedly "run to death" by her grandmother as punishment for eating candy on a school bus, Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said Wednesday in a news conference.
Savannah apparently ate a candy bar while on the school bus Friday, Feb. 17. She apparently had a bladder condition that could have been worsened by eating the candy, according to the sheriff.
Entrekin says the girl's grandmother, Joyce Hardin Garrard, allegedly punished Savannah for eating the candy and lying to her by making her run without stopping around the house for about three hours. The incident happened at a residence at 20 Carlisle Acres Drive in the Carlisle community.
Around 6:45 p.m. Friday, Savannah's stepmom, Jessica Hardin, called 911 to report that her stepdaughter was having seizures and was unresponsive. Savannah was taken first to a hospital in Gadsden and then airlifted to Children's Hospital in Birmingham.
Savannah's father was working for the government overseas when he was notified about his daughter's condition. He took eight flights to get home and made it to the hospital four hours before Savannah was taken off the ventilator. Savannah died at approximately 12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20. Her body was taken to Huntsville for an autopsy and ruled a homicide by a state pathologist.
The preliminary reports show she was severely dehydrated and her 65-pound frame was in a condition similar to a marathon runner without water, Entrekin said. She also had low sodium levels.
"Basically she was caused to undergo physical exertion to the point in time where she just got dehydrated and her electrolyte levels got to the point where she couldn't survive life," Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp said.
Savannah's grandmother, Joyce Hardin Garrard, 46, and her stepmother, Jessica Mae Hardin, 27, have both been charged with murder in her death. The stepmother, Jessica Hardin, was considered Savannah's primary caregiver since her father was away working overseas. Hardin was apparently home at the time of the incident and was consequently given the same murder charge as Savannah's grandmother for not stopping the punishment.
Both Garrard and Hardin are in the custody of the Etowah County Detention Center on bonds of $500,000 each. A source on theMyFoxAl.com Facebook page said Hardin had given birth to a baby Wednesday afternoon. The Etowah County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Hardin was being guarded by deputies at a local hospital.
The charges against Garrard and Hardin could be upgraded, possibly to capital murder, as the investigation continues.
Another child, Savannah's three-year-old stepbrother, was also in the home when the incident occurred.
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office became involved in the case when concerned citizens called to report what they had seen.
"It's sad when a family is grieving over the death of a daughter and granddaughter and so soon to find out that the death could have been prevented. My thoughts and prayers are with the family," Entrekin said.
Jimmie Harp, the Etowah County District Attorney, called Savannah's death "a very tragic situation."
"A very, you know, unnecessary act. From what we can tell, taking of a candy bar turned into [an] all-day marathon, so to speak, type physical PE type exercise until the point of time she just collapsed. We're very disturbed by that," Harp said.
Prior to Savannah's death, Alabama Department of Human Resources was already looking into abuse allegations. They released the following statement in response to our enquiry about abuse complaints:
"The Department has one pending investigation concerning Savannah Hardin that allegedly occurred in another state involving an alleged perpetrator that resides in that state. We are working with law enforcement in the other state to conduct interviews in that state," Barry Spear with Alabama DHR said.
Robert Hardin and Savannah's biological mother divorced in 2006. Court documents obtained by FOX6 News show Robert and Heather Hardin shared joint custody. Heather served as the primary custodial parent. In May, Savannah's father filed a petition to have that agreement changed. Robert Hardin said he could provide a more stable environment for Savannah, claiming her mother's lifestyle was not fit for custody of a child. Custody was eventually granted to Savannah's father. In those same court records, Heather says she lost custody because she could not afford an attorney to fight for custody.
Savannah was a third grader at Carlisle Elementary School. Grief counselors are at the school helping her classmates cope with her death. Her desk at school has been turned into a memorial.
Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.
Showing 10 of 34 comments Sort By Tom Brown 7:56 PM Feb 24   These evil savages, that sadistically tortured this young girl to death, will themselves be tortured in prison, where, if there's any justice in this world, they'll be spending the rest of their long miserable lives filled with pain, beatings, rape, torture, and loneliness. They deserve every second of the long agonizing lives they've earned with their extreme evil and savagery. Susan 10:40 AM Feb 24 This woman is 46 years old and has had children of her own I do not care weather she was a nice person or not the fact that she did not use common sense is disturbing. I understand the child had a medical problem where she was not supposed to eat chocolate and that she lied to her Grandma however you ground the child or take something they like to do away you do not make them run for 3 hours straight not to mention not hydrating them. You flush the childs system by having them drink water or call your physician and ask what to do. And for the step mother to stand by and let this happen is diplorable I believe they should be charged to the fullest extent of the law what they did is corporale punishment. My thoughts and prayers are with the students and others who loved this child as for savannah rest in peace child you are in the arms of the lord where you are safe. Tammy 10:57 PM Feb 23 There are some people here asking us to pray for Savannah, but she does not need our prayers. Savannah is soooo safe and happy in the arms of our Lord now. The Grandmother and stepmother are the ones who so desparately need our prayers right now for they are the ones who will not only be held accountable here on earth, but will have to face and answer to this child's loving father in heaven , who holds nothing more precious than his little children. Savannah's dad here also needs our prayers, he not only has to go through his daughter's death, but knowing it is because of his loved one he put in charge of her care. What a burden he must be dealing with along with his grief. Savannah is the only winner here, she's safe, she's happy, and surrounded by only love (no more pain). Her loved ones and society became the real victims when she was taken from this world cparton126 3:32 PM Feb 23 I don't care how generous the grandmother may have been and I don't care about the drug situation with parents- though this just shows another group of people who really should not be allowed to procreate because they cannot appreciate these precious gifts. I am also from Etowah County and it doesn't take an Einstein to know that if you want to flush something out of the body, you drink water, not go and run a marathon! If she was so worried about what could have happened with the child, she could have taken Savannah to an ER at the hospitals in either Boaz or Gadsden or to a doc-in- the box ( urgent care center). Savannah was just being a child and she paid with her life. Absolutely disgusting!! dmgng@yahoo.com 3:15 PM Feb 23 Grandmother was said to be strict but nice from a person knew her. We don't know what goes on in a household and for this grandmother to met out such a harsh punishment appeared to be the norm. Really, a child to be caught eating candy that she knew she wasn't suppose to have but the temptation overcame her is understandable why she lied to her grandmother. This didn't warrant forcing a child to run three hours and worse, not providing her water or Gatorade to keep her hydrated. Ignorance is not a valid excuse for what she forced her granddaughter to do. Grandma should have explained to her granddaughter what to expect from eating that chocolate candy and the delay in getting rid of her bladder infection. colenickel 1:39 PM Feb 23 I live about 20 minutes from these people and my brother-in-law knows the family. What this report doesn't tell you is that both the mother and father have a history of drug use and the Grandmother has had the child most of her life. The little girl also has a rare urinary tract disease that requires medication and diet control. Primarily, she isnt to have chocolate anytime this is why the grandmother punished her for lying about eating the candy bar. Obviously, she took it too far but I believe she may have been trying to run the girl to help flush her system. The grandmother is described as strict but very nice...In fact, last Christmas a neighbor could not afford Christmas for their son so she went and bought him a four-wheeler that he had been wanting. I know she took this situation too far but this is a prime example of how skewed media coverage can be. LB 1:31 PM Feb 23 @Kim...you make no sense what-so-ever! I can't even understand your post because of the horrible way you wrote it! SMH... D 10:26 AM Feb 23 Neither of these women show any remorse for what they have done. Pitiful excuse for humans they are. |
No comments:
Post a Comment