GUILTY AL - Savannah Hardin, 9, forced to run til she died, Etowah Co., 17 Feb 2012

[raindrops300]

Pretty child. RIP.

 

[kato969]

Hello kato969. I was also conflicted about the father at first, but when I read the daily beast exclusive interview with Savannah's bio mother the other day I gained a whole new perspective of him.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/19/they-ran-my-little-girl-to-death.html

Well...I have fallen heavily off the fence about the father now. Did he even care one bit about this little girl? I think I read somewhere earlier that he is back out of the country again, couldn't even be bothered to come and see justice for Savannah.

What a waste of space.

 

[BrownRice]

I spent all morning catching up on this case and reading every post. Glad the verdict was guilty as I don't believe a word grandma said.

I'm conflicted about the step-mom and how much involvement she had. However, at some point, she had to see SOMETHING and did not step in to help this child. She needs to be held accountable for that. The father....well, he is doing what he has always done. Uninvolved and absent- so can't be blamed for anything, right?

This poor kid had no chance. Crazy family (dad's side) and she was just moved back and forth in the system. And then the chaos at home (assuming) with an evil grandmother and a step-mother who probably saw her as inconvenient.

Of course there could be another side to her mother that we haven't heard, but she really sounds sincere for the love she had for Savannah. And she is a true victim like her child.

 

[tlcya]

great to see you BrownRice. Haven't lately. I agree about being conflicted about step mom. I am sure she is guilty of knowing about abuse and that is enough for me, but I don't know how much or if she actively participated or simply passively did nothing as she watched all happen.

 

[lillybell]

I think stepmum had to have witnessed something. Where did the story of Savanha asking stepmum for help come from again? Grandma supposedly told Savanah not to bother looking at stepmum as she won't help her!
And if it's true that Savanha soiled/wet herself and was cleaned up, then I think stepmum was involved in that before she made the 911 call. I wish we could hear the call, stepmum was Said to be very calm on that call.
I'm also sure this wasn't the first time that Savanah was 'punished' for something.
So very sad, over choc bars for goodness sake!

 

[waltzingmatilda]

lillybell, I hope the media will ask the judge to release the 911 call after step mom's trial. I'd like to hear it too.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I spent all morning catching up on this case and reading every post. Glad the verdict was guilty as I don't believe a word grandma said.

I'm conflicted about the step-mom and how much involvement she had. However, at some point, she had to see SOMETHING and did not step in to help this child. She needs to be held accountable for that. The father....well, he is doing what he has always done. Uninvolved and absent- so can't be blamed for anything, right?

This poor kid had no chance. Crazy family (dad's side) and she was just moved back and forth in the system. And then the chaos at home (assuming) with an evil grandmother and a step-mother who probably saw her as inconvenient.

Of course there could be another side to her mother that we haven't heard, but she really sounds sincere for the love she had for Savannah. And she is a true victim like her child.

Hi BrownRice and all!
I am also conflicted about SM so I think I will wait until her trial and view the testimony to decide. At this point I feel she deserves to be sentenced for inaction but just not sure what it should be. Someone in the comments of the Daily Beast article made a good point. 'She and RH have two small children and if she goes away for life RH will gain custody of them and then what will happen to them.'

Reports have said she was sitting on the porch on the laptop, no mention of her little boy, Savannah's half brother, but I wonder if he was playing in the yard and she was keeping any eye on him while this was going on. She was preggers and a neighbor testified the he/she thought the ambulance was there because of her pregnancy. Additionally, JG was Savannah's 'blood relative' and testified that RH & JH wanted her to handle discipline and since there is a little bit of truth in her lies...I wonder if she bullied JH. Growing up in the south, I know the saying 'blood is thicker than water' well. JG and her sister weren't on speaking terms at the time Savannah collapsed but she sure testified for her defense at trial ( is a good example).

I don't have enough info to form an opinion on a just sentence at this time. And it sounds like RH uses his children as pawns when his wives try to leave him. It worries me that he will just marry another woman and dumps his two remaing children on a stepmom while he's out of the country.

Just random thoughts & MOO. She is out on bond right? I wonder who has her children? When is JH trial scheduled to begin? Anybody know? So many questions

 

[daisymae]

What time does court start in the morning? 9 AM central?
Thanks!

 

[Queen Bee]

What time does court start in the morning? 9 AM central?
Thanks!

yes, see you then i hope :seeya:

(10 est)

 

[daisymae]

yes, see you then i hope :seeya:

(10 est)

I'll try to wake up but ain't makin' any promises!

 

[Shelby1]

Good morning, ya'll!

I've got William's twitter up. He hasn't mentioned going to court yet, but surely he'll be there.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

http://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/index.ssf/2015/03/what_happened_in_the_yard_to_s.html

New story out about the trial & witness testimony.

Justice for Savannah!

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Good morning, ya'll!

I've got William's twitter up. He hasn't mentioned going to court yet, but surely he'll be there.

IIRC Judge Ogletree is allowing the reporters to tweet from court. But no recordings or photos.

 

[daisymae]

Good morning ... here and accounted for, but barely awake.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Here's another link from my morning reading. JH's trial date has not been set yet.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/21/joyce-hardin-garrard_n_6915222.html?utm_hp_ref=crime

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I wonder if the jury and judge are hearing victim impact statements.

snipped from above link to Huffington Post.

The sentencing phase - a mini-trial within the trial - is to begin Monday, the judge said. The jury will hear additional testimony and make a decision on whether to recommend life without parole or death for Garrard, but the final decision is up to Circuit Judge Billy Ogletree under Alabama law.

Sounds like it may be awhile depending on the testimony. I wonder if Heather Walker is there, may the Good Lord give her strength, if so! Will JG's family be allowed to plea for her life? I know nothing about Alabama law.

BTW, Where are my manners? Good Morning Fellow Sleuths!

 

[Queen Bee]

good morning sleuthers :seeya:......

thanks for the links above, let's get this show on the road!! can't wait till the tweets roll in....i'm still so overjoyed that this jury saw the truth and gave justice to savannah :cheer:this was me friday night :skip:............

i'll be peeking in......multi-tasking as usual.......i have so many windows open here it looks like i'm launching freakin' missiles :floorlaugh:

:rose:savannah

 

[Queen Bee]

o/t but while we're waiting......

if anyone is interested......awaiting live hearing re: debra milke in arizona....talking live here, hearing to dismiss all charges.......death row case, served 23 years for the death of her 4 year old son.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxNHMzVHjA

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...a-Milke-Death-Row-Conviction-Overturned/page4

eta...another link.......have seal now: http://www.abc15.com/live?_ga=1.63856680.6842894.1427115836

 

[Nore]

Hi, I am waiting also. I am hoping for LWOP.. I dont think she will get DP.. I hope
she thinks of this little girl the rest of her miserable life. She is NOT a gramma. !
:stormingmad:

 

[Queen Bee]

well, it took longer for me to type that milke case info above than that hearing took, it's over :floorlaugh: case dismissed, so if you blinked, you missed it

back to bama............c'mon william our tweeter reporter :waiting: we're waiting!!!!!