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

[DeeMarie]

'She took away my baby's life': Woman calls for ex-mother-in-law to get the death sentence after forcing her daughter, nine, to run for three hours until she collapsed and died'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3007324/Jurors-consider-penalty-grandma-girls-running-death.html

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 16h16 hours ago

One thing I forgot to mention from Heather Walker's testimony about Joyce Garrard's demeanor at Children's of Alabama:

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 16h16 hours ago

When Savannah was being taken off life support, Garrard began yelling, "Savannah, you need to breath right now! Do you understand me?"

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 16h16 hours ago

"I told her to breath for mommy," Walker said.

 

[DeeMarie]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 16h16 hours ago

One thing I forgot to mention from Heather Walker's testimony about Joyce Garrard's demeanor at Children's of Alabama:

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 16h16 hours ago

When Savannah was being taken off life support, Garrard began yelling, "Savannah, you need to breath right now! Do you understand me?"

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 16h16 hours ago

"I told her to breath for mommy," Walker said.

Wow! Garrard was yelling/controlling Savannah up to the very last minute of her death! I bet she controlled everything about her - including her food intake - maybe that is why Savannah was hungry and ate the candy bars on the bus?
I could not imagine what that home life was like for poor Savannah and her controlling/murderous grandmother.. why didn't the councilor report the family when she saw a sick dynamic with the step mom and grandmother?

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton ‏@billineastala 30m30 minutes ago
What Joyce Garrard's conviction may mean for Jessica Hardin http://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/index.ssf/2015/03/what_joyce_garrards_conviction.html#incart_river …

 

[DeeMarie]

1st trial in girl's running death previews stepmom's case

not sure if this was shared or not:

some highlights:

'While grandmother Joyce Hardin Garrard was in the yard verbally prodding 9-year-old Savannah Hardin to run and pick up sticks, witnesses and attorneys said, stepmother Jessica Mae Hardin watched idly from a distance, seemingly immersed in her laptop computer.'

'Hardin, 30, has pleaded not guilty. She is free on $150,000 bond awaiting trial while prosecutors concentrate first on Garrard, charged with the more serious offense of capital murder.'

'Hardin was listed among the potential witnesses in Garrard's trial, but she never appeared in court. '

'Garrard's son Robert Hardin was working in Pakistan as a State Department contractor at the time of Savannah's death, leaving Jessica Hardin to deal with Savannah and their younger son. Garrard testified that Hardin is no longer is with her son, but it wasn't clear during testimony exactly what has become of the woman.'

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com...unning-death-previews-stepmoms-case/25189547/

 

[DeeMarie]

The father has a lawsuit against the hospital..

'Robert Hardin filed a malpractice suit last year blaming his daughter's death on mistakes at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, where the girl was rushed immediately after collapsing outside the family home on a big, wooded lot in rural Etowah County.
Claims made in Hardin's lawsuit — that medical workers failed to properly treat the girl for low sodium levels after her collapse — are similar to defense arguments from pretrial hearings. But jurors may never hear any of it: The judge is considering a state request that would limit medical testimony and could hamper the defense's case'

Also this article says that the father was at the hospital??

'Authorities say medics responding to a 911 call found Savannah having seizures at the family's mobile home. Her father, who was overseas working as a State Department contractor at the time, rushed home and made the decision to remove the girl from life support three days later after she had been transferred to Children's of Alabama in Birmingham.'

http://www.mininggazette.com/page/c...daughter-s-running-death.html?isap=1&nav=5015

 

[SCHMAE]

Stop killing our babies !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Queen Bee]

well i was about to have a good ole fashioned hissy fit when i saw that there were no updates from our one and only (that's so pitiful) tweeting reporter :tantrum:......

then i realized there was no court today.......oopsy

thank u for the links dee marie......i shall buzz off now and do a tad of reading :lookingitup:

hope you're having a day from hell, grannyjoyce, you monster you!!! :jail:

see you in a bit my fellow friends of justice :websleuther:

:rose: savannah

 

[I'mjazzed]

Im just wondering why Savannah wasn't with her Mother? I read they had joint custody at one time until Savannah moved to nearby Jacksonville FL.. I'm guessing with her Father? And then moved to her StepMoms. Her Mother says she lost contact with her at that time. She said contact numbers were changed and care packages were sent back. I guess Im not understanding how that happens. I would think that would be a red flag???
I don't know. Am I crazy? lol Why didn't Mom make sure she was in constant contact..even if she had to do it through the courts. Am I missing something?
Obviously she would have been in much better hands with her Mom.. does anyone know why she wasn't with her?

 

[tlcya]

It was a huge red flag. Point blank, Robert Hardin fought hard to keep Heather from seeing their child, Savannah, even going so far as to move, leaving no forwarding address and changing phone numbers. He left the child with his new wife and his mother to raise and never looked back. There is an article, here let me find it, that tells the whole custody backstory from mom's perspective. He simply refused to turn the child over and moved out of state. then mom spend the next several years in court trying to get someone to help her see her daughter. IMO this man completely abused the system using it and his daughter as tools in order to hurt his ex wife in the worst way possible. He was butthurt and decided he would make her pay. It was never about Savannah or her safety or her wellbeing. IMO it was all about how dare you divorce me, I will teach you B.

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

 

[Brooke]

Im just wondering why Savannah wasn't with her Mother? I read they had joint custody at one time until Savannah moved to nearby Jacksonville FL.. I'm guessing with her Father? And then moved to her StepMoms. Her Mother says she lost contact with her at that time. She said contact numbers were changed and care packages were sent back. I guess Im not understanding how that happens. I would think that would be a red flag???
I don't know. Am I crazy? lol Why didn't Mom make sure she was in constant contact..even if she had to do it through the courts. Am I missing something?
Obviously she would have been in much better hands with her Mom.. does anyone know why she wasn't with her?

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

^^ That article should answer some of your questions.

 

[Steely Dan]

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

^^ That article should answer some of your questions.

I can't read that. I started, but got too upset about two paragraphs in. My heart breaks for that poor woman. :sigh:

 

[I'mjazzed]

Thank you Tlcya & Brooke .. for the article. I have a MUCH better understanding now of what Heather went through! What a Very sad story!!!!
I think Robert is just as responsible for what happened to Savannah as the two miserable hags who actually killed her. It seems to me that he didn't care about his little girl at all...but, like what was said above..only used her as a weapon. I wish something could be done about his part in this as well.
AFA the Grandmother is concerned.. I hope she gets the DP.. The Stepmom is just as guilty IMHO.
My heart goes out to Heather!!! I see she did all she could.. Its unfortunate and sad that no one was able to help her get her daughter back.

 

[Shelby1]

I'm up and ready for a big day. Justice for Savannah!

 

[tlcya]

yes, big day. Justice for Savannah and one step closer for Jhessye Shockley as her momster's trial begins today.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Good morning WS Peeps! Justice for Savannah today! What time does court begin?

 

[Queen Bee]

good morning everyone :seeya:

hope grannyjoyce was chased by nightmares all night :jail: that witch!!!!

yes i'm ready for the day too, ready to read the sob stories the defense has whipped up :facepalm: that i hope will fall on deaf jury and judge ears...........

get your tweeter finger ready, reporter william.......ready to read here! :lookingitup:

:rose: savannah

 

[Steely Dan]

good morning everyone :seeya:

hope grannyjoyce was chased by nightmares all night :jail: that witch!!!!

yes i'm ready for the day too, ready to read the sob stories the defense has whipped up :facepalm: that i hope will fall on deaf jury and judge ears...........

get your tweeter finger ready, reporter william.......ready to read here! :lookingitup:

:rose: savannah

I'm kinda iffy with the death penalty on this one. I think this woman is evil and should spend the rest of her life removed from society, but I also don't think her intent was to kill Savannah. JMO

 

[Kensie]

I'm kinda iffy with the death penalty on this one. I think this woman is evil and should spend the rest of her life removed from society, but I also don't think her intent was to kill Savannah. JMO

I am DP all the way on this one. The poor girl collapsed from having to run for 3 hours. Even if she gets the DP, it will more than likely get overturned.
Anyway, EvilGran will be hanging with Amy Bishop, Betty Wilson and the ever so sick Judith Ann Neely.
Welcome to Tutwiler EvilGran.

 

[Greater Than]

I'm kinda iffy with the death penalty on this one. I think this woman is evil and should spend the rest of her life removed from society, but I also don't think her intent was to kill Savannah. JMO

She was found guilty of capital murder. Intent has already been established, hasn't it?

I think the aggravating factors and cruelty involved are what will determine whether she lives or dies.