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

[Flossie JMO]

Am sure it was brought up before, but I did not read the whole topic. IIrc sweet Zahra Baker was forced to walk up and down a hill with her prosthetic limb on, as punishment by her step "mother", of course before she died/was killed and dismembered.

 

[Disguiseduser0308]

This story is so close to my heart. My son will be 10 in a week and he suffered the same condition as Savannah. There are not enough negative adjectives to describe these..... people.

I just can't stop thinking: had Savannah received the surgery to repair her VUR she wouldn't have been having accidents in the first place. She could have enjoyed all the chocolate she wanted. Who am I kidding, she should have been able to enjoy all the chocolate she wanted. Accidents or not.

This makes me so sad. There was no good reason whatsoever for Savannah to suffer from VUR at her age. None.

 

[Reader]

Lawyer: Stepmom of 9-year-old Alabama girl run to death may seek deal with prosecutors

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...2-f2750cd65f97_story.html?tid=pm_national_pop

GADSDEN, Ala. — A defense attorney said Friday a plea deal may be in the works for the stepmother of a 9-year-old Alabama girl who prosecutors say was run to death as punishment for lying.

Richard Rhea indicated during a court hearing that talks between Jessica Mae Hardin, 28, and prosecutors may be under way. Rhea represents the dead girl’s grandmother, Joyce Hardin Garrard, 47.............

“There’s a deal in the works. Somebody’s about to get some quid pro quo,” Rhea said.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers quickly began yelling across the courtroom at each other until Ogletree stepped in.

“Sit down everybody!” he shouted from the bench. “I respect your abilities very much, but we’re not going to turn this into a circus!”.............

But during a previous hearing, prosecutors revealed that a school bus surveillance camera captured video and audio of Garrard telling the driver how she was going to punish Savannah for lying to her.

Prosecutors said the recording captured Garrard saying, “I gonna run her ‘til she can’t run no more.”

More at link......

 

[JeannaT]

I think a good start here, would be to take both of these women to a track and have them run for three hours. Not as the official punishment for this crime, but just to set the stage here. Just so they both know, what it is they've required this little child to do.

As a loving parent (and I think everyone here would agree) we would submit ourselves to any punishment or learning experience we subject our child to - just so we know what it is that we're making them do. I would like to see the incredible shock these women would feel finding out WHAT they've made this child do, for eating candy. For eating candy.

 

[JeannaT]

Am sure it was brought up before, but I did not read the whole topic. IIrc sweet Zahra Baker was forced to walk up and down a hill with her prosthetic limb on, as punishment by her step "mother", of course before she died/was killed and dismembered.

I agree. This story reminds me of Zahra too.

 

[InTheGarden]

I'm going to be really unpopular here.

I just read through most of the documents that were just unsealed. My initial reaction to this case was that the grandmother should be run "until she could run no more" for what she did to her granddaughter.

I've calmed down.

You have a father who is out of the country for extended periods of time, and leaves his daughter (who is having her own issues from a horrible childhood) with a bi-polar step-mother and his mother to take care of his problems and his responsibilities. The father had divorced girl's mother, and almost divorced the step-mother but stopped the proceedings.

I believe the grandmother needs to be held accountable for her granddauther's death, but I'm willing to offer her some mercy. I think she was at her witts end. Look at the situation she was put in, with a son overseas most of the time, living with a daughter-in-law with bi-polar mental illness who would not take her medication, and a granddaughter who was in counseling dealing with behavior issues. I want to hear from the grandmother before I pass judgment.

Mercy is given where mercy is shown.

 

[JeannaT]

I'm going to be really unpopular here.

I just read through most of the documents that were just unsealed. My initial reaction to this case was that the grandmother should be run "until she could run no more" for what she did to her granddaughter.

I've calmed down.

You have a father who is out of the country for extended periods of time, and leaves his daughter (who is having her own issues from a horrible childhood) with a bi-polar step-mother and his mother to take care of his problems and his responsibilities. The father had divorced girl's mother, and almost divorced the step-mother but stopped the proceedings.

I believe the grandmother needs to be held accountable for her granddauther's death, but I'm willing to offer her some mercy. I think she was at her witts end. Look at the situation she was put in, with a son overseas most of the time, living with a daughter-in-law with bi-polar mental illness who would not take her medication, and a granddaughter who was in counseling dealing with behavior issues. I want to hear from the grandmother before I pass judgment.

Mercy is given where mercy is shown.

I've got to say, I think I have a reputation of being merciful to a fault with people who harm others, but in this case, i don't feel that way. I'm not going to go in to other cases on this thread, but i'm usually the one who thinks a person just might be actually innocent, or that what they did to another person wasn't intended to be as harmful as it turned out.

Having said that, I don't feel that way about this grandmother. Had she slapped her across the face or even knocked her off her feet against a wall, I could forgive.

I can't imagine THREE HOURS of making that poor child run, for the sin of eating a piece of candy. I feel absolutely zero mercy for her. My friends are becoming grandmothers, and to hear them talk, they love their grandbabies even more than they loved their own babies, which is more than they loved themselves even. When I hear a story where the grandmother says something, about a missing child or whatever, I believe it. Grandma's love is the strongest love I've ever seen. And then to have this horror. It feels blasphemous to me, like some ghastly twisted image of something that was supposed to be beautiful.

 

[gitana1]

This is a case that screams for the death penalty, or life without parole at the very least. The torment and horror this poor girl endured is unspeakable.

If this gets pleaded down to manslaughter, there is no hope for the justice system.

I don't agree it calls for the death penalty, although the law in AL allows for the death penalty for such a case.

I think 25 to life is probably more appropriate.

However, I deeply fear that it will get pleaded down, or the jury will fail to make a finding of capital murder.

I don't care what stressors this beast had in her life. When you see your own flesh and blood writhing and vomiting on the ground and begging for help, there is no frickin' excuse for not immediately trying to help and for not having mercy!

She showed no mercy. She tortured this child. Her own grandchild.

Death penalty? I won't go that far but prison for life? I think that makes sense.

A darling baby will never grow up because of her. She should give up her freedom for that.

I am still googling and found this.

http://www.wsfx.com/story/17051512/account-of-how-family-members-reacted-to-9-year-old-run-to-death

A woman who asked to keep her identity concealed said she watched and listened to what family members were saying and doing inside the hospital.

She said she was in the ICU at Children's Hospital in Birmingham with her child. She said she was sitting across from Savannah Hardin's bed. She says she watched Savannah's grandmother Joyce Garrard and mother Jessica Hardin in the hospital. Their emotions, or lack there-of caught her attention.

"They went in and went out. They didn't come back there and sit for hours with the child when they could. If that were had that been my child I would have been with her every moment," she said.

She didn't know at the time that both Garrard and Hardin would later be charged with Savannah's murder. She said the grandmother's story given at the hospital left out the part about making the nine-year-old run as punishment for eating candy.

"She said they were picking up sticks around the house and she just had a seizure and fell over. No remorse. I never saw her cry, get upset, or shed a tear."

The woman say Savannah's stepmother, Jessica Hardin, didn't stay in the room long.

"Nobody was with her. She was just lying over there by herself. They all wanted to go out and smoke a cigarette, that's what they did more than anything."

BBM. The jury better hear that. Wow.

Charges downgraded against Savannah Hardin's stepmom

The charges against Savannah Hardin's stepmother, 26-year-old Jessica Mae Hardin, have been downgraded from felony murder to aggravated child abuse.

http://www.ksla.com/story/17211953/hardin-murder-suspects-arraigned-today

WTH

Well, if she didn't actually participate in the "punishment", then her cold inaction is more likely felony child abuse than murder, even though it resulted in Savannah's death.

 

[southernnana]

:steamed:

This had to be one cruel grandmother and this probably wasn't the first time.
And, the stepmother reportedly made no attempt to stop this torture for three hours! Unbelievable.

Concerned neighbors who witnessed the child running reported it to the sheriff's office. In my post following this one,
it was reported that Savannah allegedly was made to carry firewood while running.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120222/NEWS/120229956/1016/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:58 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 7:17 p.m.
Pages 1 - 3

Grandmother, stepmother charged in 9-year-old's death

A 9-year-old third-grader died after her grandmother apparently made her run for three hours as punishment for lying about eating candy bars that she had gotten on the school bus, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said Wednesday during a news conference.

Savannah Hardin died Monday at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Her grandmother, Joyce Hardin Garrard, 46, and her stepmother, Jessica Mae Hardin, 27, are charged with murder.

Entrekin said the girl’s father had to take eight separate flights to make it home. He was with his daughter four hours before she was taken off life support. “My heart goes out to him,” Entrekin said. “His daughter is dead and his wife and mother are in jail.”

Deputy District Attorneys Carol Griffith and Marcus Reid also were at Wednesday’s news conference. Griffith said the family alleges the child had a bladder condition and wasn’t supposed to have chocolate because of it. However, there has been no evidence to indicate the child had a bladder condition.

Savannah appeared to be fine when she left school on Friday, and those in the community and at the school are having a difficult time in dealing with her death.

 

[Steely Dan]

I've got to say, I think I have a reputation of being merciful to a fault with people who harm others, but in this case, i don't feel that way. I'm not going to go in to other cases on this thread, but i'm usually the one who thinks a person just might be actually innocent, or that what they did to another person wasn't intended to be as harmful as it turned out.

Having said that, I don't feel that way about this grandmother. Had she slapped her across the face or even knocked her off her feet against a wall, I could forgive.

I can't imagine THREE HOURS of making that poor child run, for the sin of eating a piece of candy. I feel absolutely zero mercy for her. My friends are becoming grandmothers, and to hear them talk, they love their grandbabies even more than they loved their own babies, which is more than they loved themselves even. When I hear a story where the grandmother says something, about a missing child or whatever, I believe it. Grandma's love is the strongest love I've ever seen. And then to have this horror. It feels blasphemous to me, like some ghastly twisted image of something that was supposed to be beautiful.

:goodpost:

 

[southernnana]

:steamed:
This had to be one cruel grandmother and this probably wasn't the first time.
And, the stepmother reportedly made no attempt to stop this torture for three hours! Unbelievable.

My apologies! I need to explain something ... before posting, I only read the last few posts in this thread and then posted ... without and before realizing this case is several months old. So, I am going to again post something I had planned to post, and them I am going to read the entire thread to bring myself current.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120321/NEWS/120329976&tc=ix?p=1&tc=pg
Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 1:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 5:58 p.m.

At arraignment, it is common for defendants to plead not guilty. However, attorneys for the women said they pleaded not guilty, but reserved their right to later change that plea.

Savannah died Feb. 20, three days after she allegedly was made to run for three hours by her grandmother, <snipped>She allegedly was made to carry firewood weighing up to 15 pounds while running.

Savannah's stepmother is charged for not doing anything to stop the punishment.

<snipped> and BBM

Now ... does anyone know if it is unusual for a defendant, after pleading not guilty at their arraignment as most defendants do, to then reserve their right to later change their plea as this GM and SM did??? Isn't that like saying well I'll plead not guilty to see if that will fly... if not, then I'll go ahead and admit that I'm guilty???

Any responses appreciated.

 

[fhc]

http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x...-for-grandma-charged-in-running-girl-to-death

May 7, 2013
Judge: No bond for grandma charged in running girl to death

A judge refused to set bond Tuesday for a 48-year-old woman charged with capital murder in the death of her granddaughter, who prosecutors say was run to death as punishment for a lie.

Circuit Judge William Ogletree rejected defense claims that Joyce Hardin Garrard should be freed for health reasons as she awaits trial in the death of Savannah Hardin, 9.

Hardin, who had a baby shortly after her arrest, is charged with non-capital murder and was freed on $150,000 bond in January.

 

[Steely Dan]

http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x...-for-grandma-charged-in-running-girl-to-death

May 7, 2013
Judge: No bond for grandma charged in running girl to death

A judge refused to set bond Tuesday for a 48-year-old woman charged with capital murder in the death of her granddaughter, who prosecutors say was run to death as punishment for a lie.

Circuit Judge William Ogletree rejected defense claims that Joyce Hardin Garrard should be freed for health reasons as she awaits trial in the death of Savannah Hardin, 9.

Hardin, who had a baby shortly after her arrest, is charged with non-capital murder and was freed on $150,000 bond in January.

Thanks for keeping us up to date on that. This disgusted me from the article;

...She seemed playful beforehand, smiling and shaking her legs to make her ankle shackles jangle as she entered the courtroom....

First, I'd never punish a kid that way, but if I ever levied a punishment that a killed a kid, let alone a grandchild, you wouldn't hear my chains at all. I'd be walking in with tears in my eyes, remorseful for being so :censored: stupid.

 

[Reader]

Bond denied, trial set in Ala girl's running death

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime...l-set-in-Ala-girl-s-running-death-5130322.php

GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) — A judge refused bond Friday for an Alabama woman jailed for nearly two years while awaiting trial on charges she killed her 9-year-old granddaughter by making the child run until she collapsed and died.

Turning down defense arguments that the 48-year-old grandmother is in poor health and unjustly charged, Etowah County Circuit Judge William Ogletree ordered Joyce Hardin Garrard to remain in custody and scheduled a June 23 trial.

Ogletree also said he would hold a hearing Feb. 21 on Garrard's request to dismiss a capital murder charge in the 2012 of Savannah Hardin,.......

District Attorney Jimmie Harp opposed bond, which is rare in capital cases in Alabama, and said the only travesty in the case was the girl's death.

More at link.....

 

[raindrops300]

Bond denied again:

http://www.alabamas13.com/story/255...r-granddaughter-to-death-wants-case-dismissed

"Today Garrard&#8217;s lawyers argued that prosecutors have not lived up to the judge&#8217;s schedule to turn over potential evidence.

They also were seeking bond for their client.

The judge denied their bond request today and scheduled Garrard's murder trial to begin September 22. ....."

more at link

 

[Reader]

Judge OKs testimony in girl's running death
'

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Judge-OKs-testimony-in-girl-s-running-death-5555586.php

Circuit Judge William Ogletree refused to place broad limits on what emergency responders and hospital workers could say about the way they cared for Savannah Hardin.

The ruling came as lawyers prepare for the capital murder trial of the child's grandmother, Joyce Garrard. The 49-year-old woman is set to go on trial in September, more than 2½ years after the girl's death.

Medical testimony about the child's death will be crucial to the case. While prosecutors contend Garrard caused the girl's death by forcing her to run for hours for a lie about eating candy, the defense claims the girl had previous health problems that led to her death.


More at link.......

 

[Deleted member 96356]

Defense is arguing there were other health problems that led to this beautiful child's death besides forcing her to run for three hours without water and refusing to let her stop when she was on the ground begging???

Okay, so I'll ask: what documented health conditions did this beautiful child have besides the aforementioned bladder condition and how did they override the obvious, which was seizuring from physical duress and dehydration?

Even if we find out there was an undiagnosed heart condition or walking pneumonia or something like that... ANYONE could seizure after three hours of running with no water. That's why you don't force another person - let alone a CHILD - to physical extremes.

She could have been the healthiest little girl on earth and still had this outcome. Actually, it was a completely predictable outcome. What a sleazy defense. :twocents:

And I wish some of the press would stop referring to this as a running death. It was a torture death, call it what it is.

Better go sit on my hands now. :steamed:

 

[JeannaT]

Defense is arguing there were other health problems that led to this beautiful child's death besides forcing her to run for three hours without water and refusing to let her stop when she was on the ground begging???

Okay, so I'll ask: what documented health conditions did this beautiful child have besides the aforementioned bladder condition and how did they override the obvious, which was seizuring from physical duress and dehydration?

Even if we find out there was an undiagnosed heart condition or walking pneumonia or something like that... ANYONE could seizure after three hours of running with no water. That's why you don't force another person - let alone a CHILD - to physical extremes.

She could have been the healthiest little girl on earth and still had this outcome. Actually, it was a completely predictable outcome. What a sleazy defense. :twocents:

And I wish some of the press would stop referring to this as a running death. It was a torture death, call it what it is.

Better go sit on my hands now. :steamed:

Um hm. This would be an appropriate defense if the punishment weren't so outrageous. I think of P.E. teachers that if you mouth off you have to take a lap around the soccer field - or if kids won't settle down in the car on a trip getting them to get out and do 100 jumping jacks.

No one would think they could make a 9 year old run and carry brush for 3 hours straight without causing damage. I wonder if the defense plans to imply it was only for a half hour.

 

[Steely Dan]

Um hm. This would be an appropriate defense if the punishment weren't so outrageous. I think of P.E. teachers that if you mouth off you have to take a lap around the soccer field - or if kids won't settle down in the car on a trip getting them to get out and do 100 jumping jacks.

No one would think they could make a 9 year old run and carry brush for 3 hours straight without causing damage. I wonder if the defense plans to imply it was only for a half hour.

It's ridiculous. It's like saying Nicole Brown Simpson had a cut on her finger from a week before.

 

[Deleted member 96356]

I wonder if the defense plans to imply it was only for a half hour.

RSBM

I think that may be where they're going. Fox News had an expert look at the girl's records and one of his opinions was that no one would run for three hours, their legs would have given out. I think that expert forgot the remarkable effect that fear and adrenaline can have on making a person go beyond normal limits. That girl was scared of worse punishment, IMO. And it's not like she was running like a track star for three hours. Of course he also thinks it was low blood sodium that killed her, not the running. Well, what does he think led to the low sodium?!?!?!?! He's also feeding into the opinion that it was the hospital's fault.

My suspicion is that the defense will argue she had a pre-existing condition that the grandmother and step-mother didn't know about and so it's not their fault she seizured and later died. Here's the problem with that IMO: you're not entitled to torture anyone. I have no idea whether my neighbor has a heart condition, low blood pressure, or what-have-you. That doesn't mean that if I terrorized him into running for hours and he suffered fatal consequences, I could argue it's not my fault because I didn't know his health condition. It's my fault that condition was affected because I tortured him.

It's their fault Savannah's body gave in. IMO

In case it wasn't already linked:
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/17233949/forensic-pathologist-reviews-savannah-hardin-death-certificate

And anyway, she was seeing a doctor regularly. Did she never have a blood panel?