Corpus Christi Couple Charged in Death of 4-year-old Foster Child

Man Charged with Injury to a Child, Woman with Capital Murder

On October 3, 2006 4-year-old Andrew Burd was pronounced dead at Driscoll Children's Hospital.  Larry Overton, 30 and Hannah Overton, 29 were arrested ten days later in connection with his death.  Larry Overton was charged with injury to a child, while Hannah Overton was charged with capital murder.  Hannah Overton's bond, set at $250,000 was posted by members of the couple's church, primarily because she is six months pregnant, while Larry Overton remained behind bars for another two weeks before being released on his bond.

The couple has four biological children who have been staying with Hannah Overton's parents under the supervision of Child Protective Services since the day of Andrew's death.  The couple has since lost custody of the children.

What was originally described by Hannah Overton as a choking incident that led to his death, was later determined to be something very different.  The official cause of death is sodium poisoning, and ruled a homicide.
Police believe the sodium poisoning occurred when the mother forced the child to drink water laced with chili powder, salt, pepper and other spices as a form of punishment, and that it was not the first time.  The couple's other children each separately told authorities that this was a common form of punishment, but that Andrew got it worse than all of them because he was "always in trouble."  They also told police that their mother often confined Andrew to his bed for long periods of time, that he had to pee and poop in the bed, and that she would watch him through a security camera to make sure he didn't get up.  The children also said that Andrew was not ever allowed to go with the family on trips.