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Anorak News | Savannah Hardin: gran and step-mother charged with exercising nine-year-old to death

Savannah Hardin: gran and step-mother charged with exercising nine-year-old to death

by | 23rd, February 2012

SAVANNAH Hardin, 9, was murdered by her step-mother and grandmother. So say the police in Birmingham, Alabama. (The child’s father was working overseas.)

It is alleged Savannah Hardin was “run to death” for eating sweets. After three hours of enforced exercise, Savannah Hardin was so dehydrated she died.

Todd Entrekin, sheriff of Etowah county, tells media that Savannah had eaten a bar of confectionary on the school bus. He alleges that the girl’s grandmother, Joyce Hardin Garrard, 46, was upset that SAvannah had lied to her about eating the bar. Savannah had a bladder condition. It was claimed the bar could make the illness worse. So. The grandmother and mother punished the child.

Says Jimmie Harp, district attorney for Etowah county:

“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. [It was]  “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 … physical PE-type exercise until the point of time she just collapsed. We’re very disturbed by that.”

Savannah’s stepmother, Jessica Hardin, 27,called the emergency services. She said the girl was having seizures.

Garrard was arested. She’s being held at the Etowah county detention centre on $500,000 bail, Ms Hardin gave birth on Wednesday afternoon. She has a toddler son. She is being guarderd in hospital.

Says the Alabama Department of Human Resources:

“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.”

How can this be proven? How can you prove a child was ordered to run if no-one confesses?

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Gail Denny places a candle and stuffed animal outside the home of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin near Attalla, Ala., Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. Authorities say Hardin was forced to run for three hours as punishment for having lied to her grandmother about eating candy bars. The severely dehydrated girl had a seizure and her death days later was ruled a homicide. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

 



Posted: 23rd, February 2012 | In: Reviews Comments (9) | TrackBack | Permalink