TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Grandma makes 9 yr old run until she dies

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I hope they rot in prison.

ed11563 · Nov 17, 2014

Grandmother accused of running girl to death to face capital charge

Published March 01, 2012

GADSDEN, Ala. – A woman accused of running her 9-year-old granddaughter to death as punishment for eating chocolate was captured on a school bus videotape saying she planned to run the child "'til she can't run no more," a prosecutor told a judge Thursday in announcing capital murder charges.

Joyce Hardin Garrard, who faces a potential death penalty if convicted, made the threat as she yanked Savannah Hardin off a school bus that was equipped with a surveillance system, said Marcus Reid, an assistant district attorney in Etowah County.

Angered by a supposed lie the child told, Garrard told the driver: `"I gonna run her `til she can't run no more,"' Reid said.

"That's exactly what she did," said the prosecutor, calling Garrard a "drill sergeant from hell."

Garrard, 46, and Savannah's stepmother, 27-year-old Jessica Mae Hardin, are both charged in the child's death last month. Authorities say the older woman made the child run for three hours as punishment, and the younger woman -- who was nine months pregnant at the time and has since given birth -- did nothing to intervene.

The defense contends neither woman did anything intentional to cause the child's death, which they blame on an unspecified medical problem. Court documents in an unrelated custody case show the child had health issues and made frequent trips to doctors.

Reid said after taking the child off the bus, Garrard forced Savannah to run and carry firewood until she collapsed in exhaustion in her yard. Autopsy photos show marks on the girl's arms from where the logs dug into her skin, Reid said, and a debris pile of limbs and large logs was visible outside the house the day after charges were filed against the women.

The child's father, Robert Hardin, sat behind the defense table during the hearing in apparent support of Garrard, his mother, and Hardin, his wife. Other relatives and friends sat around him, occasionally mouthing words to the two women.

District Judge William D. Russell did not immediately rule on a defense request to lower the women's bonds, now set at $500,000 cash each. State law doesn't law bond for capital defendants, and prosecutors said the might also upgrade charges against Hardin by next week to capital murder.

District Attorney Jimmie Harp said a grand jury that begins meeting Monday will likely consider the case.

Authorities say medics responding to a 911 call found the child having seizures at the family's mobile home Feb. 17. 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.

Authorities said an autopsy revealed the girl was severely dehydrated and had extremely low sodium levels. They compared her condition to that of an athlete who ran a marathon without drinking any water.

When Reid called Garrard the "drill sergeant from hell" and pointed at her, Garrard's lawyer Dani Bone, who jumped up between Reid and Garrard, crossed his arms and yelled at Reid to quit pointing at the woman.

"That's inappropriate!" Bone said.

While Reid said Hardin spent time on her laptop and talking on a cellphone while her stepdaughter was forced to run, defense lawyers said the younger woman was busy caring for her 3-year-old son and didn't know what was happening. Defense attorney Morgan Cunningham said the woman went into labor while being questioned about Savannah's death and gave birth the day of her arrest.

Asking for the bond reduction, Cunningham said the woman needs time to be a mom.

"She needs to be able to bond with the newborn," he said.

Authorities said Hardin called 911 after the child collapsed.

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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/01/grandmother-to-face-capital-charge-in-girls-death/

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

If the father stands behind them then he's a sick SOB.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

OK. So no real reason for the girl to die. It wasn't something they actually knew about and didn't directly cause her death.

Carrying firewood and running is abuse?

Goodness. Guess I was abused then.

Yes. We carried firewood, in the woods, in the cold, all day from day light to dark.

Yes. We ran. Laps. Every day.

P.E. teachers better stop that crap.

I don't know. It is a shame the girl died. But there is no evidence the running and carrying wood made her die.

And when you carry wood, it can and usually does leave marks.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Gosh, I should be dead as well.
DH and I carried A LOT of wood, for years! For HOURS at a time. Our kids helped!
So did my parents and DH's parents, generations of kids carried wood and ran.
I think there is more to this story besides the sensationalism.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Did you have to run and carry wood, with no water to drink? For several hours? Until you collapsed????????

That's what this Grandmother did.

No, she didn't shoot the kid. But she killed her, just the same. cry

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I abused my kids not long ago. I made them go out and gather all the limbs that fell out of the trees during a storm.

I'll probably abuse them in a day or two when I send them out to rake the leaves.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

lilyofcourse wrote:
I abused my kids not long ago. I made them go out and gather all the limbs that fell out of the trees during a storm.

I'll probably abuse them in a day or two when I send them out to rake the leaves.

You're missing the point.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Did you have to run and carry wood, with no water to drink? For several hours? Until you collapsed????????
That's what this Grandmother did.
No, she didn't shoot the kid. But she killed her, just the same.

There was a lot of times we did run with the wood in our arms. It isn't fun carrying wood in the rain.

And for hours without food and water? How many hours?

There is more to this. There has to be.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I abused my kids not long ago. I made them go out and gather all the limbs that fell out of the trees during a storm.

I'll probably abuse them in a day or two when I send them out to rake the leaves.

You're missing the point.

No. I don't think I am.

I think there is something NOT being reported. More to this story.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Did you have to run and carry wood, with no water to drink? For several hours? Until you collapsed????????
That's what this Grandmother did.
No, she didn't shoot the kid. But she killed her, just the same.

I remember being out in the fields sometimes without food or water for hours. We were working. We didn't think anything of it at the time. We worked hard when I was a kid. It was normal back then and we were not abused.

The article does suggest the girl had an unknown medical condition. If she had an unknown heart problem, then yes, this may have lead to her death. And they did seek medical help when she collapsed. It's not like they left her there to die.

Prosecutors and the media may have made way more of this then actually happened as well. Wouldn't be the first time.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Go back and read the article. This kid, who was already in poor health......was made to run for 3 hours, with no water! She want into seizures from dehydration. cry

Who does that to a child with health problems?

NAOW · Vette's SS

No there's not. She made the girl run as a punishment. She ran her til she dropped.I bet when you have your kids do chores you let them take breaks as needed. Get a drink of water, etc. If they start looking like they are going to pass out you would send them inside to rest and cool down. Not make them keep going out of your own anger.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

The girl died of dehydration in 3 hours? That doesn't seem right.

Like I said. There has to be more to this than is being reported. Way more.

wild_blue · Newbie

No one runs for 3 hours in gym class. The only folks who run that long are distance athletes-and marathoners have worked up their endurance to that ability. Not to mention proper fuel and hydration. But by all means, continue to downplay what this poor child went through.

NAOW · Vette's SS

This is a pretty old story. If there was more I think it'd be out by now.

NAOW · Vette's SS

wild_blue wrote:
No one runs for 3 hours in gym class. The only folks who run that long are distance athletes-and marathoners have worked up their endurance to that ability. Not to mention proper fuel and hydration. But by all means, continue to downplay what this poor child went through.

Agree wild blue. I couldn't run for three hours straight. Especially with out a water bottle with me.

wild_blue · Newbie

lilyofcourse wrote:
The girl died of dehydration in 3 hours? That doesn't seem right.

Like I said. There has to be more to this than is being reported. Way more.

On a hot day doing strenuous work? Of course you can dehydrate that fast.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

And, they already knew this child had health issues.

From the article:

Court documents in an unrelated custody case show the child had health issues and made frequent trips to doctors.

She ran her unwell grand daughter, to death. I hope she rots in jail.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I am not down playing this child's death.

I am questioning the report that the activities of that one afternoon caused the death.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

lilyofcourse wrote:
I am not down playing this child's death.

I am questioning the report that the activities of that one afternoon caused the death.

The activities of that one afternoon, killed that child. What more is there to question?

The grandmother said, `"I gonna run her `til she can't run no more,"

She got her wish. That poor child, will never run again. cry

huskerbb · Guru

When my kids were detassling, they walked for five or six hours straight, sometimes longer, in 100 degree temperatures.

I guess I'm on the side of there has to be more to this story.

NAOW · Vette's SS

Walking is different than running.

All of you who see this as no big deal tell me how you would fair if you were forced to run for three hours straight (no breaks, no water) while carrying a heavy load?

I don't see what more needs to be known. It's not like she was running for fun:

Authorities said an autopsy revealed the girl was severely dehydrated and had extremely low sodium levels. They compared her condition to that of an athlete who ran a marathon without drinking any water.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

huskerbb wrote:
When my kids were detassling, they walked for five or six hours straight, sometimes longer, in 100 degree temperatures.

I guess I'm on the side of there has to be more to this story.

Walked. Not ran. Carrying wood.

Did they have water?

Just wondering.

ed11563 · Guru

What is detassling?

ed11563 · Guru

wild_blue wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
The girl died of dehydration in 3 hours? That doesn't seem right.

Like I said. There has to be more to this than is being reported. Way more.

On a hot day doing strenuous work? Of course you can dehydrate that fast.

The fluid balance goes out of whack, electrolyte levels change, and the heart's electrical system can fail, leading to fibrillation and death.

This little girl's body probably didn't have any reserves. Of anything.

NAOW · Vette's SS

DD is in a running club at school and she can usually run 2 miles in the 20 minutes they have before school starts, but she is worn out after. That's from running 20 minutes straight. There is no way she could run for 3 hours without stopping.

If we think in terms of miles, this girl was forced to run about 9- 12 (eta: that's estimating that she was doing 15- 20 minute miles, which isn't super fast) miles without stopping, without water, and while carrying firewood. Most fit adults could not do that.

-- Edited by NAOW on Tuesday 18th of November 2014 07:35:49 PM

huskerbb · Guru

ed11563 wrote:
What is detassling?

You walk through fields of corn removing their tassles.

huskerbb · Guru

This happened in February. Even in Alabama it's doubtful it was hot out.

ed11563 · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
This happened in February. Even in Alabama it's doubtful it was hot out.

When people exercise in hot weather, they feel sweaty because the sweat soaks into their clothing, or runs down their skin.

In cold weather, people sweat just as much, but it evaporates quickly. Either way, the body is losing large amounts of water and salt.

It's reasonable to suspect that loss of water and salt lead to ventricular fibrillation.

When will we see the autopsy report?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

How can Anyone defend this?

huskerbb · Guru

It's not so much "defending" anything as doubting that is the whole story.

wild_blue · Newbie

huskerbb wrote:
When my kids were detassling, they walked for five or six hours straight, sometimes longer, in 100 degree temperatures.

I guess I'm on the side of there has to be more to this story.

Detassling is not running. I've done both. Running is harder. I don't understand why there has to be more to the story. Mean, cruel, people exist. Ignorance exists. Sometimes they combine, and horrendous results happen. This level of depravity is nothing new.

huskerbb · Guru

wild_blue wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
When my kids were detassling, they walked for five or six hours straight, sometimes longer, in 100 degree temperatures.

I guess I'm on the side of there has to be more to this story.

Detassling is not running. I've done both. Running is harder. I don't understand why there has to be more to the story. Mean, cruel, people exist. Ignorance exists. Sometimes they combine, and horrendous results happen. This level of depravity is nothing new.

No--especially if the weather isn't that hot when you are running.

I just don't think that alone would cause death--whether they are "mean", or not.

wild_blue · Newbie

huskerbb wrote:
wild_blue wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
When my kids were detassling, they walked for five or six hours straight, sometimes longer, in 100 degree temperatures.

I guess I'm on the side of there has to be more to this story.

Detassling is not running. I've done both. Running is harder. I don't understand why there has to be more to the story. Mean, cruel, people exist. Ignorance exists. Sometimes they combine, and horrendous results happen. This level of depravity is nothing new.
No--especially if the weather isn't that hot when you are running.
I just don't think that alone would cause death--whether they are "mean", or not.

It doesn't need to be hot for you to dehydrate. I'm not sure why that concept is so hard to grasp. Your body will create heat. Ever watch football games when it's cold out? They still drink water.

huskerbb · Guru

Meh. We'll see. I doubt the jury will convict of capital murder. Manslaughter, maybe.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
It's not so much "defending" anything as doubting that is the whole story.

What is it you are "doubting"?

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
It's not so much "defending" anything as doubting that is the whole story.
What is it you are "doubting"?

That there was nearly as much physical activity as claimed.

That the physical activity alone would cause the death without some prior extenuating medical circumstance.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

There is a dead 9 yr old .and witnesses.

huskerbb · Guru

There aren't any witnesses to the actual amount of physical activity. There is also the possibility of an extenuating medical condition.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Which if true makes them even more negligent .

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Which if true makes them even more negligent .

Maybe--if they knew about it and if they knew what effect it might have.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Unfortunately, I think husker is right. I don't think they will get convicted of capitol murder. The step mother, if she has a good lawyer, can probably get out on probation. She said she was paying attention to the three year old. They will say she had a new baby and three year old to take care of and wasn't present during the abuse. While she should have been paying more attention she trusted the grandmother who had never shown any signs of abuse before. At least that's what a lawyer could argue.

It doesn't say what the medical condition was or why the girl was at the doctor so many times. That information is pertinent to this case. Depending on what it was a good lawyer could use it for or against the client.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

3 HOURS. Her arms were all cut up from carrying wood. There was an eye witness who said the girl was vomiting and bedgging to stop and they kept making her run.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

For a person to be that dehydrated, it didn't happen in that short of amount of time. It had to be exacerbated by the days events.

Why do I think there is more to it? Be a person in fair health will not dehydrate so severely in that short of time.

As for the places on her arms. That comes from carrying wood. It isn't soft and fuzzy. No matter how you carry it you will get places and marks and yes even cuts. That doesn't even ring a bell in my mind.

I am not defending nor excusing anyone in this matter. I am saying something else was going on. Something else that caused the dehydration of this girl.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

The medical examiner said her death was consistent WITH someone who had run a marathon with No water. And, are you in the medical field Lilly? You can DIE of dehydration. Wow.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
For a person to be that dehydrated, it didn't happen in that short of amount of time. It had to be exacerbated by the days events.

Why do I think there is more to it? Be a person in fair health will not dehydrate so severely in that short of time.

As for the places on her arms. That comes from carrying wood. It isn't soft and fuzzy. No matter how you carry it you will get places and marks and yes even cuts. That doesn't even ring a bell in my mind.

I am not defending nor excusing anyone in this matter. I am saying something else was going on. Something else that caused the dehydration of this girl.

Yes, there is more to it. A healthy little girl got off the bus for stealing a candy bar. And, hours later she was DEAD. This was child ABUSE. And, child abuse leading to a chld's death IS homicide.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

No. I don't think it was child abuse.

I think it was extreme punishment and that that girl was going to have ended un in the hospital no matter what that day.

Running and carrying the wood is not what caused her to die. It was something else. Did the running and carrying the wood help matters? No. Did it cause her death? No. Did exacerbate something else that was already going on? Yes.

Do I think this was child abuse? No.

Do I think there was maybe something else going on for a longer period of time? Yes.

But this one thing, in and of itself was not abuse.

I know. Kids are not supposed to be punished for anything. They are not to be disciplined at all. They should all be reasoned with and allowed to express themselves. And they should never have to do anything but sit in a perfectly temperature controlled room with well balanced meals and timed activities that they like. Never do a chore or face any consequences of any kind.

I do not think this was abuse. Extreme and over the top punishment for what offence but not abuse.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

You don't think making a 9 yr old run nonstop for 3 hours carrying 10+ lbs of wood is child abuse? You are ridiculous.