Bond lowered for man charged in toddler's death

Bond lowered for man charged in toddler's death

October 26, 2006

Barbara Ramirez

Caller-Times

A judge Thursday lowered the bond of a man charged with injury to a child in the death of a 4-year-old boy who was made to drink Cajun spices.

District Judge Jose Longoria lowered Larry Overton's bond from $250,000 to $150,000, but left his wife Hannah Overton's bond at $250,000. Hannah Overton, 29, is charged with capital murder and was released from jail after posting bond. Her 30-year-old husband, who was charged with injury to a child, remains in county jail.

According to arrest affidavits, Hannah Overton fed Andrew Burd a mixture of water and Cajun seasonings as punishment. After he drank the mixture, vomited and drifted in and out of consciousness, the Overtons waited nearly three hours on Oct. 2 before taking the boy to a medical clinic, the affidavit continued.

Preliminary autopsy results from the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office showed high levels of sodium in the boy's blood, which caused his death.

A judge last week ruled that the Overtons' four biological children will remain with their grandparents temporarily, but granted Child Protective Services temporary legal rights over the children. The Overtons had been trying to adopt Andrew at the time of his death.