Breaking News Articles >> Grandmother, stepmother charged with running girl to death

Grandmother, stepmother charged with running girl to death

Reuters - 02/22/2012

Print Grandmother, stepmother charged with running girl to death Print | Email Grandmother, stepmother charged with running girl to death Email | Comments | Share Grandmother, stepmother charged with running girl to death Bookmark Us

Two Alabama women were accused of murder on Wednesday for allegedly killing a young girl by forcing her to run for three hours without stopping authorities said.

The running was apparently a punishment for Savannah Hardin 9 who died on Monday at Children's Hospital in Birmingham from dehydration and low sodium a condition common in marathon runners according to Natalie Barton Etowah County Alabama Public Information Officer.

The child was apparently forced to run in the family's yard for eating a forbidden candy bar and lying about it she said.

A call placed to a 911 emergency operator reported an unresponsive child having seizures said Barton.

It appears they ran her until she dropped she said.

The child's grandmother Joyce Hardin Garrard 46 and stepmother Jessica Mae Hardin 27 were charged on Wednesday with felony murder. Bond was set at 500000 each.

The girl's father who had custody was not home at the time said Barton.

There had been no prior reports of abuse in the family Barton said.

The thirdgrader's fellow students created a makeshift memorial on her desk at school writing notes that will be delivered to her father said Alan Cosby superintendent of the Etowah County Schools.

Editing By Ellen Wulfhorst