We are Larry Duane’s parents. Hannah is our daughter-in-law. We are heartbroken for Larry & Hannah; we love them both more than words can express.

We have known Hannah since she was two years old. We all attended the same church in those days. And believe it or not, Larry Duane first proposed to Hannah during that time, some 25 years ago. Larry was 5, Hannah was 4. Larry took one of several swan figurines from our living room, presented it to Hannah and asked, “Will you marry me?” Hannah replied, “No, we’re too young.” She did, however, keep the gift!

 Hannah and her family moved away from Corpus a few years later. During that same time frame we lived on the mission field of Papua New Guinea. In 1992, after we had returned to Texas, Hannah and her family came to Corpus Christi to visit family and friends. We invited them over to our home to enjoy some fellowship and reminisce about old times. At one point, as I went to the kitchen to get a drink, my son followed me. He told me, “Mom, I think God just told me that Hannah is going to be my wife.” Oh my! What does a mother say to that?!? Larry was only sixteen. So, I told him that if God really was speaking to him, it would come to pass, and that for now he should keep that word in his heart between him and God. He agreed with me. I was tickled at him but tried not to show it. He seemed so sincere and so innocent.

A few more years passed before Larry and Hannah would see each other again. Hannah became good friends with Jessica, our youngest daughter. They wrote each other and eventually they went on a mission trip to Mexico together. At that time, Larry and Hannah crossed paths again. Larry had dated a couple of other girls in the meantime, but they weren’t for him. This time when he met Hannah again, it was pretty much love at first sight. 

I’m telling these stories because I love to; Larry Duane’s father and I have told these stories more times than we can count. Larry & Hannah were meant to be together. About a year after they were married they decided to start their family. They wanted children and lots of them. Now they have 5 beautiful children, 5 of our 12 grandchildren. You see, in large part our family values means valuing family. Larry & Hannah are both loving, dedicated and patient parents to their children.

A few city officials and the so-called “news” media would have you believe a very different story about them, one that Hess concocted at the very beginning of this tragic ordeal. They would have you believe that Larry & Hannah are given to abusing
their children and that they “snapped” under the pressure of dealing with a difficult child. For those of you reading this that do not know Larry or Hannah, you should take it from the people who do: those depicting them as abusive and dangerous
are about as far off as they can be.

Okay, you probably expect Larry’s parents to say that. But I said listen to those that know them, and that includes people all over this city and quite a few from other locales. Christians from different churches all over this city know Larry & Hannah, and a number of people of other faiths. They all know better than a jury led  by a teenaged presiding juror. They know better than to believe the ludicrous caricature of them presented by Hess, the DA’s office and the media.

As parents and grandparents, we know that children learn what they see at home. If their parents yell, they will yell. If their parents hit in anger, they will too. Well, we baby-sit our grandchildren a lot; we know how they interact with one another, and how they interacted with Andrew. They have always been consistently gentle and kind to one another. They don’t yell; they don’t hit. Yes, these siblings occasionally have their rivalries, but even in this they are never cruel to each other. They genuinely care for one another as brothers and sisters. When Andrew came along, it was the same. Even when they would get frustrated with Andrew, they never lashed out at him. Larry and Hannah’s children are loving and gentle because they
have learned this behavior from their parents.

Bottom line, we know in our hearts that Larry & Hannah are both gentle people, and they are loving and caring parents. This travesty of justice must be corrected. Neither Hannah nor Larry are murderers; they are not abusive. They are innocent.
Hannah does not belong in jail or prison. She should be home right now with her husband and children.



Beth & Larry G. Overton