Prosecutors say murder suspect lied to first responders involving grandaughters death

Joyce Garrard

Prosecuters say An Etowah County woman charged with running her 9-year-old granddaughter to death as punishment wasn’t truthful about events that led to the child’s collapse.  A motion filed by Etowah County prosecutors Thursday said 49 year old Joyce Garrard, is trying to prevent jurors from finding out she misled first responders and medical workers about what happened to Savannah Hardin. Garrard is charged with capital murder in the death.  Prosecutors are opposing a request filed earlier by the defense to prevent jurors from hearing any of the woman’s statements after emergency officials arrived to care for the girl.  The district attorney’s office said there is absolutely no legal basis for excluding statements from evidence because the statements may make the jury believe that the defendant committed the crime for which she is charged.The defense has not filed a response to the motion. Lawyers can’t comment publicly in the case because of a gag order issued by Circuit Judge William Ogletree.  Ogletree could consider the pleadings and other motions at a hearing set for today.  Garrard faces a possible death sentence if convicted in the death of the child. Prosecutors say the woman made the girl run for hours as punishment for a lie about eating candy.