Hearing for woman accused in girl's running death

Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:19 PM EST

us-news, us, death, run, run-to-death, savannah-hardin, roger-simpson

<p>This photo released by the Etowah County Sheriff's Dept. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 shows Jessica Mae Hardin, 27. Hardin and 46-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard, stepmother and grandmother of a 9-year-old Alabama girl who died after witnesses said she was forced to run for three hours as punishment for lying, have been charged with murder and are being held in jail. (AP Photo/Etowah County Sheriff's Office)</p>

This photo released by the Etowah County Sheriff's Dept. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 shows Jessica Mae Hardin, 27. Hardin and 46-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard, stepmother and grandmother of a 9-year-old Alabama girl who died after witnesses said she was forced to run for three hours as punishment for lying, have been charged with murder and are being held in jail. (AP Photo/Etowah County Sheriff's Office)

Advertise | AdChoices

GADSDEN — A hearing is set for a rural Alabama woman charged in the death of her 9-year-old stepdaughter, who authorities say was forced to run for hours as punishment for eating candy bars.

Authorities charged 27-year-old Jessica Hardin and the child's grandmother, 46-year-old Joyce Garrard, with murder in Savannah Hardin's death that was ruled a homicide.

Jessica Hardin gave birth to another child soon after her arrest last week. She is now back in the Etowah County jail after being released from a hospital. A hearing is set for Thursday but court dockets don't reveal the subject.

Sheriff's officials say the girl died after being made to run for three hours. Defense lawyers say both women are innocent and will be vindicated.