Overton Loses Bid to Drop Slaying Charge
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SANTA ANA — A Superior Court judge denied defense motions Wednesday to drop a murder charge against Richard K. Overton, a part-time college professor accused of poisoning his wife with cyanide.
Janet L. Overton, 46, a popular South County school board member, collapsed and died in January, 1988, as she prepared to go on an outing. The cause of death was cyanide poisoning, the coroner’s office later determined.
The Orange County Grand Jury indicted Overton, 63, on suspicion of murder in October.
Prosecutors allege that the couple had marital problems, leading Overton to poison his third wife.
According to court documents, the investigation into the death centered on Overton after his first wife alleged that he had also tried to poison her.
In a series of motions, Overton’s attorney, Robert D. Chatterton, contended that the grand jury received misleading evidence from the prosecutor concerning details of the first wife’s allegations.
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