HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Cabell County man accused of killing his infant daughter testified during the fourth day of his criminal trial.
Shannon Overstreet, 53, of Huntington, took the stand in Cabell County Circuit Court on Thursday. He’s charged with murdering his three-month-old daughter, Angel, in 2021. He faces three criminal charges in the case: death of a child by parent, guardian or custodian or other persons by child abuse, murder, and concealment of a human body.
Prosecutors allege that Overstreet murdered Angel and got rid of her body on a Kentucky farm.
WCHS-TV reported that Overstreet was asked during his testimony whether he hurt his daughter. He responded, “no sir.”
Wednesday’s witnesses included West Virginia Child Protective Service (CPS) worker Sydney Mullins. She testified that Overstreet had told them, when they checked in on Angel, Huntington CPS workers had taken her from his custody.
During his time on the stand, Overstreet did not maintain the claim that CPS workers took Angel. Rather, he testified that his daughter had a broken rib after spending time with a friend. The next morning, Overstreet said he discovered that Angel was dead.
Overstreet affirmed the prosecution’s accusations that he purchased a barrel, a gas can, and firewood from a Kentucky Rural King. WCHS-TV reported that Overstreet testified to taking Angel with him to the Kentucky farm, where he said he “cremated” his infant daughter.
When pressed about whether he lit his daughter on fire, Overstreet admitted that he did.
The trial’s jury is set to begin deliberations beginning Friday morning.