HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (TCN) — A 43-year-old father has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty in connection with the 2021 death of his infant daughter, whose burned remains were found in a barrel on a Kentucky farm property.
In May 2021, 3-month-old Angel Nichole Overstreet was reported missing, according to WCHS. An investigation began after her father, Shannon Overstreet, claimed he had surrendered the baby to child services. He later admitted it was not true, and he was indicted in connection with her death in 2023.
The Huntington, West Virginia, Herald-Dispatch reports Overstreet was convicted Sept. 25 on charges of murder, death of a child by a parent or custodian, and concealment of a deceased human body.
At trial, Overstreet testified in his own defense and said his daughter died in her sleep, WCHS reports. Overstreet said he believes that his romantic partner harmed his daughter in April 2021 and she died two days later, WOWK reports.
He testified he was afraid that no one would believe him due to his struggles with addiction, and he admitted that he placed his daughter’s body in a burn barrel and set it on fire, per WCHS. Bone fragment evidence recovered from the barrel was presented at trial.
WCHS reports that on Nov. 9, Overstreet was sentenced to life in prison without mercy for the murder charge, 15 years to life in prison for the charge of death of a child by a parent or custodian, and one to five years in prison for concealment of a deceased human body. The sentences will run consecutively.
Prosecutor Philip Morrison said, “When the jury … declined to give him mercy, justice was served. But as I told the court here this morning or this afternoon, we needed to sort of insulate this because, you know, it is what it is. Our system is such that once you get a conviction and a sentence, there’s just litigation after that forever, and they try to chip away at sentences. So with the court sentencing them consecutively and the manner in which he did, I think it helps insulate the verdict,” WOWK reports.
Angel Overstreet’s obituary reads, “Angel was only 3 months old when she passed, but she’s left an impact on many, and those who knew her will always remember her as the sweet and happy baby that she was. Angel, you will never be forgotten sweet girl, and everyone will be your voice and make sure that you receive justice!”
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