LOCAL : Cyanide in Orange County Death

Thirteen months after the death of South County education activist Jan Overton, authorities have determined that cyanide poisoning was the cause. Overton, 46, collapsed and died at her home Jan. 24, 1988, as she prepared to leave for a family outing. Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Bob Rivas confirmed today that cyanide poisoning caused Overton’s death, but declined to discuss the investigation. Rivas also declined to say how the cyanide got into Overton’s body. Overton was a past president of the Orange County School Boards Assn. and a member of the state School Boards Assn. Delegate Assembly. She was vice president of the Capistrano Unified School Board at the time of her death.