Alternate Theories

[Ruby]

I was at the court hearing and it was very clearly stated that JRH often went to the Chick Fil A with Cooper, sometimes went alone too, before work. The times when they actually sat in (as opposed to drive through) were a special treat, special daddy and baby time.. From all accounts at that Chick Fil A, JRH was pretty well known in there and seemed to really dote on his son

Thank you Msollicito, not only for the post but for being at the court hearing :seeya:

Just a recap - so I can make some sense or understand what ever this thought I have, and will it even help me :blushing:

Often went with Cooper, so he would have to leave CFA and drop Cooper off, then go to work.
Sometimes went alone, so he would have to leave CFA and go directly to work.
Eat in, special treat. More work to take Cooper in/out of car seat, but did not happen as much.
I'm going to assume drive through times was all others except for when Cooper was with him for special treat time - (or do we know if JRH went into eat by himself?)

If I was to put quantities, 10 often, 5 sometimes, 1 special treat - shows me to put higher weight on routine leaving CFA, drop off Cooper, then go to work.
So autopilot from CFA would not be go directly to work.
Not sure if this makes sense to anyone else, but it helps me out :thinking:

Reason why I was stuck on this was I saw a newscast, or video, or was it a report? - Where a Dr. or Scientist was explaining in how the memory works, and how one can quickly in an instant forget - and go on autopilot. Or if the action was out of the ordinary also forget. According to this, he may have forgot the act of putting Cooper in his car seat after CFA (special treat 1), but he more often (weight of 10) had routine of leaving CFA, dropping off Cooper, then go to work.

my opinion, etc., :moo:

 

[DeDee]

I was at the court hearing and it was very clearly stated that JRH often went to the Chick Fil A with Cooper, sometimes went alone too, before work. The times when they actually sat in (as opposed to drive through) were a special treat, special daddy and baby time.. From all accounts at that Chick Fil A, JRH was pretty well known in there and seemed to really dote on his son

It makes total sense to me for JRH to take his precious blonde little boy into CFA. A precious kid walking around is sure to garner smiles and Cooper could be used as a conversation starter between adults. NPD tend to absorb their children's attention as if it were their own.

Why would JRH, who was recently denied an employment opportunity w/CFA by stating he was not a suitable candidate for the job requirements, then take Cooper to CFA so it becomes his son's last meal on earth?

 

[magnolia]

I think a lot of the components of your theory are very very similar to mine - I think the same way you do! ;-)
http://eastcobb.patch.com/groups/opinion/p/justin-ross-harris

BBM- And mine as well.

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

I know there's video, but he may have been on autopilot leaving CFA. Forgetting or getting distracted and thinking he dropped Cooper off already. Reason why I say this, is one of the routines was dropping Cooper off first, eating at CFA, then go on his way to work. So out of routine after leaving CFA was to go directly to work, did he just followed in that routine?

The searches online, hmm, not sure how I feel - His defense attorney (pch video) has Stoddard stating Stoddard's the one who used the word "research", it was only looked at twice between RH,LH. Stoddard did not have all the details of when or how the viewing was done - I need more info from the police computer search. I'm sure they have plenty to go through. Probably will have to wait until trial.

What does stump me, is the backing up, being in reverse at work's parking lot - did he or did he not see Cooper? position of car seat etc. - I'm going to wait until trail for this one.

my opinion, etc., :moo:

I was responding to the" He leaves CFA, goes directly to work thinking he dropped Cooper off prior to eating at CFA" and said there was a video of them both that morning., so that wouldn't work in your alternate theories.

 

[EvilSoup]

I am a single mom, with two adult children living in my home, free of cost, and for whom I purchase all the groceries. I have a 15 year mortgage on the house, recently purchased a vacation/retirement home (also with a 15 year mortgage) and have another 2 years before my car is paid off. I don't have a lot of discretionary funds, but I am getting by and owe "only" $1,000 total on credit cards.

I make less than Ross did, receive no financial assistance from anyone, and don't live in a particularly "cheap" part of the country.

Mom?

Kidding, but you are awesome.


My mother worked much like you. We never went without and, in some instances, were more privileged. She did not make much, but worked hard, had excellent credit, and money in savings.

And she earned much less than the Harrises. And we didn't end up dead for our life insurance.

JRH is the devil. He did it on purpose and I cannot imagine anything changing my mind. Pig.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I am a single mom, with two adult children living in my home, free of cost, and for whom I purchase all the groceries. I have a 15 year mortgage on the house, recently purchased a vacation/retirement home (also with a 15 year mortgage) and have another 2 years before my car is paid off. I don't have a lot of discretionary funds, but I am getting by and owe "only" $1,000 total on credit cards.

I make less than Ross did, receive no financial assistance from anyone, and don't live in a particularly "cheap" part of the country.

I know you're not in NJ!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cluciano63]

I think it COULD be possible that RH forgot about Cooper that morning...but remembered before lunch, when he made a quick check while dropping off light bulbs. He saw that it was too late and spent the afternoon trying to figure out how and where to put on his show.

 

[momrids6]

Anyone found an actual court transcript yet? Going on partials from CNN, who failed to cover part of the hearing, and unverified sources tend to skew theories, imo. After all, one can be anyone and have heard anything anywhere when one is online. I am amazed when I find out who really knows who later on for some of these cases- as well as how different the court transcripts are from "msm".

 

[Secretsolver]

RH was unusually hungry the morning of the plan. He couldn't go thru the drive thru for 2 reasons... the drive thru person would maybe see the child and wonder why he was only ordering food for himself and there would also be no one to vouch for him later to possibly sing his praises on fatherhood.

RH took the baby to ChikFilA for only one reason. WITNESSES. So that later in the day when the child was found, RH could recant his day and people that were interviewed would say that he seemed like he was a good parent-feeding his child-letting him play-whatever.
Lunch was also intentional. Witnesses to drive him to lunch and then find the baby.

The comments made by LH at the funeral about having other children (almost like she believes "other" "new" children would be better than Cooper, makes me think that they must have thought something was wrong with CH. Maybe it was behavior issues, maybe he was a handful. Her behavior clearly shows that she was not "bonded" with the child-what mother wouldn't be demanding to see her baby when told what had happened? LH didn't want to bring CH back because in her mind the child had a defect or something she thought couldn't be fixed. (regardless of the childs health history)

I also think the date has something to do with the plan. If daycare was paid in advance for the month--- then doing the deed in the middle of the month might make people also think it was an accident versus the "accident" happening on say the 29th or 30th, because daycare was already paid for the month of June.

LH and RH cooked up different ways to be rid of CH. The car was the easiest way to make it seem like an accident. They maybe even fought over who would do the dirty work, hence the switching of the car seats. (which I think buying the bigger seat was also a way to make it look like they were decent parents.)

RH was already almost single again in his mind. Get rid of baby would lead to getting rid of wife as she would either kill herself or divorce him and leave town.

I apologize if my theory isn't too different from the actual event. I just think that the whole Chik Fil A thing was all part of the plan to make it look innocent.

 

[Ruby]

I was responding to the" He leaves CFA, goes directly to work thinking he dropped Cooper off prior to eating at CFA" and said there was a video of them both that morning., so that wouldn't work in your alternate theories.

How does it not work in my alternate theory?

He thinks he drops Cooper off, prior to being at CFA (false memory? forgets that he did not?) or in another way of saying it, he forgets Cooper's in the car after he leaves CFA because he's on autopilot. Maybe I'm not wording it properly, or my sentence is backswards (that happens from time to time).

I know they have him on film with Cooper at CFA. But at that time he knows he's with him, it's not until he leaves and goes directly to work - that's when the memory lapse, or autopilot comes in at.

With some extra info and some further analysis (if it can be called that) I came to the conclusion that the autopilot reason for forgetting Cooper after leaving CFA can not be part of it - so I guess it's moot at this point. But still am curious why you say it would not work.

my opinion, etc., :moo:

 

[gngr~snap]

RH was unusually hungry the morning of the plan. He couldn't go thru the drive thru for 2 reasons... the drive thru person would maybe see the child and wonder why he was only ordering food for himself and there would also be no one to vouch for him later to possibly sing his praises on fatherhood.

RH took the baby to ChikFilA for only one reason. WITNESSES. So that later in the day when the child was found, RH could recant his day and people that were interviewed would say that he seemed like he was a good parent-feeding his child-letting him play-whatever.
Lunch was also intentional. Witnesses to drive him to lunch and then find the baby.

The comments made by LH at the funeral about having other children (almost like she believes "other" "new" children would be better than Cooper, makes me think that they must have thought something was wrong with CH. Maybe it was behavior issues, maybe he was a handful. Her behavior clearly shows that she was not "bonded" with the child-what mother wouldn't be demanding to see her baby when told what had happened? LH didn't want to bring CH back because in her mind the child had a defect or something she thought couldn't be fixed. (regardless of the childs health history)

I also think the date has something to do with the plan. If daycare was paid in advance for the month--- then doing the deed in the middle of the month might make people also think it was an accident versus the "accident" happening on say the 29th or 30th, because daycare was already paid for the month of June.

LH and RH cooked up different ways to be rid of CH. The car was the easiest way to make it seem like an accident. They maybe even fought over who would do the dirty work, hence the switching of the car seats. (which I think buying the bigger seat was also a way to make it look like they were decent parents.)

RH was already almost single again in his mind. Get rid of baby would lead to getting rid of wife as she would either kill herself or divorce him and leave town.

I apologize if my theory isn't too different from the actual event. I just think that the whole Chik Fil A thing was all part of the plan to make it look innocent.

I agree except if Leanna conspired with him why would he think she'd kill herself? Leave town for sure!
Sounds like he is the one in need of mental healthcare right now...
I wonder if he is in the "rubber room" at Cobb County Adult Detention Center? Wearing a suicide smock.
I am so glad he didn't walk away as a "forgetful" parent.
Yeah, he made sure he was seen on video surveillance 4 different places.
And the Chic fil a was his downfall.
Moo

All posts are MOO. Sent via Insignia Flex Tablet.

 

[DeDee]

RH was unusually hungry the morning of the plan. <RSBM>

LH and RH cooked up different ways to be rid of CH. The car was the easiest way to make it seem like an accident. They maybe even fought over who would do the dirty work, hence the switching of the car seats. (which I think buying the bigger seat was also a way to make it look like they were decent parents.) <RSBM>

1. The 1st sentence made me giggle a little.
2. The next sentence is chilling the way it is written by using the word cooked.
3. Agreed about being left in a hot car could look like an accident.
4. In the video of 2yo Ella who loves Elvis, the proper fit of a child's safety seat is clearly obvious compared to descriptions of Cooper's head being higher than the top of his infant seat. Stoddard was asked by the prosecutor if Cooper being too tall for the seat attributed to the horizontal abrasions and injuries to the back of Cooper's head. Stoddard explained the injuries could be caused from intentional banging of his head against the top of his infant seat or perhaps they occurred during convulsions or, at least, that is how I recall testimony from the PCH.

moo and all that jazz

 

[Inthedetails]

My alternate theory is that this was an outcome of RH's history of leaving Cooper in the car. His habit is what prompted LH to do web searches about the dangers of leaving children in cars. RH wasn't listening to her, so she wanted proof for him to accept the basic knowledge that children can and will die if left in a closed car.

RH is lazy and is a risk taker. He liked the option of leaving Cooper in the car when it was convenient for him. I also think taking the risk - especially one that annoyed the wife - was a thrill for RH. He liked pulling one over on LH by successfully leaving Cooper in the car for short stints with no harm done.

Knowing this habit of RH, LH made sure the infant car seat was in his car. She assumed, wrongly, that he couldn't leave Cooper unattended in a car seat that was too small for him.

The habit of going out for breakfast at a fast-food place shows his laziness. He couldn't be bothered with making breakfast for himself or Cooper at home and he instead relied on the fast food. On the morning in question, he couldn't get out of the house in time for work and once again went for fast food instead of making a meal at home. Like others have suggested, he left Cooper in the car in the HD parking lot to make an appearance at work with the plans of delivering Cooper to LAA later. He either forgot or got distracted by his online habit...and then it was too late.

LH's reaction at LAA was because she knew this was a possibility. Perhaps the past incidents involved leaving Cooper while RH ran into a store, etc., and didn't involve leaving Cooper while RH actually went to work. Still, her mind immediately jumped to this possibility because LH's lazy and risky habit of leaving Cooper in the car was a real concern for her. This leaves her un-involved with the actual incident, but not shocked.

RH finally figured out he took too big of a risk and tried to cover it up. I don't think he expected anyone to doubt it was an accident "without malice."

One of the many holes in this theory is that he didn't crack a window when leaving Cooper.

 

[tatertot]

One of the many holes in this theory is that he didn't crack a window when leaving Cooper.

IMHO, that's not a hole at all. He left the window up so nobody would hear the sound of a toddler crying in the parking lot if he woke up. Likewise, he parked the car in a secluded spot so nobody would see him in his carseat.

There's no way to say this without being judgmental and I apologize if it offends, but if he was the type to rely on fast food for his meals he probably also wasn't the type to regularly park his car as far from the building as possible and get exercise hiking in -- yet he parked that way that day. Has it been said whether the surveillance video showed empty spaces closer to the building that he passed on his way to the secluded spot, and was this compared to previous days' footage to see if he usually took the first spot available? If you're running late, wouldn't you take the nearest spot so you could walk in faster?

Slight variation on your theory -- he hadn't ever intentionally left CH in the car alone before, but he'd recently left him by accident. CH wasn't harmed by this close call because he was remembered just in time. While neither parent wanted to involve LE, LH was fearful it could happen again and made him watch the video (as any sensible parent would do, I might add.)

 

[cebee]

While I do not for a minute believe he is innocent- some thing I believe could make it possible are:
1) Could he have set up the movie 'date' with his friends ahead of time- so his message to LH about 'what time are you picking up my buddy?" could have been a 'reminder' to her to pick him up since he had alternate plans. Had they ever had confusion before over who was to pick him up?
2) Could he have intended to just run into work.. make a 'guest appearance' so people saw him there... then grab Cooper and maybe hang out for a while, but once he got inside, got nailed by the boss and could not take off like he planned? Did he expect to just be in there for a few minutes, and figure Cooper would be fine for 10 min or so?
3) WHile I don't believe he 'forgot' his son- I know I have left water running in the sink ( loud enough for me to hear!) and left the room. Not till I was back in the room did I even notice it was on. And this past weekend I went on a short trip... got there and could not find an object ( ok, well... my cigarettes! I admit it!) that I KNEW were on my console. I tore the car apart, looking for them. I could PICTURE then.. I REMEMBERED putting them there... got home and yup, there they were on the counter. But I would have sworn up and down I had them in the car. Obviously not at all the same thing as forgetting his chattering child.. but ... so I guess if he intended to just run back out... he could have indeed forgotten
( but as I said, this is giving him the benefit of the doubt... but I believe he is 100% guilty!)

 

[popsicle]

I agree except if Leanna conspired with him why would he think she'd kill herself? Leave town for sure!
Sounds like he is the one in need of mental healthcare right now...
I wonder if he is in the "rubber room" at Cobb County Adult Detention Center? Wearing a suicide smock.
I am so glad he didn't walk away as a "forgetful" parent.
Yeah, he made sure he was seen on video surveillance 4 different places.
And the Chic fil a was his downfall.
Moo

All posts are MOO. Sent via Insignia Flex Tablet.

BBM Good Lord, I bet that's a sight! :giggle:

 

[hopingicanhelp]

Hi, cebee ~

your #2... my take on it is that even if this were the case, there should have been countless times throughout the day he could & should have remembered CH (like the daycare group email);

he was not "so busy" that he couldn't sext;

he went to lunch with his friends AND stopped off at the car to THROW lightbulbs inside;

he had seen Ernie Ward's video and had to know what his child would be experiencing after even 10 minutes;

daycare was sooooooo close and paid for; 10 min, 30 min, couple hours -- no one would have cared if he had to drop him off for "just a bit" that day... so WHY take the risk?

kwim?

 

[magnolia]

IMHO, that's not a hole at all. He left the window up so nobody would hear the sound of a toddler crying in the parking lot if he woke up. Likewise, he parked the car in a secluded spot so nobody would see him in his carseat.

There's no way to say this without being judgmental and I apologize if it offends, but if he was the type to rely on fast food for his meals he probably also wasn't the type to regularly park his car as far from the building as possible and get exercise hiking in -- yet he parked that way that day. Has it been said whether the surveillance video showed empty spaces closer to the building that he passed on his way to the secluded spot, and was this compared to previous days' footage to see if he usually took the first spot available? If you're running late, wouldn't you take the nearest spot so you could walk in faster?

Slight variation on your theory -- he hadn't ever intentionally left CH in the car alone before, but he'd recently left him by accident. CH wasn't harmed by this close call because he was remembered just in time. While neither parent wanted to involve LE, LH was fearful it could happen again and made him watch the video (as any sensible parent would do, I might add.)

BBM-I agree. Not leaving the windows down is not a hole in the theory. Perhaps he didn't leave the windows down, out of concern, that someone might abduct Cooper. If I recall correctly, there were trees very close to the parking space. It's possible he thought the trees would provide some shade. This may be why he chose that particular space. This also fits the "forgot after arriving at work" theory. IMO

 

[stmarysmead]

My alternate theory is that this was an outcome of RH's history of leaving Cooper in the car. His habit is what prompted LH to do web searches about the dangers of leaving children in cars. RH wasn't listening to her, so she wanted proof for him to accept the basic knowledge that children can and will die if left in a closed car.

RH is lazy and is a risk taker. He liked the option of leaving Cooper in the car when it was convenient for him. I also think taking the risk - especially one that annoyed the wife - was a thrill for RH. He liked pulling one over on LH by successfully leaving Cooper in the car for short stints with no harm done.

Knowing this habit of RH, LH made sure the infant car seat was in his car. She assumed, wrongly, that he couldn't leave Cooper unattended in a car seat that was too small for him.

The habit of going out for breakfast at a fast-food place shows his laziness. He couldn't be bothered with making breakfast for himself or Cooper at home and he instead relied on the fast food. On the morning in question, he couldn't get out of the house in time for work and once again went for fast food instead of making a meal at home. Like others have suggested, he left Cooper in the car in the HD parking lot to make an appearance at work with the plans of delivering Cooper to LAA later. He either forgot or got distracted by his online habit...and then it was too late.

LH's reaction at LAA was because she knew this was a possibility. Perhaps the past incidents involved leaving Cooper while RH ran into a store, etc., and didn't involve leaving Cooper while RH actually went to work. Still, her mind immediately jumped to this possibility because LH's lazy and risky habit of leaving Cooper in the car was a real concern for her. This leaves her un-involved with the actual incident, but not shocked.

RH finally figured out he took too big of a risk and tried to cover it up. I don't think he expected anyone to doubt it was an accident "without malice."

One of the many holes in this theory is that he didn't crack a window when leaving Cooper.

I like this theory but it is LH's behavior that nixes it for me.

We have neighbors whose dog was killed recently. We all live in a neighborhood where there is very little internal traffic. My friends husband was in the habit of walking the dog with a retractable leash, although the dog loved to run after cars. My friend, very cautious, tried to argue against this practice. One day, the worst happened.

What do you think my neighbor's FIRST reaction to her husband was? I can tell you that she wasn't telling the world that he was the best pet owner ever. Of course, in time, she and her husband grieved together, but, once again, LH's first reactions and her behavior at the funeral, do NOT sound like a woman who has just lost her child because her husband refused to listen to reason.

They both googled hot car deaths. So LH knew very well what her Baby had suffered. If she had warned and argued against RH leaving the child in the car, I just don't know how her reactions to RH's deliberate negligence could be so benign.

Wouldn't you have expected her to say..."We talked about this. Why did you keep doing this?" Something like that. Not...."Well, did you say too much?"

It's ironic, because in my opinion, LH's decision to be a cheering section for her husband actually undermines him. There are too many hinky details for me to believe this was "just an accident." That leaves the theory above as RH's best case scenario short of murder. But her reaction to RH is not what one would have expected if it was just RH's willful negligence that led to this awful death.

So, for me, I am left with deliberate murder.

My opinion only, of course.

 

[magnolia]

BBM-I agree. Not leaving the windows down is not a hole in the theory. Perhaps he didn't leave the windows down, out of concern, that someone might abduct Cooper. If I recall correctly, there were trees very close to the parking space. It's possible he thought the trees would provide some shade. This may be why he chose that particular space. This also fits the "forgot after arriving at work" theory. IMO

BBM

Oops, I should have said, the parking space he chose, fits my theory and cybee's #2 theory.