GA - Suspicion over heat death of Cooper, 22 mo., Cobb County, June 2014, #2

[blue22]

When would he have done that? Before he left HD parking lot? He didn't do it at the shopping center per witness statements that I have seen in msm. imo

He had 1.4 miles (I think that was the distance.) Can anyone local tell us if there are any stoplights on that route? It would take a few seconds to dump water, IMO

 

[popsicle]

He had 1.4 miles (I think that was the distance.) Can anyone local tell us if there are any stoplights on that route? It would take a few seconds to dump water, IMO

Oh, I agree. I am just thinking if he did it on his way there it would be very obvious... would he take that chance or do it before he left the parking lot? idk

 

[eileenhawkeye]

You know, my husband and I had this conversation last night, and he pointed out that manslaughter comes with jail time. So someone accidentally killing a pedestrian or something like that, still gets convicted. So why wouldn't a true accident that ends with the death of a child come with a conviction? (That was his response when I said in cases of true accidents parents have to deal with a lifetime of guilt - he also said people have to deal with a lifetime of guilt in any accident causing a death.). Fairly convincing argument to me

I think that is only true if you run a red light, a stop sign, texting, speeding etc. If it is an accident, and the other person is at fault, you are not going to be charged.

 

[gngr~snap]

Just wondering if it's a parking lot, or a parking deck, that he was parked in. The main Home Depot office has a multi-story parking deck, meaning all but the top level are out of direct sun. And some office buildings around there have parking decks as well. Not sure if or how that would affect any timelines.

I don't see any covered parking.

****someone asked about red lights...
You should be able to enter Akers Mill Rd on this map and you can see what stores and red lights he passed.
Plenty of places he could have pulled over prior to getting to Akers Mill.

Dropped Pin

near 2600 Cumberland Pkwy SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

http://goo.gl/maps/kLgk1

 

[blue22]

Oh, I agree. I am just thinking if he did it on his way there it would be very obvious... would he take that chance or do it before he left the parking lot? idk

Unfortunately, If it was at HD I don't think surveillance can pick that up. We probably will never know, unless he talks.

One thing I feel we can know, is that baby wouldn't have been soaked naturally. He would have been deceased for hours, would not have continued sweating, and what sweat there was would have dried long before.

 

[blue22]

I don't see any covered parking.

****someone asked about red lights...
You should be able to enter Akers Mill Rd on this map and you can see what stores and red lights he passed.
Plenty od places he could have pulled over prior to getting to Akers Mill.

Dropped Pin

near 2600 Cumberland Pkwy SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

http://goo.gl/maps/kLgk1

Thanks. I'm watching the world cup and trying to not to do too much. Will look later, lol.

 

[x_files]

Science and medical information would dictate that is not probable. The child was most likely deceased before 10:30 assuming he walked into work around 9:30. Experts on the news have said children don't last very long. They said given his age and weight Cooper probably succumbed to his injuries with in an hour. I would guess the search was done prior to the date of death (if planned) or after finding him ( if he did discover at lunch) in effort to build some kind of alibi or story for wife/police. Just speculation

Is it possible the car was in the shade and early morning temps were more closer to the 70's than the mid-day 90's?

 

[blue22]

Is it possible the car was in the shade and early morning temps were more closer to the 70's than the mid-day 90's?

Even if it's 70 outside, in one hour inside the car would be 115-120. It was 91 by NOON, so the temp was hot for some time.

 

[tangelo]

That's the painful part of it, Katydid. That's the haunting part. I don't know how - it certainly never happened to me.

But when I see something that I've seen before - this out of sight out of mind thing - I believe it can happen. I believe it.

I've mentioned this numerous times, but I had a boss who this nearly happened to. On her way to work, she arrived at the babysitter's house and the babysitter had something going on (a child was sick, she was sick, something) so my boss decided to drive to work, park, grab a few folders and items and go home for the day to work from home.

She parked her car in the parking lot, locked it, and sprinted in to the office to grab things. We were having a crisis that day. At that point, my boss swung into crisis mode and FORGOT her baby in the car in the parking lot.

She had been at the babysitter's office five minutes prior. She had walked into the office with full intent to get items that she had listed in her head for a day at home, and within one minute that was forgotten and she was in crisis mode. This was August. After at least an hour, she suddenly screamed "MY BABY!!" from in her office and ran out to the parking lot, where by the gift of God, he was fine. A sweaty mess, but alive and well. By the grace of God she had the one parking space in the lot that was shielded by this enormous dense shade tree.

I can't forget that Katydid although it's been 30 years. I saw it happen, and for those minutes believed the child would likely be found dead in the car.

Because inexplicably, this woman I really love and admire completely forgot in a matter of a few minutes her plan to take her baby back home and work from home that day, and forgot he was in the car.

It wouldn't happen to me, but I've seen it in someone I care about.

You boss CHOSE to put her kid in danger. For what? the inconvenience of unbuckling (assuming the kid was in a car seat) and toting him in with her to grab her stuff.

I can think of a million things that could have happened to that baby--all of them bad. Love & admire her all you want, but what a horrible mother, child srvices should have been called. the police would have been had any responsible parent happened by her car.

She like every single other parent who forgetfully chooses to bake their children in cars clearly has higher priorities than being responsible for completely dependent small humans intheir immediate care.

 

[snowblossom2]

Animals in hot cars would bring up the same results, though. The first link...I don't even have to click it...says "Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes". If he used animal instead of child to be less suspicious, you would think he would also omit the "to die" part.

Why would he search for animals dying in a hot car if he wanted to know how long it would take a child to die? All the results will be about animals, not children. Why would he search for something so incriminating on his work computer? I find it very unlikely the child was not dead at lunch. He could either discover him then or after work. Looking up hot car accidents was just unnecessary.

I have to say that with all the true crime tv I watch, it's amazing how often criminals would have gotten away with things if not for seemingly stupid things like this.

 

[blue22]

I have to say that with all the true crime tv I watch, it's amazing how often criminals would have gotten away with things if not for seemingly stupid things like this.

Yes! I am thankful for stupid criminals, in a way.

 

[EGirl]

While I do believe that tragic accidents happen and parents have left kids in a hot car accidentally, I no longer believe that to be the case here.

The timing of that search will seal the deal for me.

Does anyone know how long this couple has been married and if either had children previously?

 

[Salem]

Another post where a member is talking about another member, instead of the case, TOs will be issued.

Discuss the case or move on to another thread.

Do NOT discuss each other.

Salem

 

[gngr~snap]

https://foursquare.com/v/home-depot-treehouse/4f4910dbe4b03377e7ce2368

I see they have or had a food truck come Mon, Wed, Friday. There are a few pictures of the area where dad works here.

 

[CrazytownUSA]

I think it would unusually late for getting off at 4:00, but stranger things has happened! I actually think it's a little weird he would get lunch working such a light schedule.

It's JMO, but I'm sure his lunch was taken around a more traditional time and not later in the day

I leave generally around 5-5:30, and usually by the time I can get out of the door for lunch, it's 2-2:30. I come back from lunch, wrap up the day and turn around to go home (makes for a really quick afternoon!!). In IT, as I'm sure it is in many professions, lunch is dictated by other factors than the clock, but we are MUCH smaller than HD, so I'm sure they have a far better scheduling system for lunch. And I'm not sure what his normal hours are, 9-4 seems like a weird schedule, but then, what is normal anymore? I was just pointing out that lunch doesn't always mean noon

 

[LisaB]

Carrying this over :

That is not 100% true based on what I read on kidsandcars.org and the Washington post article. Some yes, the parents switched or a grandparent were watching the kids and forgot because they weren't use to having them but most cases the parent that does it everyday and was either distracted, stressed, on the phone or their normal routine was interrupted by an added stop or leaving at a different time. Most stories I read said because they are so use to dropping them they all thought they did despite the child still being in the car. They continue the day as if its any other day and have even recalled drop of scenarios that hadn't happened that day. That's why seeing a picture or a spouse asking how the child did at drop off during the day of accidents won't normally trigger an oh no feeling in them. Many have driven all the way back to the daycare to pick them up not realizing the poor babies are deceased in the back seat.

People keep saying "this happens all the time". I've said it but I want to rephrase. This happens... If there are 40 something cases of children passing in cars, not all left, its not all that common. Just tragic

When my daughter was little, our daycare was a mile from home. I then drove another 25-30 minutes to my job. On SEVERAL occasions I got on the highway before I realized I had not stopped to drop the baby off at daycare. It happens. I always remembered, turned around, and dropped her off though.

 

[LisaB]

Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - GA - Ongoing probe into toddler's death first blamed on heat, Cobb County, June 2014

"He is charged with Felony Murder, and the second degree felony charge"

"A new warrant was filed Wednesday, changing his charges from first- to second-degree child cruelty. He is also charged with murder. The downgrade from first- to second-degree means investigators no longer belive there was criminal intent. Second-degree cruelty to children charge implies negligence, not criminal intent. "
Second degree murder. Not first.



http://www.ajc.com/news/news/national/source-cobb-father-new-child-was-left-hot-car/ngR5y/

The child cruelty was downgraded to second degree, but not the murder charge. The child cruelty is, in itself, a felony. Therefore the death, which occurred as a result of/during the commission of a felony is first degree murder.

 

[gngr~snap]

Looks like it's quite a distance to the parking lot???

 

[gngr~snap]

Looks like it's quite a distance to the parking lot???

 

[gngr~snap]