GA - Suspicion over heat death of Cooper, 22 mo., Cobb County, June 2014, #6

[Suthrnqt]

Deleted

 

[DeDee]

IIRC that was to calm him down at the time. He was not arrested til later that night at about 10:00. jmo

Yes, I understand the man was throwing his arms in the air and yelling: What have I done?

I also understand he cursed at law enforcement. JHarris was taken to headquarters from the scene and has not been free since.


June 28:

"But it was too late for Cooper, who was already dead. A distraught Harris was not cooperative with police, who handcuffed the father and put him in the back of a patrol car. Harris was taken to Cobb police headquarters for questioning, and within about five hours was arrested and charged with felony murder and child cruelty."

Officers were working behind the scenes while his interrogation continued for 5 hours.

"While detectives were questioning Harris and later his wife, other investigators were examining the SUV, the family’s condo near Marietta, a laptop and a cell phone, the search warrant applications state. The condo was also searched for papers, writings, documents, photographs and any other evidence related to the investigation, according to police. Leanna Harris was not charged and has not been named a suspect. The family has not spoken publicly since the toddler’s death."

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/warrant-cobb-toddlers-dad-researched-child-deaths-/ngT29/

 

[abbygator]

I live in the Atlanta area and have been following this case from the start. I have gone back and forth. There are several disturbing aspects of the case but one that keeps sticking in my head is that the mom said she is "absolutely" not mad at the dad. I do not understand that at all. I don't have kids but if my husband left our dog in the car I would be mad. If it was a human child? OMG.

She talks like it is a piece of cheesecake he left in the car (and yes, if my husband left a piece of cheesecake in the car that I had been looking forward to eating, that would make me mad too).

I just cannot understand her not being mad. Even if it was a mistake.

 

[MissJ]

I live in the Atlanta area and have been following this case from the start. I have gone back and forth. There are several disturbing aspects of the case but one that keeps sticking in my head is that the mom said she is "absolutely" not mad at the dad. I do not understand that at all. I don't have kids but if my husband left our dog in the car I would be mad. If it was a human child? OMG.

She talks like it is a piece of cheesecake he left in the car (and yes, if my husband left a piece of cheesecake in the car that I had been looking forward to eating, that would make me mad too).

I just cannot understand her not being mad. Even if it was a mistake.

Me either. My husband lost my cat once told him not to come home til he found it.:moo:

 

[Elley Mae]

I live in the Atlanta area and have been following this case from the start. I have gone back and forth. There are several disturbing aspects of the case but one that keeps sticking in my head is that the mom said she is "absolutely" not mad at the dad. I do not understand that at all. I don't have kids but if my husband left our dog in the car I would be mad. If it was a human child? OMG.

She talks like it is a piece of cheesecake he left in the car (and yes, if my husband left a piece of cheesecake in the car that I had been looking forward to eating, that would make me mad too).

I just cannot understand her not being mad. Even if it was a mistake.

Oh I do agree, 110% If the guy that I picked to be my babies daddy did this to the first one, the divorce papers would be in the works. Seriously this guy is not father material for any future children. Just not.

 

[oh_gal]

I live in the Atlanta area and have been following this case from the start. I have gone back and forth. There are several disturbing aspects of the case but one that keeps sticking in my head is that the mom said she is "absolutely" not mad at the dad. I do not understand that at all. I don't have kids but if my husband left our dog in the car I would be mad. If it was a human child? OMG.

She talks like it is a piece of cheesecake he left in the car (and yes, if my husband left a piece of cheesecake in the car that I had been looking forward to eating, that would make me mad too).

I just cannot understand her not being mad. Even if it was a mistake.

We're not supposed to pull religion into this...but I will say that, unless you are familiar with their religious beliefs, then, yes, this would be hard to fathom. If you are familiar with their religious beliefs (ie, you have a working understanding of them), then her comment would not seem odd. I am not bashing or supporting her comments. Just trying to provide some perspective.

 

[tlcya]

Thank you...I'm tired of my name being thrown around.:banghead:

just wanted to throw your name around - no comment other than that

 

[MissJ]

Oh I do agree, 110% If the guy that I picked to be my babies daddy did this to the first one, the divorce papers would be in the works. Seriously this guy is not father material for any future children. Just not.

How could one even think of trusting him?:moo:

 

[SouthAussie]

No. I am not sure if rigor was noticeable or not. It was something I read yesterday. I guesstimate Cooper was gone by eleven that fateful morning.

RSBM

Comments from this witness make it sound as if rigor was noticeable.

“…..I know he was in the car seat but when the dad placed him on the ground his legs stayed in the same sitting position, as if he was laying on the ground with his knees up in the air stiff. It wasn't natural.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-car-toddler-son-died-way.html#ixzz36DpXCCjk

 

[MissJ]

just wanted to throw your name around - no comment other than that

Lol.:drumroll:

 

[MissJ]

Does anyone know if there was a witness that saw him going to the car at lunch or were there security camera's?

 

[oh_gal]

RSBM

Comments from this witness make it sound as if rigor was noticeable.

“…..I know he was in the car seat but when the dad placed him on the ground his legs stayed in the same sitting position, as if he was laying on the ground with his knees up in the air stiff. It wasn't natural.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-car-toddler-son-died-way.html#ixzz36DpXCCjk

Can someone with a medical background comment on this? I have heard that rigor sets in, then goes away after a few hours. Then can come back? True? My point is that if this is true (and I don't know that it is), then rigor may not be the best indicator of time of death. Thank you!

 

[Simply Caustic]

Most of the recent posts are discussion of formatting/editing/quote attribution. If a poster is bothered by their name being accidentally quoted...I've found that alerting a post - if I feel that strongly about the content - would get the situation resolved, without disrupting the forum readers.

JMO.

Via Kindle, like a true Amazon junkie

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

you know --- their a/c required repair if I recall correctly ((for the condo)) would be interesting to know when exactly that occurred and the details of the temperature etc and if there was any concern at that time for safety of wee lad.

Here is an article referring to the the Harris's broken A/C...

http://hosted2.ap.org/RIPRJ/3762489...014-06-19/id-740442b2c6408699d4eec51eef816280

"Saini [landlord ] said the Harrises were perfect tenants. when the air-conditioner recently broke down Harris didn't get angry with it."

Now that we know that JRH and LH researched children dying in the heat... this report takes on a new meaning...IMO...

 

[Sonya610]

Oh I do agree, 110% If the guy that I picked to be my babies daddy did this to the first one, the divorce papers would be in the works. Seriously this guy is not father material for any future children. Just not.

I am not justifying the mother's weird comments but...

I can see how one spouse could FORGIVE the other, especially if the other was absolutely devastated and heartbroken. Having said that even if one was madly in love with their partner I sure wouldn't let the guy do it again, and I wouldn't be saying "He is a wonderful leader for our household".

Fact is kids die "accidental" deaths all the time, they slip out the door and get backed over in the driveway, they hang themselves on blind cords that weren't property tied up, they drown in mop buckets, etc... And often times the parents do stay together.

 

[MissJ]

Here is an article referring to the the Harris's broken A/C...

http://hosted2.ap.org/RIPRJ/3762489...014-06-19/id-740442b2c6408699d4eec51eef816280

"Saini [landlord ] said the Harrises were perfect tenants. when the air-conditioner recently broke down Harris didn't get angry with it."

Now that we know that JRH and LH researched children dying in the heat... this report takes on a new meaning...IMO...

But did they do the search just about heat in general or in a car? I thought it was the latter.:moo:

 

[Lovejac]

Here is an article referring to the the Harris's broken A/C...

http://hosted2.ap.org/RIPRJ/3762489...014-06-19/id-740442b2c6408699d4eec51eef816280

"Saini [landlord ] said the Harrises were perfect tenants. when the air-conditioner recently broke down Harris didn't get angry with it."

Now that we know that JRH and LH researched children dying in the heat... this report takes on a new meaning...IMO...

But the wording in the search warrants was very specific for children dying in CARS from heat.

And both parents offered up that they were "worried" about that happening.

 

[popsicle]

Really guys, I don't know if it's a tablet thing, but it's kinda silly to get mad at ME because you can't figure out how to just edit it. Oh well. I tried. LOL

It makes it easier on the mods...

 

[JeannaT]

Playing devils advocate for a second.

I don't think the smell is a strong enough argument to be bringing into the discussion. As I posted earlier, we don't hear from WITNESSES on the scene anything about an overwhelming smell. They were close enough to see the body so they should have smelled something, if it was that strong. It could be true that while handling the body the smells were released. A long 'burrrrrping" sound emitting from the childs body "could" have sounded like a choking sound and then the smell suddenly overtakes the car and he pulls over. We only heard from LE that they noticed it, but LE is trained in this differently than the average person. RH is just an average person.

Even though some of us can say that we don't think this is what happened, it is POSSIBLE. So I hope the DA doesn't go down this line of argument and try to push it as evidence. Doing so creates Reasonable Doubt, IMO.

RSBM

Interesting and thoughtful post, Chewy. I will say, though, that allowing the jury to consider the evidence of the burping sound and the odor, doesn't "CREATE" reasonable doubt, it "REVEALS reasonable doubt".

Our court system no longer operates on the oath witnesses take - the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. DA's, as you say now, try to hide things that they believe would "Create" reasonable doubt - they even use that term, it's true - when in fact, what they are doing is hiding the evidence that provides or reveals reasonable doubt in a case.

 

[MissJ]

I am not justifying the mother's weird comments but...

I can see how one spouse could FORGIVE the other, especially if the other was absolutely devastated and heartbroken. Having said that even if one was madly in love with their partner I sure wouldn't let the guy do it again, and I wouldn't be saying "He is a wonderful leader for our household".

Fact is kids die "accidental" deaths all the time, they slip out the door and get backed over in the driveway, they hang themselves on blind cords that weren't property tied up, they drown in mop buckets, etc... And often times the parents do stay together.

Yes they do but it is really difficult for a marriage to survive when you have lost a child under any circumstances. Its hard to explain how it feels...kinda like there is a large obstacle between you.:moo: