The only difference that mattered is that Ross Harris & his wife were harder to sympathize with because they were odd people. We didn't like them. Ross Harris likely didn't mean to kill his child anymore than this guy did, but due to what WAS occupying his mind at work, and his lack of character he was convicted of murder.
Convicted doesn't make it true though. Did Casey Anthony murder Caylee? Yes or No?
( I don't care how many times he looked at his son, took him out to eat ect...when that disconnect happened, it did, and that's why cooper died. Not some nefarious murder plot. Even though that was a hot thread and everyone loved crucifying him).
I had no feelings about Ross and his wife. They seemed to me like millions of Americans all across this nation. Not weird. Just average. Ugh. It is so annoying when I analyze evidence so intently and dispassionately to have people reduce my logical analysis to emotions I don't even feel. It's a different side of the same coin that harsh judgment is, IMO.
I disagree that Ross was innocent. Timing can be very important. If you see your kid and 40 seconds later forget when turning in an area that you aren't routinely at (which means the autopilot doesn't kick in), that can be a factor. But in the Cooper case there were numerous factors:
1. He just happened to stop taking daily photos of Cooper a couple weeks before incident.
2. Ross watched a news report just before his child's death about a guy who became an advocate after leaving his kid in a hot car, and as a result of the video, Ross said he had been turning and looking behind him at the car seat so he won't forget Copper, "because the worst fear of me is leaving my son in a hot car." He just coincidentally happened not to turn and "look again" that particular day. (I re watched the tape. Those were his exact words. It WAS his "worst" fear). There is no damn way that's your worst fear and you're EDUCATED about it and it immediately happens to you. THAT defies logic.
3. In addition to watching the news report about the man turned advocate who left his kid in the car, and having that impact him enough that he started to look behind him so he wouldn't forget Cooper, he also, right before Cooper died, watched a video of a vet showing exactly how hot it gets for dogs in the car. He watched the whole thing. And then left his son in the car shortly after.
4. The day before Cooper died, LH texted, "Don't forget Cooper." Answer, "NEVER" .
5. Typically didn't go into Chik-fil-A to eat. Used the drive-thru. Just happened to do so that day with his son, conveniently getting him on camera that morning. (Ross was a regular but the worker who helped him had never met Cooper before. Ross stated he usually went through the drive thru, which, by the way, would make it more believable that he had forgotten Cooper as opposed to actually taking him out of the car seat and interacting in the restaurant with him).
6. Often bought CFA for the workers at the daycare. Coincidentally did not order food for them that day.
7. Even though he usually called the daycare when he's running late, he didn't that day, despite being quite late.
8. Cooper was wide awake when exiting the restaurant, but just happened to fall instantly asleep while parked in his car seat in the parking lot, before even driving off and stayed deeply asleep for the next six minutes. Cooper just happened to say nothing and made no noise the moment he was placed in the car.
9. He forgot his son in either a couple minutes after strapping him in tightly and kissing him or less than a minute after doing so. And I don't believe Ross was lulled into autopilot in a parked car or while driving 40 seconds to a turn. The cases I've read don't indicate something happening that quickly or in that manner, in a location that isn't usual for them. In a location that’s a long their regular route is different. But he didn’t typically go to Chik Fil A.
10. For six to 7 minutes after leaving CFA, Ross didn't see his son although his proximity to the car seat and Cooper's head in that car was incredible. However magically, later that day, he saw his son when making a turn.
11. Ross just happened to park his car that morning, in a manner that involved backing in, but didn't see his kid as he did so.
12. Communications about kids being at their childcare or getting there are often (not always, but often) triggers for parents who accidentally left them in the car. But not for Ross. Not ever for Ross: Text from LH: “Get to work ok?” Wasn’t a trigger, even though the question had a “safety” implication. And could trigger a memory of driving to work and to childcare.
13. He just happened to have to go back to his car that afternoon to put something in it, but instead of putting the item in the back seat as many do, or carefully on the passenger seat, he tossed the fragile items in the front driver’s side, keeping his head above the roof line, and not looking or placing the items.
14. He just happened to coincidentally take a longer route to the movies to meet his friends that evening - one that would have him drive by a crowded parking lot where he "discovered" his son.
15. A paramedic - not a cop - with no reason to lie, stated Ross showed no emotion when he pronounced the child dead.
16. His son is dead but he can, the very day he died, talk about wanting to be an advocate for hot car death prevention.
17. Ross was nonchalant as video showed, when he went into jail reception after arrest, sat with a relaxed posture and had small talk with another inmate. The day his son died.
Not to mention the things he said to his affairs that indicated he was unhappy and wanted a child free or responsibility free life. But the most crucial factors for me is how recently educated the dude was about hot car deaths and how he proclaimed it was his worst fear and he watched a video about how long it takes for a dog to die in a hot car. Just prior to the death of his son. That isn't expalined by any scientific research and it defies all logic.
In none of the accidental cases had the parents been educated about hot car deaths and obsessed about it prior to it happening. Let alone right before it happened. On that alone I can never believe that case was an accident. It’s not logical.
When it comes to this one, if as many similar factors are at play I believe we will be looking at something different than an accident. And please guys, you can likely find an excuse of some sort for every item on my list. But the cumulative effect is the key.
