Dad who left toddler in hot car indicted for murder
Justin Ross Harris, the Georgia man who left his toddler in a hot car in June, has been indicted on eight counts, including malice murder as well as two counts of felony murder.
Harris' son, 22-month-old Cooper Harris, died after being left in a hot car all day. Justin Ross Harris claimed the event was an accident, but police had found internet searches about hot car deaths, including "how long does it take for an animal to die in a hot car," on Harris' computer. The charge for malice murder, however, reveals the grand jury's decision that Harris' killing of his son included "malice aforethought."
The other charges include "first-degree cruelty to children, second-degree cruelty to children, criminal attempt to commit a felony (sexual exploitation of a minor), and two counts of dissemination of harmful material to minors," CNN reports. The latter two counts are "not directly related to Cooper's death."
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If convicted on the murder charges, Harris could face a lifetime in prison, and he could face the death penalty if convicted of malice murder. Harris pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and child cruelty in June, and he has been held without bond since Cooper's death in June. Vic Reynolds, the Cobb County district attorney, will hold a news conference Thursday afternoon to discuss Harris' case.
