Georgia Father Found Guilty in Death of Son Left in Hot Car

A Georgia father has been found guilty of murder in the 2014 death of his toddler son who perished after being left in a hot car.

A jury reached its verdict Monday in the trial of Justin Ross Harris. The former Home Depot web developer’s 22-month-old son, Cooper, died after Harris left the boy in his SUV while he was at work June 18, 2014.

Harris showed little emotion as the verdict was read.

Harris was charged with malice murder after investigators concluded he left his child to die on purpose. They also charged him with felony murder, which does not require proof of intent to kill. He was found guilty of both murder charges. Malice murder carries a prison term of life with or without parole.

Harris was also found guilty of child cruelty and of sending sexual text messages to a teenage girl and asking for nude photos of her pubic area.

Defense attorneys said the boy’s death was a tragic accident.

Harris, who moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012, will be sentenced on Dec. 5.

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