Wife of Justin Ross Harris Passed Polygraph Test, Lawyer Says

The wife of a Cobb County man who faces murder charges in the hot car death of their young son in June passed a polygraph test which asked questions about her culpability in the incident “with no indication of deception,” her lawyer said Monday.

Lawrence Zimmerman, who represents Leanna Harris, said the test was given on July 16 by an experienced polygraph administrator who formerly served in law enforcement. According to The Associated Press, Harris was asked the following questions about the death of 22-month-old Cooper Harris and answered each question negatively:

• Prior to June 18th, did you know that your husband would leave your son in that vehicle?
• Did you plan or arrange with your husband to leave your son in that vehicle?
• Did your husband tell you that he was going to leave your son in that vehicle?

Leanna’s husband, Justin Ross Harris, was indicted on Sept. 4 on one count of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of cruelty to children in the first degree, one count of cruelty to children in the second degree, one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony (sexual exploitation of children), and two counts of dissemination of harmful materials to minors.

On June 18, police say, Harris strapped the boy into a rear-facing car seat after stopping for breakfast and headed to work at Home Depot’s corporate offices in the Cumberland area. He left the boy in the car all day.

Prosecutors argued during a July 3 probable cause hearing that Justin Harris wanted a “child-free life.” A detective on the stand noted Harris had been sexting girls, one as young as 17 years old, throughout the day while he was at work.

During testimony, Det. Phil Stoddard noted Harris had two life insurance policies on Cooper’s life and prosecutors argue they’ll show Harris was having financial trouble.

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