Justin Ross Harris Indicted for Murder in Son's Hot Car Death

By Justin Ove

The father of a 22-month-old child who died in a hot car in Cobb County in June, capturing headlines across the country, has been indicted on three counts of murder, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Justin Ross Harris was indicted Thursday on eight criminal counts related to the June 18 death of Cooper Harris, who was left in a hot car for seven hours while Justin went to work. The grand jury indicted Harris on eight counts: 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.

The last three charges involve Harris’ conduct with a minor he met online. The indictment states that he attempted to solicit photographs of the girl’s privates and sent her sexually explicit photographs and literature.

Harris, who worked at Home Depot’s corporate offices in Cobb County before being fired in July, performed online searches on ways to live a “child-free life,” said police during a July 3 probable cause hearing.

Harris spent seven hours at work at Home Depot while Cooper remained strapped into his rear-facing car seat, police said. They even had video of Harris coming out to the car on his lunch break, putting light bulbs he had bought into the car, and leaving his son inside the car.

Police also testified that Harris was calm and composed during interviews with them, but became agitated when left alone with his wife. Allegedly, Harris told his wife he was worried about losing his job.

During his July 3 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.

No trial date for Harris has been set yet.