Hot Car Death Dad Pleads Not Guilty

The father who has been accused of intentionally leaving his 22-month-old son strapped in a hot car to die has pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts levied against him, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Justin Ross Harris, whose son Cooper died in a Smyrna parking lot on June 18, faces 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. He was indicted by a Cobb County jury on Sept. 4.

Harris waived his arraignment, a Cobb County clerk told the AJC. It was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday.

Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds said on Sept. 24 that the state will not seek the death penalty in Harris’ trial, but did not elaborate on his reasoning.

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.