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Home » Divorce » Father’s Negligence Causes Death of Young Boy, Mother Promptly Divorces Him

Father’s Negligence Causes Death of Young Boy, Mother Promptly Divorces Him

georgia-toddler-hot-car-divorceMaybe you remember hearing this sad story two summers ago: in June of 2014, 22-month-old Cooper Harris was left in a hot car all day by his father, Justin Ross Harris. The boy died as a result.

Now Ross’s wife, Leanna Harris, is filing for divorce — an understandable reaction to her husband’s unacceptable negligence. However, as of now, there’s no information regarding Leana’s exact grounds for divorce. One would assume that her child’s death has something to do with it, but all she will say is that her marriage is “irretrievably broken.”

To Recap The Original Story:

On June 18, 2014, Ross Harris was working at Home Depot’s Atlanta headquarters where he was employed as a web developer. Usually, Ross dropped his son off at daycare beforehand. For whatever reason, that was not the case on this particular day.

Cooper Harris spent a minimum of seven hours locked in the back of Ross’s Hyundai SUV. The windows were rolled up. Let’s not forget what time of the year this is: summer, in the south. Outside the car, temperatures reached a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit. That means that the temperature inside the car would have exceeded 100 degrees almost immediately.

Ross Harris was charged with murder, which is more than reasonable considering evidence gathered in the investigation following Cooper’s death. Intent to leave the boy in the car is evident because Ross’s internet search history revealed that he’d researched the dangers of leaving children in hot vehicles.

Even worse is what he was using the internet for while his son was dying in his SUV. According to Detective Phil Stoddard, Ross Harris spent his workday sending sexually explicit text messages to six different girls. No, his wife was not one of them. Among other things, nude photos were involved. And half of the recipients were under the age of eighteen.

Yeah, murder sounds about right.

Now, Back To The Divorce:

Leanna Ross’s divorce papers reveal that she initially split up with her husband around the date of their son’s death. However, the marriage wasn’t necessarily over at the time. Leanna was quoted speaking in defense of her husband at Cooper’s funeral:

“Am I angry with Ross? Absolutely not. It has never crossed my mind. Ross is and was and will be, if we have more children, a wonderful father. Ross is a wonderful daddy and leader of our household. Cooper meant the world to him.”

Maybe so, but actions speak louder than words. Most wonderful fathers don’t leave their babies to suffocate in the car while plotting to commit adultery.

Again, all Leanna Harris has said at this point is that she’s filing for divorce because of an “irretrievably broken” marriage. Which, put in traditional legal terms, might sound something like “irreconcilable differences.” It doesn’t seem to matter what the grounds are — there seem to be plenty to choose from.

Filing For Divorce:

Few specifics are available at the moment. All we know is that Leanna Harris is divorcing her husband, who killed their son and was probably cheating on her. We also know that she’s demanding that Ross pay her attorneys’ fees and fork over their Toyota Camry.

Leanna has not included the SUV in which Cooper died in her list of demands. Neither would I.

Divorce is an arduous endeavor, and in situations similar to Leanna Harris, the process can drag on interminably. It’s expensive. It’s emotional taxing. And it could blow up in your face at any moment if you don’t proceed with caution.

That’s why legal representation is so important. A good lawyer can mean the difference between a torturous separation with lingering consequences and a clean split with a satisfactory resolution. At Turner Law Offices, P.C., our team of attorneys have years of experience working with clients across a wide range of circumstances involving divorce. Call today, or go online to set up your free initial consultation, and meet with a skilled lawyer who’s ready and waiting to get you on track toward the justice you deserve.

(615) 259-2660

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