Father who left child in hot car charged with murder

N

NinaBritt

Stunt Driver
This is just so sad. Hearing of this too often. Sounds like it was accident on the father's part. I'm sure he's devastated.


http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/father-who-left-child-hot-car-charged-murder/ngNzp/?nmredir=true

COBB COUNTY, Ga. The man who is accused of leaving his child in a hot car has been charged with murder.
Justin Ross Harris, 33, was charged with felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree. He is being held at the Cobb County Jail with no bond Thursday.
According to Cobb County police, Harris was supposed to take his 22-month-old to day care around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the father forgot and left his child inside his vehicle while he went to work.
 
Yep, I saw that story, sad sad sad. As bad as my memory can be I could easily seeing it happen by pure accident.
 
For what it is worth, here is my 2 cents, which in reality, isn't really worth 2 cents.
IF, the father checks out to have been a good father, no issues other than this one (which granted is a major one), then I say no charges.

I am sure many will disagree and I understand why, but that is my 2 cents worth.
 
I think the "no bond" is just cruel. He should be allowed out to attend his son's funeral.
 
I don't disagree with you stradial. And the charges of felony murder are definitely ridiculous. I hope he is not put away for a long time due to a mistake.

I know I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
 
Here is the warrant. It seems that the charge of Cruelty to Child- First Degree will lead to Felony Murder Charges if it causes death, since the charge of Cruelty to Child- First Degree is itself a felony. This is a matter of law. However....the charge of Cruelty to Child- First Degree requires willful disregard of the child's welfare. Personally, I don't see that burden being met in this case. I think this might be a case of prosecutorial overreach. I would assume that a good attorney would immediately attempt a hearing on the matter.

http://archive.11alive.com/assetpool/documents/140619105750_baby-car-death-warrant.pdf
 
stradial said:
For what it is worth, here is my 2 cents, which in reality, isn't really worth 2 cents.
IF, the father checks out to have been a good father, no issues other than this one (which granted is a major one), then I say no charges.

I am sure many will disagree and I understand why, but that is my 2 cents worth.
Click to expand...

This is so heartbreaking! I don't disagree with the charges, the law dictates what the charges should be.
 
LisaC said:
stradial said:
For what it is worth, here is my 2 cents, which in reality, isn't really worth 2 cents.
IF, the father checks out to have been a good father, no issues other than this one (which granted is a major one), then I say no charges.

I am sure many will disagree and I understand why, but that is my 2 cents worth.
Click to expand...

This is so heartbreaking! I don't disagree with the charges, the law dictates what the charges should be.
Click to expand...

They do have discretion on who to charge.

I understand why you don't disagree.
(meant strictly in the sense of, I understand your point)
 
The father was supposed to take his son to daycare, but forgot? Who put the child in the car? If he put the child in the car at the house and then forgot on his way to work, something is wrong. If his wife put the child in the care and he didn't know it, something is wrong. I'm sorry, but so far I see serious neglect here. I'm sorry, but saying "I forgot my child was in the car," should not be an excuse for negligence.
 
Boss 302 said:
The father was supposed to take his son to daycare, but forgot? Who put the child in the car? If he put the child in the car at the house and then forgot on his way to work, something is wrong. If his wife put the child in the care and he didn't know it, something is wrong. I'm sorry, but so far I see serious neglect here. I'm sorry, but saying "I forgot my child was in the car," should not be an excuse for negligence.
Click to expand...
I don't believe anyone is trying to excuse his obvious negligence. My point at least is that "First Degree" has always been reserved for the most heinous cases of child cruelty. While the manner of death is indeed unfathomable, the question remains if it was willful or not. This is the charge made by the Prosecution, even though nobody has even hinted that the father had any intention of leaving his son in the car for any period of time, let alone 7 hours.
 
stradial said:
LisaC said:
stradial said:
For what it is worth, here is my 2 cents, which in reality, isn't really worth 2 cents.
IF, the father checks out to have been a good father, no issues other than this one (which granted is a major one), then I say no charges.

I am sure many will disagree and I understand why, but that is my 2 cents worth.
Click to expand...

This is so heartbreaking! I don't disagree with the charges, the law dictates what the charges should be.
Click to expand...

They do have discretion on who to charge.

I understand why you don't disagree.
(meant strictly in the sense of, I understand your point)
Click to expand...

Just remember that the police interviewed this guy and the charges were filed after that interview.

But, IMHO (and this is just me), saying that you forgot your 22 month old was in the back seat just doesn't hold water for me. The hubby and I have tag-teamed taking the princess to daycare and school since she was 3 months old. The first thing you do is put that child in the car. After that, you generally catch yourself checking on them in the rear view mirror while you are driving. And, at 22 months, the child is talking so it isn't like you just put a bag of groceries on the back seat. And, when you add to the fact that the princess's daycare would call me at 9:30 a.m. if I forgot to let them know she wasn't coming, you have even less of a chance of this happening.
 
LisaC said:
stradial said:
LisaC said:
stradial said:
For what it is worth, here is my 2 cents, which in reality, isn't really worth 2 cents.
IF, the father checks out to have been a good father, no issues other than this one (which granted is a major one), then I say no charges.

I am sure many will disagree and I understand why, but that is my 2 cents worth.
Click to expand...

This is so heartbreaking! I don't disagree with the charges, the law dictates what the charges should be.
Click to expand...

They do have discretion on who to charge.

I understand why you don't disagree.
(meant strictly in the sense of, I understand your point)
Click to expand...

Just remember that the police interviewed this guy and the charges were filed after that interview.

But, IMHO (and this is just me), saying that you forgot your 22 month old was in the back seat just doesn't hold water for me. The hubby and I have tag-teamed taking the princess to daycare and school since she was 3 months old. The first thing you do is put that child in the car. After that, you generally catch yourself checking on them in the rear view mirror while you are driving. And, at 22 months, the child is talking so it isn't like you just put a bag of groceries on the back seat. And, when you add to the fact that the princess's daycare would call me at 9:30 a.m. if I forgot to let them know she wasn't coming, you have even less of a chance of this happening.
Click to expand...

I had posted this elsewhere before your post, it touches on your comments.
Also, please note the bolded part in my 1st post.


I still have a hard time understanding how it can happen, BUT, I know it has and does happen and to seemingly reasonable people.

As bad as the ex-wife and I had it trying to make it work as a couple, we both would dbl check behind each other when it came to making sure the kid got to where he was supposed to be.
Both when he was little and up through high school.
I never took it wrong when she followed up with me and even though she had other crap to yell about during the call, she never took my following up wrong.
I guess what I am trying to say is, follow up, just to be on the safe side.
What can it take, literately 15-30 seconds, including the dialing and ringing of the phone?
 
Sorry but I can easily see it happening, especially if the parent driving the kid to school had a hectic work day scheduled or had a couple of last minute change of plans (such as, I don't know, I have to drop junior off today instead of mom). Add to that a hectic traffic day and some bad weather and you're bound to find a few people who can't manage their responsibilities adequately. It's a very sad story and I'm certainly not going to make a villain out of the dad who just has to be beside himself right now and will probably never forgive himself. Yes it was a dumb mistake, yes if was avoidable, but it could have happened to many people I know.
 
I'm having a hard time with this.

I forget things. I have put a bag of trash in the back of the truck to throw in the dumpster at work, and forgot it. I have forgotten to take a deposit to the bank. I have forgotten to bring home bread.

But I honestly don't think I could forget my child is in the car. I just don't see it.

I'm withholding final judgement until I know more; but I can't extend the man as much grace as some of you are mustering.
 
Long read, but worth reading. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/fatal-distraction-forgetting-a-child-in-thebackseat-of-a-car-is-a-horrifying-mistake-is-it-a-crime/2014/06/16/8ae0fe3a-f580-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html
 
His stupidity and neglectful actions took the life of a child. To me it's no different the driving drunk and killing someone in a wreck.

Sadly, the DA's office will plea bargain this to either involuntary homicide(misdemeanor) or voluntary homicide and release him time served with a few years probation.

I have no sympathy for those who cause the death of a child, willfully or by stupidity.
 
This is the saddest thing. MrB came home early tonight and just hugged BabyB with tears in his eyes. It broke my heart, to see my hubs react this way. He told me he's been thinking of this man all day, and of BabyB, and what if it'd been him?

A similar story happened to a father near Chattanooga several years ago. He was never charged , IIRC .

The way witnesses described this father's actions when he pulled over leads me to believe this was nothing more than a horrendously tragic accident. One he will live with for the rest of his life.

SHOEDIVA, I read that link and it is worth the read. Thanks for sharing.
 
MrsB said:
This is the saddest thing. MrB came home early tonight and just hugged BabyB with tears in his eyes. It broke my heart, to see my hubs react this way. He told me he's been thinking of this man all day, and of BabyB, and what if it'd been him?

A similar story happened to a father near Chattanooga several years ago. He was never charged , IIRC .

The way witnesses described this father's actions when he pulled over leads me to believe this was nothing more than a horrendously tragic accident. One he will live with for the rest of his life.

SHOEDIVA, I read that link and it is worth the read. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

You are welcome.
 
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