On the eve of his tragic death, a 12-year-old boy was confined to his basement bedroom, under the surveillance of his potential adoptive parents via a camera. The distressing events leading up to his demise were recounted in a murder trial in Milton, Ont. According to testimony, on December 21, 2022, the boy’s demeanor appeared to have settled by around 6 p.m. ET, as recounted by Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber to a Halton Children’s Aid Society (CAS) worker in a subsequent interview.
However, things took a drastic turn when Cooney discovered the boy unresponsive with vomit all around him. Despite attempts at CPR by the women before emergency services arrived, the boy could not be saved and passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. Shockingly, he was severely malnourished, emaciated, and weighed as much as a six-year-old at the time of his death.
Cooney and Hamber have denied the charges of first-degree murder in relation to the boy they were looking to adopt, identified as L.L. by CBC due to a court-ordered publication ban. Additionally, they have pleaded not guilty to charges of confinement, assault with a weapon (zip ties), and failure to provide necessary care for L.L.’s younger brother, J.L., who also testified in the ongoing trial.
The prosecution maintains that the couple mistreated and neglected the children, fabricating or exaggerating behavioral issues when seeking assistance from service providers. Conversely, the defense argues that the women were doing their best to care for the Indigenous brothers, who had significant needs, with limited support from CAS and other service providers.
The investigation into Cooney and Hamber began after L.L.’s death, while J.L. was still in their custody. Both boys were under the care of CAS in Ottawa before residing with the women in Burlington from 2017 to 2022. During the investigation, Cooney and Hamber were interviewed in a hotel room, where Modhi, the protection worker, viewed clips from the camera installed in L.L.’s room.
Details emerged about L.L.’s distressing final day, including him vomiting in the morning, being left mostly alone, and being fed a breakfast of cereal with protein powder. The couple explained to Modhi that L.L.’s low weight of 48 pounds was due to his regurgitation of food, eating disorder issues, and previous liquid-only diet.
Furthermore, Modhi described instances where the boy screamed, cried, and exhibited troubling behavior while locked in his room, with the women resorting to playing music and giving instructions over the camera speaker. The day culminated in a tragic turn of events, leading to L.L.’s untimely death, with paramedics finding him in a critical condition upon their arrival.
Following the ordeal, J.L. was not immediately removed from Cooney’s and Hamber’s care, despite concerns raised during the investigation. However, he was eventually relocated to another foster home, where he showed signs of improvement, indicating that his time with the accused may have been detrimental to his well-being.
During the court proceedings, the accuracy of worker Modhi’s notes was questioned by Hamber’s lawyer, highlighting gaps in understanding the boys’ history and behaviors. Despite the defense’s arguments, the prosecution maintains that the tragic events leading to L.L.’s death were a result of neglect and mistreatment by the adoptive parents.