Georgia dad convicted in hot-car death of toddler son

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A Georgia father convicted of murdering his toddler son showed little emotion as the verdict was read.


A jury on Monday convicted Justin Ross Harris of both malice and felony murder, among other charges, in the 2014 death of his 22-month old son, Cooper.

Harris, who moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2012, will be sentenced on Dec. 5.

Harris was charged with malice murder after investigators concluded he left his child to die on purpose. They also charged him with felony murder, which does not require proof of intent to kill. He was found guilty of both murder charges.

Defense attorneys said the boy's death was a tragic accident.

Harris was also found guilty of child cruelty and of sending sexual text messages to a teenage girl and asking for nude photos of her pubic area.

Malice murder carries a prison term of life with or without parole.