Just over two years ago, 22-month-old Cooper Harris died after his dad left him strapped in a car seat in a hot SUV for seven hours on a sweltering June afternoon.
Now, the prosecutors accusing Cooper's father, Justin Ross Harris, of murder and the attorneys defending him will have a final chance to plead their cases to the jury.
Closing arguments in the sensational hot car murder trial begin this morning. And, after five weeks of hearing dozens of witnesses testify, the jury will finally begin to deliberate.
Did the Home Depot web developer leave his son in the car on purpose that fateful day — looking to free himself of family responsibility as he sought to sleep with as many women as possible? Or, as Harris has maintained all along, will the jury decide the father’s actions that day were simply a tragic accident?
» Read the AJC’s full Harris trial coverage
Here are five must-know facts about the case.
1. What happened?
On June 18, 2014, Justin Ross Harris left his toddler son Cooper inside his Hyundai Tucson SUV in the parking lot of the Home Depot office building where he worked. Harris and Cooper had just come from eating breakfast at Chick-fil-A, which they did a couple of times a month. But instead of dropping Cooper off at daycare as he did many days, Harris drove straight to work.
2. A double life
More than half a dozen women, mostly in their early 20s, testified that Harris sent them sexually explicit text messages, including photos of his genitals, during the years, months and weeks leading up to Cooper’s death. They also sent him such messages. Two of the women were underage teens at the time. The prosecution also called a prostitute as a witness, who testified that Harris bought her services the month before his son died.
3. Harris' web history
Unlike what law enforcement originally claimed, there is no evidence Harris ever did a web search of how long it takes a child to die in a hot car or any related terms. In the weeks leading up to Cooper’s death, Harris also did research on family cruises and had told his relatives and a travel agent he wanted to take a cruise with his family — including his son.
4. Malice vs. criminal negligence
Harris faces multiple murder charges. The malice murder charge contends Harris did it on purpose. The other would pin Harris on criminal negligence — essentially he should have known his actions could lead to such tragic consequences. (Harris was sexting with multiple women on the morning and day of Cooper’s death.) Both carry sentences that could put him in prison for decades if not his entire life.
5. What about Cooper’s mom?
Harris’ ex-wife, Leanna Taylor, testified at the trial that she believes Harris left Cooper inside the car by accident. Taylor testified in his defense even though she also said Harris ruined her life and that she didn’t care if she ever sees him again.
Court is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. today.
You can follow minute-by-minute trial developments at AJC.com and on Twitter at @AJCBreakdown. AJC reporters Christian Boone (@reporterJCB) and Bill Rankin (@ajccourts) will be in Brunswick for the duration of the trial.
Harris is also the subject of the second season of the AJC's podcast series "Breakdown," which will follow the trial's developments.
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