A woman in Burlington, Ontario, made a distress call to 911 on December 21, 2022, reporting a 12-year-old boy in her care was unresponsive. Becky Hamber, accompanied by her wife Brandy Cooney, informed the dispatcher about the situation. Upon arrival, emergency responders found the boy in a state of distress on the floor of his basement bedroom. Despite efforts to revive him at the hospital, the child, identified as L.L., could not be saved.
L.L., along with his younger brother J.L., had been living with Hamber and Cooney since 2017. The boys are referred to by their initials due to legal identity protection measures. Following L.L.’s tragic death, J.L. was removed from the couple’s care by the Children’s Aid Society. Subsequently, Hamber and Cooney were arrested and charged with assaulting J.L. in January 2023 and later charged with the murder of L.L. in February 2024.
The ongoing trial, presided over by Justice Clayton Conlan in the Ontario Superior Court in Milton, has seen testimony from various witnesses, including social workers, healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement officials. The evidence presented includes deleted text messages, audio recordings, and images from security cameras used by the accused to monitor the boys.
Key testimonies have highlighted concerns about L.L.’s physical and mental health, with experts noting signs of severe malnutrition and neglect. The couple claimed they believed L.L. had an eating disorder and implemented unconventional feeding methods. Additionally, the trial has shed light on the boys’ behavioral issues and the controversial control techniques employed by Hamber and Cooney, such as using wetsuits and zip-ties to restrain them.
Text messages exchanged between the couple have been scrutinized, revealing derogatory terms used to refer to the boys. Hamber and Cooney have denied any malicious intent, attributing their remarks to frustration and dark humor. The Crown has alleged that the couple’s actions on the night of L.L.’s death, including their response to his deteriorating health, suggest neglect and potential harm.
As the trial nears its conclusion, the fate of Hamber and Cooney rests in the hands of Justice Conlan, who is expected to deliver a verdict in the coming months.