Foster Mothers Face Murder Charges in Tragic Starvation Death
In a harrowing courtroom drama unfolding in Ontario, two foster mothers stand accused of first-degree murder in the death of a 12-year-old boy who was found emaciated and soaking wet in a wetsuit. Becky Hamber, 46, and Brandy Cooney, 44, have pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, assault, and failing to provide the necessities of life for the boy and his younger brother.
A Month Before Death: Warning Signs Ignored
The court heard disturbing testimony about events that occurred just one month before the boy's death on December 21, 2022. According to evidence presented during cross-examination, the child exhibited severe symptoms including uncontrollable shivering, disoriented "wonky" eyes, and an inability to speak intelligible English or stand up properly.
Despite these alarming signs, neither woman called emergency services or sought medical attention. Crown attorney Kelli Frew pressed Hamber during testimony, asking why she didn't contact 911 when the boy appeared to be in crisis. "No, miss," Hamber replied emotionlessly to repeated questions about her failure to seek help.
Disturbing Text Messages Reveal Awareness of Danger
Evidence presented in court included text messages between the accused that revealed their awareness of the boy's deteriorating condition. Cooney texted her wife expressing fear that the child was "suddenly going to die and I'm going to jail."
The prosecution suggested this demonstrated the women understood the gravity of the situation yet took no appropriate action. Instead of seeking medical care from a hospital just seven minutes away, Hamber reportedly Googled "hypothermia" while the boy continued to suffer.
Harsh Living Conditions and Punishments
The court heard disturbing details about the living conditions imposed on the boys, who came to live with the couple in 2017 with plans for adoption. According to evidence:
- The older boy was forced to wear a zip-tied wetsuit as restraint
- Both children were subjected to forced stair climbs as punishment
- The boy slept in a cold, sparse basement bedroom
- Blankets were replaced with only towels as further punishment
When the boy was found unresponsive on December 21, 2022, he weighed approximately the same as he had at age six, indicating severe malnutrition and neglect over an extended period.
Conflicting Accounts of Final Moments
The prosecution presented a starkly different version of events than the defense regarding the boy's final hours. Frew suggested that when the women realized they were experiencing a repeat of the November crisis, they attempted to revive the boy using warm water, possibly in a hot tub.
Hamber hotly denied these allegations, insisting she never placed the boy in water. However, the prosecution played a recording of her 911 call where she told the operator, "We can't resus(citate) him. We can't wake him up."
Superior Court Justice Clayton Conlan noted during proceedings that if Hamber's evidence about being repeatedly advised by a psychiatrist to seek hospital care during crises was accepted, "there's no way to describe this incident other than a crisis."
Defense Arguments and Blame Shifting
Throughout the trial, Hamber maintained that the boy suffered from "binge eating disorder" and "rumination syndrome," conditions that no medical professional had validated. She suggested the child might have been faking his symptoms.
The prosecution accused Hamber of blaming everyone except herself and her wife, including Children's Aid Society, doctors, and therapists involved with the boy's care. "I'm going to suggest to you that the only ones responsible for (his) death are the ones who are starving and keeping him captive in that basement," Frew stated during cross-examination.
Hamber retorted, "I do not agree," maintaining her innocence despite the mounting evidence against her.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The marathon judge-alone trial continues with closing submissions scheduled for March 23. The identities of both boys remain protected by a publication ban, though the details of their suffering have emerged through court evidence and testimony.
This case has raised serious questions about foster care oversight and the mechanisms in place to protect vulnerable children in the system. As the legal process continues, the community awaits justice for a boy whose life ended in circumstances described by prosecutors as prolonged torture and neglect.
