In Burlington, Ontario, tragic news surfaced as the prospective adoptive parents of a 12-year-old boy, found lifeless in their home over a year ago, now face charges of first-degree murder, according to Halton Regional Police on Thursday.
Responding to a distress call on December 21, 2022, emergency services discovered the boy unresponsive at the Burlington residence, where he was subsequently declared deceased.
Identified as Becky Hamber, 44, of Burlington, and Brandy Cooney, 42, of Hamilton, the accused have been charged with first-degree murder along with failure to provide the necessities of life, as confirmed by law enforcement.
Furthermore, authorities disclosed that the accused individuals were also in the process of adopting a younger sibling of the deceased, who was residing in the same household at the time of the incident.
Following a comprehensive investigation, it was revealed that the accused had previously faced charges in January 2023 relating to the younger sibling, including assault, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, failure to provide the necessities of life, and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Janice Robinson, the executive director of Halton Children’s Aid Society, disclosed that the 12-year-old boy, who tragically lost his life, was of Indigenous heritage and had been under the care of their organization.
