Yes, there is still a lot of misinformation out there, but the facts presented at trial are why RH got LWOP.Just making the rounds. It's astounding, four years after the trial ended, how much misinformation is still out there. In the last few weeks alone I've heard:
Harris laid Cooper down and NEVER TRIED A DAMN THING TO HELP HIM.
He never went back to Coopers side, he never even tried.
Ross had joined a Reddit thread regarding hot car deaths.
Both Ross and Leanna researched hot car deaths.
Part of the car seat stuck out in between the two front seats.
Ross backed into his parking space that morning.
I believe that, regardless of our take on guilt or innocence, we should all be proponents of the facts, that's all.
Ross's appellate attorney, Mitch Durham, took on his case immediately after his conviction. It was a long trial, though, as you said, with a lot of information to digest, even with Kilgore's assistance. Durham may have also wanted to wait for emotions to simmer down, because they played such an enormous part both before and during the trial. And, as I mentioned in another post, there's been a couple hundred more hot car deaths since 2014, so the public is much more aware and accepting of the memory malfunction that causes these tragedies.It sounds like it took a while to find a lawyer to help with the appeal.
You may not, but some people do look into cars. Are you familiar with the Miles Harrison case? 2008, Virginia. Miles thought he'd dropped his son, Chase, off at day care that morning. He hadn't. He was in his office at 5 PM when a co-worker stuck his head in the door & said, "Hey, do you have a doll in your car?" Another tragedy.And when I go to lunch- I don't take any of my precious little time looking in another car.
And just as aside, I've noticed that Cooper's mother Leanna had said in multiple interviews that she plans to "spread the word" about hot cars in hopes of helping to prevent other deaths yet as of today has done zero towards that goal.
Could you narrow it down for me? I'm not sure what link you're referring to.Link???
JMHO YMMV LRR
Leanna has actually spoken out many times to raise awareness of hot car deaths and that it can happen to the best of parents. If she wasn't as vocal as some would like, it may due to Boring's response to the press after Ross's conviction when they asked "Is Leanna still a suspect?" He responded, "That's up to the CCPD." (I'm paraphrasing because I can't find the exact quote).
It could also be due to the 2015 pretrial hearing when Stoddard testified that Leanna conspired with Ross to murder their only child so he could continue cheating on her and going out with friends.
Kilgore: You’re saying that it’s motive because he wanted to meet with his friends?
Stoddard: Yes sir.
Kilgore: But at the same time saying maybe she was involved?
Stoddard: Why not? Would it be more likely he’d talk to his wife and get her thinking a certain way before he did the crime?
Stoddard's logic is beyond preposterous, but I can imagine how much this must have scared her, knowing the illogical lengths the State would go to convince jurors that it was murder instead of an accident.
Leanna is in Susan Cooper's documentary "Fatal Distraction". If you haven't seen it, it's worth considering with an open mind.
Highly unlikely, imo. Ross's brother was (and still is) a police officer and Ross himself worked in the police department for three years. In addition, since at least February 2013, Ross had done web development work for a company that specializes in forensic services, jury selection, etc. Hard to believe he wouldn't know that cops check out your computer & phone during an investigation.About his phone, I think he thought that his story would be taken at face value and they would never have searched his devices.
Kilgore: You’re saying that it’s motive because he wanted to meet with his friends?A link to support any of your statements in this post.
IMO he clearly didn't believe they would do an investigation. He thought they would just ask him a few questions and maybe followup with his wife. He didn't think they would check out his story or he wouldn't have omitted that lunchtime car visit, lied about it being up in the air who took Cooper, etc.Highly unlikely, imo. Ross's brother was (and still is) a police officer and Ross himself worked in the police department for three years. In addition, since at least February 2013, Ross had done web development work for a company that specializes in forensic services, jury selection, etc. Hard to believe he wouldn't know that cops check out your computer & phone during an investigation.
Could you provide some links for Leanna's volunteer work? I've searched high and low and cannot find any evidence of speaking engagements, participation in letter-writing campaigns or any other activity indicating her advocacy for preventing hot car deaths. Nothing found upon Googling her or Cooper nor can I find anything about her on KidsandCars. If she's out there speaking then the media isn't reporting on it. Not much has been reported on her since 2016.Kilgore: You’re saying that it’s motive because he wanted to meet with his friends?
Stoddard: Yes sir.
Kilgore: But at the same time saying maybe she was involved?
Stoddard: Why not? Would it be more likely he’d talk to his wife and get her thinking a certain way before he did the crime?
Marker 46:24
As far as Leanna doing "zero toward her goal [of helping to prevent hot car deaths]," that's simply not true. I would refer you to her facebook page, where she has posted many messages about these tragedies and how to prevent them, including supporting the Hot Cars Act. I also know for a fact that she works with Kids & Cars, because I'm also a volunteer for that organization.
She begged the public to pay for a headstone for Cooper's grave
IMO he clearly didn't believe they would do an investigation. He thought they would just ask him a few questions and maybe followup with his wife. He didn't think they would check out his story or he wouldn't have omitted that lunchtime car visit, lied about it being up in the air who took Cooper, etc.
He thought they would treat it as an unfortunate accident, not a possible crime.
Could you provide some links for Leanna's volunteer work? I've searched high and low and cannot find any evidence of speaking engagements, participation in letter-writing campaigns or any other activity indicating her advocacy for preventing hot car deaths. Nothing found upon Googling her or Cooper nor can I find anything about her on KidsandCars. If she's out there speaking then the media isn't reporting on it. Not much has been reported on her since 2016.
Although I don't believe Leanna was involved in Cooper's murder I intensely dislike her as she presents as selfish and lacking insight. She begged the public to pay for a headstone for Cooper's grave after doing nothing on her own forover a yearnearly 3 years. Instead she got contact lenses and a nifty tattoo.
Her victim impact statement was all about her; in fact she regarded herself and actually filled in her own name, not Cooper's, as the victim. Why? Because "The rush to judgment by the public and the mainstream media has left me with little confidence in our legal system and our society." Another parent concerned about bad publicity.
To be clear IMO Leanna has no blame in her husband's horrific actions, including his *advertiser censored* addiction and affairs and sexting underage girls. That's all on him; Ross chose to stay in an unhappy marriage and used it to justify being a crappy husband to Leanna instead of filing for divorce. All MOO.
I did watch the interview of Leanna talking about the tattoos. My point was that she let Cooper's grave go unmarked until people donated money to buy him a headstone - three years later. Both she and her attorney asked for money for the headstone. I don't believe she couldn't afford to do so over three years time; that's saving about $500 a year to buy a headstone and in fact the one she ultimately picked out was a very nice one for about $1800. An equally nice one runs between $700 and $1000.Leanna explained why she got the tattoo of Cooper's footprint on her own foot in Fatal Distraction, but I don't think anyone here watched it. I know nothing about the headstone, but there's no doubt she had hit rock bottom financially. She lost her job because of all the vicious media attention. Then she was forced to hire a lawyer, because Stoddard was bound and determined to make her a suspect in her son's death. It wouldn't surprise me if she's still paying off that debt.
I don't know Leanna, although I've processed a few Alabama cases she has referred to Kids and Cars. If you'd like to know more about her efforts, you can contact Amber Rollins. Btw, you won't find my name on Kids and Cars, either, but please don't hesitate to confirm my volunteer work with Amber if it will put your mind to rest. Some people just prefer to work behind the scenes. You know...like the ending credits on a movie that nobody sticks around to read.
Amber Rollins
Director
Office: (913) 732-2792 / Cell: (913) 205-6973
Amber@kidsandcars.org