A deranged Canadian couple allegedly laughed with each other about torturing their “hated” foster child to death, prosecutors claimed while delivering closing statements in an explosive murder trial.
Becky Hamber and Brandy Cooney, 46 and 44, sent each other sick text messages reading “shiver shiver dumb f–k” in the days before their 12-year-old foster child was found soaking wet, emaciated and unresponsive in their Ontario basement in December 2022, prosecutors showed during the trial.
The boy — known only as “LL” — was declared dead soon after that text, with authorities noting he was about the size of an average 6-year-old. He is believed to have died from hypothermia or cardiac arrest brought on by malnourishment, Law and Crime reported.
Cooney and Hamber also sent each other damning texts just a month before the boy died — messages prosecutors said indicated they knew they were harming him, and that they “hated” him.
“Unfortunately my thoughts [are] he is suddenly going to die and im going to jail,” Cooney alleged texted her wife.
Both went to trial in September and pleaded not guilty to murder, failing to provide the necessaries of life, assault with a weapon and confinement.
The couple had been caring for LL and his younger brother since about 2017, and were close to adopting them despite years of alleged heinous behavior that included isolating the boys from each other and forcing them to live in filthy conditions.
LL allegedly slept on a cot that was often covered in vomit and only ever cleaned with a wipe, a social worker testified at the trial, which began in September.
That social worker testified that there was always “vomit everywhere” when she visited the home, and that the couple insisted LL had an eating disorder which caused it, according to the Daily Mail.
“They admitted [LL] was 48 pounds,” the social worker testified. “But stated it was because he would throw up food, chew it again, and lick it off the floor.”
The boys were also both forced to wear wetsuits and hockey helmets constantly, which Hamber and Cooney insisted was to prevent them from hurting themselves and making messes in the house.
The couple frequently took blankets away from the kids and suggested the brothers exercise to keep warm instead, prosecutors claimed.
Hamber’s and Coooney’s defense argued the parents had done everything in the boys’ best interest, but that they were a challenging pair of kids to care for with complicated behavioral needs.
They also argued that child care and health professionals were checking on the kids, and had never reported any concerns about their care.
There is no jury in the trial, and a judge will decide the couple’s fate after closing arguments ended Friday.
