Ontario Case: Two Women Convicted in Death of 12-Year-Old Boy

A court in Ontario has delivered a verdict in a deeply disturbing case involving the death of a 12-year-old boy under the care of two women who were in the process of adopting him and his younger brother.

Becky Hamber, 46, and Brandy Cooney, 44, were found guilty of first-degree m*rder following a lengthy bench trial in Ontario Superior Court. Justice Clayton Conlan issued the verdict after months of proceedings, concluding that the evidence demonstrated prolonged mistreatment that led to the boy’s death.

The child, identified in court as L.L., d*ed on December 21, 2022. First responders found him unresponsive inside a locked basement bedroom in the couple’s Burlington home. He was severely underweight, weighing just 48 pounds.

Court records showed that L.L. had been confined to the room for extended periods, reportedly up to 18 hours a day, and was fed only limited portions of pureed food. Investigators also uncovered evidence that both boys were made to wear restrictive clothing, including wetsuits secured in a way that limited movement, which the women claimed was intended to manage behavioral issues linked to early trauma.

The court rejected that explanation. In a detailed decision, Justice Conlan concluded that the level of confinement, isolation, and deprivation demonstrated intent, giving significant weight to testimony from the surviving younger brother, J.L., who described witnessing his sibling’s decline.

Following the verdict, both women now face an automatic life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this year.

The case has also raised broader concerns about systemic oversight. The boy’s biological mother has publicly stated that her son became a victim of failures within the child protection system. A civil lawsuit has been filed against multiple parties, including children’s aid societies and medical professionals, alleging negligence.

Internal reviews led to job losses among several child welfare workers, though no criminal charges were brought in relation to those findings.

The case, which included testimony from dozens of witnesses, has become a powerful example of the consequences of prolonged neglect and the importance of accountability in systems designed to protect vulnerable children.