A Georgia man, Justin Ross Harris, has been charged with murder following the death of his 22-month-old son, who was left in a hot car for seven hours. The charges include malice murder, indicating prosecutors believe the act was intentional.
The child died of hyperthermia as outside temperatures reached nearly 90°F (32°C). Harris told police he had forgotten his son was in the vehicle after driving to work instead of the nursery.
Harris's lawyer, Maddox Kilgore, described the death as a 'tragic accident'. However, the indictment also includes charges of dissemination of harmful materials to a minor and soliciting a nude photo from a teenage girl.
Detective Phil Stoddard testified that on the day of the incident, Harris was exchanging nude photos with several women, including a minor, and had researched online how long it would take to die in a hot car. Harris has been in custody since his arrest on 18 June.
