WARNING: This account discusses allegations of child abuse.
During the five years that a young boy resided with his potential adoptive guardians, the Halton Children’s Aid Society (CAS) reportedly did not hold private conversations with him, despite receiving numerous alerts about suspected mistreatment, as revealed in a Milton, Ontario, court session.
Even in a virtual meeting in September 2022, where a CAS employee expressed worry over the boy’s visible signs of malnourishment, including thinness, paleness, sunken cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes, no follow-up visit took place before his passing on December 21 of the same year, according to former CAS child protection worker Lisa Potts.
Upon discovering the 12-year-old unresponsive, drenched, and lying on the basement floor of his cramped, externally locked bedroom that night, paramedics observed his severe malnourishment and emaciation, making him appear much younger than his actual age. Tragically, he succumbed shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Becky Hamber and Brandy Cooney have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in their judge-only trial, which commenced in mid-September and is anticipated to run until December.
To safeguard the identities of the deceased boy and his younger sibling, a publication ban is in place. The brothers are known as L.L. and J.L., respectively, in CBC’s coverage.
Alongside the murder charge, the women face allegations of confinement, assault with a weapon (zip ties), and failure to provide essentials to J.L., to which they have entered not guilty pleas. Their defense advocates argue that the women were inadequately supported by CAS and service providers in caring for the boys, who exhibited significant behavioral challenges.
While multiple witnesses, including first responders, medical professionals, educators, therapists, and others, have given testimony, Potts is the initial CAS representative to testify in the trial. Although not involved with L.L. during his lifetime, Potts was engaged posthumously in 2023 to investigate the case.
She affirmed that she substantiated the allegations of abuse by Hamber and Cooney against L.L. and J.L.
“Did you confirm instances of cruel and inappropriate treatment?” asked assistant Crown attorney Monica MacKenzie during Potts’s testimony.
“Yes,” Potts responded.
“Did you also verify emotional harm involving name-calling, bottle-feeding, pureed food feeding, and isolation?”
“Yes,” Potts confirmed, “for both children.”
According to Potts, the boys were compelled to wear clothes secured with zip ties, such as wetsuits, onesies, shoes, and a helmet.
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The boys were relocated from Ottawa to Burlington in 2017 to reside with Hamber and Cooney, who were seeking to adopt them, the court heard. Although they remained under the Ottawa CAS’s guardianship, the Halton CAS was responsible for overseeing the adoption process.
Potts revealed that the adoption procedure, typically lasting two years, was never completed due to concerns within Children’s Aid about Hamber and Cooney’s financial challenges.