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MILTON, Ontario – An Ontario Superior Court judge has found Becky Hamber, 46, and Brandy Cooney, 44, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a 12-year-old Indigenous boy they were attempting to adopt. The Burlington couple was also convicted of additional charges, including forcible confinement and torture, related to the boy's younger brother. Justice Clayton Conlan delivered the verdict on May 5, 2026, marking the conclusion of a trial that revealed years of severe abuse and neglect.
The 12-year-old boy, identified by the initials L.L. due to a publication ban, was found dead in the couple's home in December 2022. First responders noted his emaciated state, with the judge later stating the boy was "razor-thin" and weighed the same as he did at age six. The court heard that the couple deliberately caused his death by failing to provide adequate food and medical attention, despite their claims that he suffered from an eating disorder.
During the trial, the surviving brother, identified as J.L., now 13, provided harrowing testimony detailing years of abuse. He described being locked in his bedroom for extended periods, forced to wear wetsuits secured with zip ties, and denied food for days. Justice Conlan rejected the defense's arguments, finding the women's testimonies "replete with contradictions, inconsistencies and things lacking in common sense."
The case has also cast a harsh light on the systemic failings of Ontario's child welfare system. Advocacy groups and the defense lawyer for Ms. Hamber pointed to a "wholesale systemic failure" by the Children's Aid Society and medical professionals who were involved with the boys. The Halton Children’s Aid Society confirmed conducting "a number of reviews" after the boy’s death and cooperated with the police investigation.
Crown attorney Monica MacKenzie expressed hope that the verdict would bring "some measure of accountability," acknowledging that no outcome could repair the harm caused. First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. A sentencing hearing for Hamber and Cooney will be held at a later date.
