Father faces trial for leaving 22-month-old son to die strapped in hot car

A man who prosecutors said intentionally left his 22-month-old son strapped inside a hot car to die because he wanted to live a child-free life will remain jailed pending his trial, a judge ruled.

Magistrate Judge Frank Cox also found probable cause for murder and child cruelty charges against Justin Ross Harris, aged 33, of Marietta, Atlanta, Georgia, after hearing evidence he swapped nude photographs with women other than his wife while at work at the time his son was dying.

The lead investigator in the case testified Harris was having marital and work problems. He had done internet research on living child-free, how long it would take for a child to die in a hot car, and how to survive in prison, before leaving son Cooper Harris in his vehicle for seven hours on a hot day, Cobb County Police detective Phil Stoddard said.