There’s a distressing crisis within a foster care system that appears to fail its most vulnerable: children. The alarming case of two women from Burlington, Ontario, accused of horrific acts against the boys they were supposed to protect underscores deep flaws in how society structures family life and support systems. These accusations against Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, who face charges including first-degree murder and assault, illustrate a troubling trend where the government’s role in family dynamics leads to tragedy instead of safety.
The horrific conditions these boys endured were compounded by the neglect and cruelty shown by their caregivers over several years, from 2017 to 2022. Reports indicate that one boy, known as L.L., died under their care, a grim testament to the alleged abuse. Text messages exchanged between Cooney and Hamber reveal chilling details about their treatment of the children. They communicated about using zip ties and punishing the boys with exhausting physical tasks, depicting a scenario that no child should ever experience.
Witnesses have indicated that L.L. was found severely malnourished, a poignant reminder of the severe inadequacies in fostering oversight. “He had the frame of a child half his age,” reflects a startling failure of the very system meant to ensure a child’s well-being. Paramedics discovered him unresponsive and wet in a basement, an image that paints a disturbing picture of his living conditions.
While the evidence mounts, the reactions from Cooney, revealed in her text exchanges, indicate a callous disregard for the child’s welfare. When addressing concerns about L.L.’s health, she dismissed alarming signs and demonstrated a disturbing insensitivity. Statements such as, “It’s a fake fall for sympathy,” and “Guess the stupid choices are really getting him,” underscore a troubling mindset that raises questions about the mental fitness of those entrusted with the care of children.
Adding to the horror are their admissions about violent thoughts towards the boys. Cooney’s text declaring, “I’m gonna kill his whiney a**,” along with other statements about murder, paint a picture of escalating rage and abuse. Such discussions about harming children emphasize a larger issue: a system that failed to protect these boys and appeared to legitimize their suffering under the guise of caregiving.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, but the narrative constructed through testimony and text reveals complicity in a tragic fairy tale gone wrong, where the innocent are rendered powerless. The irony of these events lies in the state’s involvement in crafting family dynamics that seem detached from basic moral responsibilities. The assertion that “the best we can do
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