A recent testimony from a forensic pathologist revealed that the cause of death of a 12-year-old boy, who was under the care of two women in Burlington, Ontario, could not be conclusively determined. Dr. Michael Pickup mentioned that potential causes such as hypothermia or cardiac arrest due to severe malnourishment could not be ruled out.
The boy, identified as L.L., was in the process of being adopted by the two women when he passed away in 2022. The trial of Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, who are facing charges including first-degree murder, confinement, assault with a weapon, and failure to provide the necessities of life, is ongoing in the Ontario Superior Court.
During the trial, Pickup discussed the findings of L.L.’s autopsy, noting that the boy had ingested a significant amount of Venlafaxine, a prescribed medication for various mental health conditions. While the concentration of the medication was higher than therapeutic levels, it was not fatal. Pickup highlighted malnutrition as a potential factor in the boy’s death due to his thin and small stature.
The pathologist also mentioned that the absence of ketones in L.L.’s body did not exclude the possibility of starvation as a contributing factor to his death. Additionally, hypothermia was cited as a potential cause, given the circumstances surrounding the boy’s discovery in a wet state in a basement bedroom.
Overall, the trial is expected to continue into November, with further examination of the evidence and testimonies to shed light on the tragic events leading to L.L.’s untimely demise.
