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Cooper Harris Death

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A key witness says he does not believe Ross Harris intentionally killed his son in a hot SUV.

Leonard Madden said he could not believe a judge ordered Harris held without bond on murder charges in the death of a his 22-month-old son, Cooper.

Madden was thrust into the high-profile case when he came out of a restaurant and was one of the first people to see Harris take his dead son out of his SUV.

He told Channel 2’s Ross Cavitt the experience will forever cement his belief that Cooper Harris death was a tragic accident.

“His original reaction was just too organic for it to have been planned. His cries of desperation and passion and hurt, they were too heartfelt,” Madden said.

Madden testified to that during last week’s probable cause hearing as a defense hearing. He was mostly unaware of the explosive testimony that preceded his.

A detective testified about Harris’ suspicious actions before and after his son’s death and accused the father of sexting women while his child was dying inside his SUV. The detective also said that Harris’ wife, Leanna Harris, was unemotional and made strange statements after learning Cooper had died.

Madden said none of that proves that Ross Harris murdered his child.

“I believe it was just a terrible and grave accident, however, I do not believe it was done intentionally,” Madden said.

Prosecutors disagree. Ross Harris remains jailed under charges that do not require malice, police seem to believe this was an intentional act.

“The evidence is the evidence. Accusation is accusation and speculation is speculation. I can only go off what I witnessed,” Madden said.

Madden will likely become a key witness if the case goes to trial.

Tuesday morning, Leanna Harris visited her husband at the Cobb County Jail for about half an hour. She has publicly supported her husband.
Earlier this week, police released search warrants connected to the case, which focused on family medical records and a search of their Marietta home.