In the heat of the car

Surprising claims came to light during a hearing on Thursday for a Georgia man whose toddler son died after being left in a hot car, a man prosecutors sought to portray as an unfaithful husband who wanted a child-free life. Among the most shocking allegations: Justin Ross Harris messaged six women, sending and receiving explicit texts - some including nude images - from work while his 22-month-old was dying, a detective testified at the hearing. Harris' attorney repeatedly objected to Cobb County, Georgia, police Detective Phil Stoddard's testimony claiming that Harris sexted the women - one of whom was underage at the time - but the judge allowed it. Police say Harris left his toddler, Cooper, strapped into a car seat under a baking sun for seven hours while he went to work June 18. Records show that the mercury topped 92˚F (33˚C) that day, and police say the temperature was 88˚F (31˚C) when the boy was pronounced dead in a parking lot not far from his father's workplace. That is more than just irresponsible. Even that tiger mother Amy Chua or the judge that was covertly filmed beating his daughter in 2004 would be a refreshing step up from Justin Ross Harris. You just don't do that to children.