On December 21, 2022, at 7:26 p.m., the Halton police and other emergency services were called to a residence in the area of New Street and Guelph line in Burlington in response to a child without vital signs.

Police arrived to find a deceased 12-year-old boy in the home.

Investigators from the HRPS Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit (CASA) commenced an investigation. On February 29, 2024, the prospective adoptive parents of the deceased boy were arrested.

Becky Hamber, 44, of Burlington and Brandy Cooney, 42, of Hamilton have both been charged with First Degree Murder, and Failure to Provide the Necessaries of Life.

The accused were also the prospective adoptive parents to a younger sibling of the deceased child who also lived in the home in December 2022.

Police said in January 2023, both accused were charged with Assault, Assault with a Weapon, Forcible Confinement, Fail to Provide the Necessaries of Life and Criminal Negligence Cause Bodily Harm following an investigation in relation to the younger sibling.