State will not seek death penalty for Justin Ross Harris

Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for Justin Ross Harris, the father who left his toddler to die in a hot car in Cobb County.

On Sept. 4, a Cobb County Grand Jury retued an indictment for Justin Ross Harris on eight counts related to the death of his 22-month-old son Cooper.

Harris is charged with murder, malice murder and child cruelty in the death of his son.

Harris told investigators he forgot Cooper was in his car when he went to work on June 18. Cooper was found more than seven hours later dead in the car.

An autopsy showed that the boy had died from the extreme heat. Cooper's body was in a state of rigor mortis when he was removed from the car, according to detectives.

The Cobb County District Attoey released the following statement on Wednesday afteoon:

"After reviewing Georgia's death penalty statute and considering other factors, the State will not seek the death penalty in this case at this time. I cannot and will not elaborate at this juncture of the case.

Furthermore, due to a scheduling conflict with the defense, the State has consented to their request to postpone the arraignment until 9 a.m. on Oct. 17 before Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary E. Staley."