A Pennsylvania man was sentenced last week to serve five to ten years in jail for the murder of his spouse, Jamy. He pled guilty to first-degree murder and strangulation after admitting to killing her at their Pennsylvania home last year.
The investigation into the victim’s death began after the woman’s 11-year-old child discovered her mother’s body and phoned 911. The child stated that her mother’s husband was really mean and had injured her. When Pennsylvania authorities arrived, they discovered the victim dead, with signs of strangulation and physical violence. An autopsy proved that the cause of death was asphyxiation, and there were also signs of sexual assault.
Investigators found that the 49-year-old defendant, M. Harison, had sent over a hundred harassing and intimidating text messages to his spouse. Threats included messages like “You’re not getting away with this” and “If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.” Furthermore, the defendant sent texts to a coworker stating that ‘the demon in him burst out,’ which indicates he was aware of the consequences of his actions.
Prior to the murder, the defendant had a history of violent behavior towards his wife. According to their daughter, the defendant had shoved the victim into walls, poured beer over her head, and strangled her on several occasions. The couple’s relationship was described as chaotic, with the defendant displaying dominating and abusive behavior.
Following the murder, the defendant fled the scene but was arrested after a brief standoff with police. He was charged with first- and second-degree murder, strangulation, and aggravated indecent assault. During the sentencing, Judge Jefrey described the woman’s actions as one of the most cowardly things a man can commit, emphasizing the defendant’s failure to love and protect his wife.
The defendant also stated that he overheard her having an indecent chat and that was all he could take. According to prosecutors, after his detention, the defendant told officers that he thought his spouse wanted him to kill her so she would stop being unfaithful. He also stated that by killing the woman, he felt he had set her free.
