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ORIGINAL REPORT:
Matthew Scott Harrison, 48 of Manheim, originally of Hellam, is on the run after his wife was found dead by a child on Monday, Feb. 5, according to court documents obtained by Daily Voice.
Jami Harrison's daughter told police that her mom and her husband Matthew Harrison argued on Friday, Feb. 2, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Matthew had separated from his wife that night and moved into the Comfort Inn at 2845 Lebanon Road, Manheim, according to the affidavit. But he had checked out on Monday, Feb. 5, "and was gone by 1:40 p.m.," DA Heather Adams said.
The daughter called the couple's relationship "tumultuous," detailing some scenes of domestic abuse when Matthew pushed her mom into walls, poured beer over her head, and choked her, as stated in the affidavit.
He sent some suspicious text messages over the two days before he checked out; insulting Jami and asking her to let him come home to pick up things; telling a coworker at High Steel Structures, “I won’t be back” and “the demon in me broke free”; and finally telling another family member “I’ve been having murder on my brain," as stated in the release and the affidavit.
Harrison's mother spoke to the police and said that Harrison's son, her grandson, had called her, saying "Dad snapped," although he later denied that multiple texts between the father and son showed something closer to what the grandma explained.
The affidavit detailed the texts on Saturday, Feb. 3 as follows:
"'If I kill her by now I'm cool son.' (The son) replies, 'Come on now ol head lol' and Matthew responds, 'S*** you think kidding.' After being told to 'be cool,' Matthew replies, 'Ever since what happened to you…I've been having murder on my brain' followed by 'F*** that b****.'"
Another text message was revealed in a search warrant of the son's phone on Monday, Feb. 5:
"After being asked to talk to [name redacted] Matthew indicates that he doesn't want his phone to 'ping.' Matthew questions, 'What did you hear?' and [name redacted] replied, 'She's dead.'"
An 11-year-old (possibly one of the daughters the couple had been raising together) came home from school and found Jami in the couple's bedroom and called 911, saying that Matthew was "really mean and hurts [Jami]" according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department officers had been called to a report of a woman who had "suffered from a cardiac arrest event" in the couple's home in the 2200 block of East Mount Hope Road in Penn Township, Manheim on February 5, at 4:12 p.m.
The officers found Jami "laying supine in her bed, partially covered with a blanket, wearing a black shirt [...] with red marks on her neck and possible bruising on her forehead," the affidavit states. Her body also reportedly "showed signs of sexual assault," the DA said citing the coroner. The affidavit detailed signs of both anal and vaginal assaults.
At 4:44 p.m. the coroner was called. Jami was declared dead at 5:50 p.m., Lancaster County Chief Deputy Coroner Eric Bieber detailed in a release.
The coroner noted the cause was "asphyxia due to strangulation and suffocation."
"Autopsy results received today confirmed that the manner of death was homicide," the NLCRPD stated in a release. "Associated law enforcement partners are actively searching for the victim’s husband, Matthew S. Harrison."
Harrison is wanted on the following offenses filed on Wednesday evening Feb. 7:
- Homicide Murder Of The First Degree.
- Homicide Murder Of The Second Degree.
- Felony Strangulation - Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck.
- Felony Aggravated Indecent Assault without consent.
- Felony Aggravated Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion (two counts).
He also has a history of burglary, robbery, assault, and theft in Hellam and was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison back in 2001.
He is described as a white/light-skinned Black man 5’7” tall, 170 lbs. man with hazel eyes. He is believed to be driving a black, 2017 K1500, 4-door, Chevy Silverado/1500 pick-up truck bearing PA registration ZND7298.
He has ties to Lancaster and York countries.
He is "considered to be a dangerous person and wanted for questioning by the NLCRPD," as stated in the release.
Anyone who sees Harrison, his vehicle, or knows his whereabouts should call 911 immediately or NLCRPD at (717)733-0965, Lancaster County Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-1913, or submit a tip by clicking here.
The NLCRPD, in cooperation with the Lancaster Co. District Attorney’s Office, is actively investigating the case. Multiple agencies are assisting in the manhunt.
This is a developing situation and Daily Voice so check back here and follow us for updates.
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