The Murder of Kerri Harris
For this case I watched an episode of The Killer Beside Me. It’s season 1 episode 3, titled ‘The Evil Inside.’
A young woman is killed after discovering information about a c0-worker.
Background
Kerri Harris moved from Memphis, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia in 2006. She was excited to start her new job as a quality assurance manager at Cargill.
Kerri was excited to meet new people, but knew how to keep her professional and personal lives separate. Kerri was described as smart, strong and confident. She also loved to travel, which she enjoyed doing every chance she got, with her close friend from college.
Kerri Harris
A Strange Feeling
When Kerri started at Cargill, a man named Craig Armstead introduced himself to her. He even baked her a cake, which she saw as a nice gesture. However, Kerri was not interested in eating anything from a person she didn't know.
In February 2007, Kerri left work late, and like always, she called her brother Jason. Jason said he was talking to Kerri, when suddenly she paused, and told him that a car was following her. Kerri couldn’t tell if she knew the person, but that everywhere she went, it followed. Jason told her to pull over at the nearest police station. Kerri did, and the car drove past her.
A few months later, Craig bought Kerri flowers, and on her 30th birthday, a pair of earrings. Kerri told Craig that she was not interested in dating someone from work. She refused to accept the gifts, and told her brother that Craig had walked away pouting.
By May 2007, Kerri reported Craig’s infatuation to Human Resources. He received a written warning, and was told that unless it was business related, he didn’t need to have contact with Kerri.
A Shocking Discovery
Kerri was notified by Human Resources that they had spoken to Craig. Kerri hoped that things would change at work.
One night, Kerri went out to have a drink with a friend from work. She was worried about Kerri, and told her that she had discovered some information about Craig.
In 1992, Craig had spent time in prison for manslaughter. He had killed his girlfriend, and pleaded insanity. He served 5 out of 10 years, and moved to Atlanta in 1999, to start over.
The Final Straw
In June 2008, Kerri completed her master’s degree, and received a promotion at work.
Kerri liked to keep things to herself, but her boss made a big deal about her graduation. Once again, Craig was one of the first to congratulate her. He also bought her an expensive digital organizer. Kerri told Craig, in front of other co-workers, that she couldn’t accept the gift.
Kerri was very upset and stressed. While she was in the bathroom, she and a co-worker discovered something that looked like a red flashing light. It was coming from a makeup bag, and when they opened it, they discovered a camera was inside. The camera had been hidden under some feminine products, and it was pointed right at the toilet.
On June 26, 2008, Kerri walked over to HR, with the camera in hand. Unfortunately, the man who had set up the camera had seen her and the camera. The man was Craig.
Kerri told the HR manager about the camera, and they contacted the police. Craig had over 1,000 hours of footage on that camera, and he even downloaded the footage onto hard drives.
The Murder
Just a few hours after Craig saw Kerri walking to HR, he took a butcher knife that he found at work, and made his way to her office.
Kerri was inside, just a few feet from where her co-workers were having a lunch meeting. They heard her scream, and saw Craig fleeing the scene.
Kerri was found lying on her office floor. The knife had been still stuck in her neck. A BOLO (be on the lookout) was put out for Craig, and he was apprehended not too long after.
The evidence showed that Kerri didn’t see the attack coming. Craig was worried that Kerri and his co-workers would find out what he had been recording on the camera.
Trial and Conviction
Craig’s trial began on August 16, 2010. His criminal history was discussed. Not only had he spent time in prison for murder, but in 1999, he was convicted for a felony peeping tom charge.
In this episode, parts of Craig’s interrogation was played. He said he had something “evil inside him” that was named Frank. He also said that Kerri had looked at him with such hate in her eyes.
Craig’s defense was legal insanity, but the jury saw through it. He was convicted of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, and 18 counts of unlawful eavesdropping and surveillance. He was sentenced to life plus 60 years.
Craig Armstead
Other
In November 2008, a reporter asked Kerri’s employer Cargill, why they had hired a man who had been convicted of manslaughter. They responded: “we were all shocked by the incident, it was truly a tragedy.”
Kerri’s family sued Cargill for damages. It was settled out of court.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I believe Craig had some mental health issues, which you can tell by listening to his interrogation. I believe that Cargill should’ve been better about hiring someone that had a past criminal history. He clearly showed signs of obsession and stalking women. HR is somewhat at fault as well, but maybe they didn't have enough evidence at first to have fired Craig.
Kerri died because she said no to Craig, and because she was about to discover he was the one who was watching women during their most vulnerable moments. Craig deserves to stay in prison for a long time. He should have received a longer sentence the first time, but his insanity plea had worked then.
My heart breaks for Kerri’s family, especially her brother. He said that he and Kerri always said I love you to each other, and that he would’ve begged her to come home, had he known everything that was going on at her job.
Sources
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ga-supreme-court/1635187.html
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/worker-convicted-killing-dekalb-woman/vN7Eh4a3oYI8e7puwn4XwI/
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/man-guilty-of-stabbing-killing-female-co-worker/241898327/
