The Murder of Laurie Harm
For this case, I watched an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. It’s season 23 episode 11, titled ‘Unthinkable Harm.’
A 16-year-old girl is found dead in her home.
Background
Laurie Jean Harm was born on December 19, 1972. Laurie’s parents, Linda and Ron, separated when she was 10, but she remained very close to both of them.
Laurie had recently left high school, but wanted to become a beautician. Laurie was described as having a powerful essence. She was an only child, and had been her mom’s sidekick. Laurie was also described as very loving, and could make friends easily.
Laurie Harm
The Discovery
On April 27, 1989, Laurie was sick at home. Her mom, Linda, tried calling her around 9:30am, but there was no answer. Linda said she knew something was wrong, and she tried calling about 5-6 times.
Linda decided to go home on her lunch break, around 12:30pm. When she walked in the home, she found her daughter’s lifeless body, covered in blood. Linda called the Kennewick, Washington police.
Laurie had been stabbed 61 times. A number of her wounds had been defensive wounds to her hands and arms. A large kitchen knife was found on the bed, and it was identified as the murder weapon.
Linda told the police that she and Laurie had used the knife the previous night during dinner. Linda said she felt guilty, as if she had supplied the murder weapon.
There was no sign of forced entry. But, the killer did leave behind a blood trail. The killer had gone into the bathroom to clean up his wound. He then tracked blood out the back door, and onto the driveway. The police believed that the killer had driven away after killing Laurie, because the blood trail ended at the end of the driveway. It was apparent that the killer might have cut an artery, as the blood trail was described as a spurt pattern.
The Inner Circle
The blood samples were collected from the crime scene. Laurie’s blood, which was type O, and the killer’s blood, which was B positive, were both found at the crime scene.
Laurie’s autopsy revealed that none of the wounds had been fatal, but Laurie died from blood loss.
The first suspect was Laurie’s ex-boyfriend. Many of Laurie’s friends had said that this boy was distraught after the latest breakup, and wanted to get Laurie back.
He was questioned by police. He admitted that the two had a volatile relationship, and that he was angry over their breakup. However, his blood was tested, and it didn’t match the B positive blood at the crime scene. He was ruled out.
The next suspect was an older man that had hung around Laurie and her friends. Linda had told Laurie that she didn’t want this person around her anymore. The man had a prior criminal history for violence against women.
The man’s ex-girlfriend revealed to the police that he had been abusive, and even threatened her with a kitchen knife. The police learned that he had fled to Canada, as he had a dual citizenship.
The police were able to find him when they contacted Canadian authorities. The man was in prison for a sexual assault. The police questioned him. He admitted that he had met Laurie, but seemed to minimize his relationship to her.
This man said he had gone to Texas for work, and wasn’t in Washington during the time of the murder. The police knew that there was a time gap in when the man went to Texas, and returned to Washington. He was eventually ruled out because his blood type was A.
A Cold Case
The police also looked into other suspects from various jurisdictions, but the case went cold.
Linda said she wouldn’t let her daughter’s case become cold. She attended classes at the local college, so she could understand what the police were doing. She attended city council meetings, held up Laurie’s pictures, and asked questions to anyone who would listen.
In 1998, the police learned that there had been another crime that happened in Richland. The crime scene was very similar to Laurie’s. This time, the perpetrator had left behind semen and blood. The blood type was B, the same as in Laurie’s case.
A man named Jose Rodriguez Medrano had been arrested for sexually assaulting his former live-in girlfriend. The police learned from the Washington State Crime Lab, that Jose’s blood was a match to Laurie’s crime scene.
Jose had known Laurie. He was older, but he would often ask to give Laurie or her friends a ride home. It’s believed that Jose had taken a liking to Laurie, and wanted a relationship with her.
The Confession
The police questioned Jose. At first, Jose was very defensive. But, as soon as the police showed him a picture of Laurie, he slumped in his chair.
He was also confronted with the DNA evidence. The police asked Jose what happened. Jose blamed everything on Laurie. He said that he had gone to her home on April 27, and that she attacked him with a knife.
The police believed that Jose had made sexual advances towards Laurie, but she rejected him. Jose admitted that Laurie had fought for her life, but he was too strong for her. Jose said he didn’t know why he stabbed her so many times. He said she kept hitting him, and that he didn’t remember stabbing her so many times.
The police decided to offer Jose a plea deal. The prosecution said that they were afraid that they couldn’t prove that the crime was premeditated. Jose pled guilty to second degree murder, and was sentenced to 19 years.
Jose Rodriguez Medrano
Other
Jose was released from prison in October 2011, after serving 13 out of 19 years.
Linda said she was devastated by the plea deal, but forgave Jose. She said she couldn’t let him ruin her life anymore.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Linda is a badass. She fought for Laurie, and eventually got it. It may not have been the justice that Laurie deserved, but her killer was eventually caught. I believe the Kennewick PD did an amazing job, too. Sure, Laurie’s case went cold for a bit, but they didn’t give up on her or her family.
Sources
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6329243/laurie-jean-harm
https://thecinemaholic.com/laurie-jean-harm-murder-where-is-jose-rodriguez-medrano-now/
https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980317&slug=2740117
https://medklinn.co/blogs/laurie-jean-harm-murder-where-is-jose-rodriguez-medrano-now/
