MANHEIM, Pa. — Updated, 5:40 p.m.: Homicide suspect Matthew S. Harrison is in custody, according to the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department.
Harrison and his car were located in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He was found inside a hotel and was taken into custody after a brief stand-off with police.
Arrangements are being made for Harrison to be transported back to Lancaster County where he will be arraigned on charges associated with the homicide.
Previously: As the search for Lancaster County homicide suspect Matthew Harrison enters its fourth day, authorities have released additional details regarding the death of his wife, Jami, who was found dead in the couple's Penn Township home Monday afternoon.
Matthew Harrison, 48, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, strangulation and two counts of aggravated indecent assault, according to a criminal complaint affidavit filed by investigators with the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department, who have been trying to locate him since Monday, Feb. 5.
Matthew Harrison is believed to be driving a black 2017 Chevy Silverado K1500 four-door pickup truck with Pennsylvania registration ZND7298, according to police. He is to be considered a dangerous person, and anyone who encounters him is advised to immediately call 911, NLCRPD said.
The complaint affidavit against him outlines the following timeline of events:
- At 4:14 p.m. Monday, NLCRPD officers were dispatched to the Harrisons' home on the 2200 block of East Mount Hope Road after an 11-year-old member of the household discovered the body of Jami Harrison lying in her bedroom. Jami Harrison had "blue lips and bruises all over her body," according to the child, who also told police that Matthew Harrison was "really mean" and "hurts" Jami Harrison.
- Arriving officers found Jami Harrison's body lying on her bed, wrapped in a blanket. She was already dead, according to police. Police noted she had red marks on her neck and a possible bruise on her forehead.
- Another member of the household told police she last saw Jami Harrison alive at 7 a.m. that morning, when she left for school. She told police that Jami and Matthew Harrison had argued the previous Friday, and that Matthew Harrison had left the house and was staying at a hotel. She told police Matthew and Jami Harrison had a "tumultuous" relationship, and that she'd seen Matthew Harrison push Jami Harrison into a wall and pour beer on her head. She also disclosed that Jami Harrison previously told her Matthew Harrison had strangled her in the past, the complaint states.
- Police reported to a nearby Comfort Inn, which confirmed Matthew Harrison had checked out and had left the hotel by 1:40 p.m. Monday.
- Matthew Harrison's mother allegedly told police that Matthew Harrison's son, her grandson, had called her around 7 p.m. Monday and told her "dad snapped," and that Jami Harrison was dead.
- Detectives spoke to Matthew Harrison's son, who initially denied that he had been in contact with his father, but later admitted to "reaching out" to his father via text message after learning of Jami Harrison's death. He also denied telling his grandmother that Matthew Harrison had "snapped," police said. When asked to share the texts he'd sent to Matthew Harrison, the witness claimed he had erased all text logs.
- Police obtained a search warrant for the witness' phone, and later recovered text messages between him and Matthew Harrison in which Matthew Harrison allegedly alluded to having "murder on my brain" and discusses killing his wife.
- Police spoke to Matthew Harrison's coworkers at High Steel, who reported that he did not show up for work on Monday, which was an unusual occurrence. One coworker showed investigators a series of texts with Matthew Harrison, in which he admits he's on the run from police. He allegedly texts the coworker that he'd heard his wife having an inappropriate conversation and says "that's all I could take." Matthew Harrison also allegedly told the coworker the "demon in me finally broke out."
- A forensic examination of Jami Harrison's phone uncovered a series of text messages between her and her husband over the weekend. Matthew Harrison allegedly sent the victim more than 120 text messages between Saturday and Sunday before she replied. He allegedly insulted the victim numerous times, alluded to sexually assaulting her, and told her she deserves "nothing but misery and much much much pain." Matthew Harrison also allegedly told the victim he needed to return home Monday to collect some of his things.
An autopsy conducted on Jami Harrison Wednesday determined she'd died of asphyxia due to strangulation and ruled her manner of death a homicide. The autopsy also determined there were signs of sexual assault on the victim prior to her death.
Matthew Harrison remains at large, police said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call NLCRPD at (717)733-0965 or Lancaster County Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-1913. Tipsters can also submit their information online.