A Texas father who dedicated much of his life to seeking answers in the 2002 murder of his 28-year-old daughter has died by suicide outside a sheriff’s office.
Jerry Harris, a 76-year-old Marine and Vietnam veteran, took his own life in the parking lot of the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office in Bonham around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, authorities reported to local news outlet KXII.
In a letter he left behind, Harris clarified that his suicide was not connected to his daughter’s murder case, according to the outlet.
For the past 22 years, Harris had been hoping for justice for his daughter, 28-year-old Jennifer Harris, who was murdered. Jennifer was last seen alive on May 12, 2002, with her green Jeep abandoned along the road.
Six days later, fishermen found her naked, badly decomposed body floating in the Red River, as stated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Her death was ruled a homicide, but the case has remained unsolved.
Jim Holloway, a private investigator involved in the case, expressed hope that the murder would be re-examined now that the county has a new sheriff, district judge, and district attorney. Holloway remembered Harris as being profoundly sad and overwhelmed by sorrow and uncertainty over the case.
Cody Shook, the new Fannin County sheriff-elect after a recent primary runoff election, announced that all cold cases in the department would be reviewed with modern technology. He emphasized that all families deserve closure and expressed his commitment to exploring any new investigative options.
Jennifer Harris’ case has never faded from the community’s memory and even gained national attention when CBS’ 48 Hours covered the murder in 2018. Sheriff Mark Johnson had promised to continue investigating the case, though it had been hampered by mishandled evidence.
Reflecting on the time before Jennifer’s body was found, Harris told 48 Hours that he was only getting three to four hours of sleep each night, spending the rest of his time searching and driving country roads. Harris expressed gratitude for the program’s spotlight on his daughter’s case and noted that while it hadn’t gotten easier, he had learned to cope better.
In 2022, Sheriff Johnson stated there still wasn’t enough evidence to charge anyone with Jennifer’s murder. Texas Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for Jennifer’s death.
