Found Deceased IA - Xavior Harrelson, 10, neighbor reported X missing, Montezuma, 27 May 2021 #2

[Seattle1]

Links in Xavior Harrelson case, New Sharon search warrant found

10/19/21

Federal agents executed a search warrant Tuesday morning in a firearms investigation at a home in New Sharon. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents were also on hand because the subjects were known associates of Xavior Harrelson's family.

Harrelson, 11, went missing from his northwest Montezuma home May 27. His remains were found Sept. 30 in a field in Poweshiek County.

"We are not investigating the missing person's case, just a separate federal firearms violation," John Ham, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Kansas City office, said of Tuesday's actions at a home in the 100 block of S. Elm Street in New Sharon.

Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, confirmed the Iowa DCI assisted the ATF in case the unrelated federal search warrant yielded any information about Harrelson's disappearance.

Ham would not say who the subject of the warrant was. Mortvedt confirmed that the subjects of the warrant were associates of Harrelson's family.

A cause of death in Harrelson's case has yet to be determined.

 

[katydid23]

Is it possible Xavier had been with his mom's ex-boyfriend (Xavier may have considered him safe, a father figure), but he was arrested. Xavier would have been left alone, without clothes or a phone. Might Xavier have simply and sadly been trying to find his way home?

JMO

When they arrested JL, they almost certainly did a search of his home, since the arrest was for weapons charges. So if X had been left alone, LE would have found him quickly. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

You nailed it.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives searched a home at 104 South Elm Street in New Sharon. The search warrant was executed at around 6:45 a.m, according to the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office.

The search was related to an investigation stemming from federal firearms charges filed against James Lowe in July. Lowe was charged with possession of a National Firearms Act firearm not registered to the possessor after a vehicle he was driving was found to allegedly contain a sawed-off shotgun. The firearm discovery was made after Iowa County Sheriff’s deputies found Lowe and his vehicle in Marengo on May 29.

Home searched in federal firearms case, subject has Xavior Harrelson connection

This is a very interesting development given that JL has already pled guilty to the Magistrate's Recommendation for the single gun charge.

JL's guilty plea was not a "plea deal," and the presiding federal Judge already accepted the "Magistrate's Recommendation." JL is awaiting sentencing in federal court.

Strangely enough, despite several previous criminal allegations JL has faced over the years, seems he's avoided a felony conviction until this gun charge and why he was only charged with the single count of possession of an unregistered, short or modified shotgun.

 

[Seattle1]

I hate to speculate, but connecting the dots, does this imply that XH may been shot and they we're searching / attempting to locate the possible firearm at this address? I know the KCCI report indicated LE removed something in an evidence paper bag.

I don't think so. Maybe it was the early morning SW execution at 6:45 AM that created confusion here but according to KWQC/News 6 - this SW was not related to XH other than it was linked to JL who is a known friend of SH and XH.

JL was being sought on a warrant for a prior misdeamenor possession charge and was arrested on May 29 -- two days after XH was reported missing. At the time JL was apprehended, JL was in possession of an unregistered, modified/short 10 gauge shotgun located inside his vehicle. He was indicted July 2021 in federal court for the weapons violation and has already pled guilty late Sept 2021 and is awaiting sentence. IMO, I think JL is cooperating with the Feds and perhaps gave up who/where he obtained the illegal weapon. MOO

 

[SharonNeedles]

There’s just too many coincidences…

 

[BeckyF]

No evidence relating to Xavior Harrelson found in search warrant | weareiowa.com


NEW SHARON, Iowa — Iowa authorities assisted in a federal search warrant Tuesday morning in New Sharon to see if they could find any evidence relating to the disappearance and death of Xavior Harrelson, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

"We were there to assist and also in the event that there would be anything remotely related to Xavior's investigation," DCI Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt told Local 5 in an email.

 

[GMS]

I don't think so. Maybe it was the early morning SW execution at 6:45 AM that created confusion here but according to KWQC/News 6 - this SW was not related to XH other than it was linked to JL who is a known friend of SH and XH.

JL was being sought on a warrant for a prior misdeamenor possession charge and was arrested on May 29 -- two days after XH was reported missing. At the time JL was apprehended, JL was in possession of an unregistered, modified/short 10 gauge shotgun located inside his vehicle. He was indicted July 2021 in federal court for the weapons violation and has already pled guilty late Sept 2021 and is awaiting sentence. IMO, I think JL is cooperating with the Feds and perhaps gave up who/where he obtained the illegal weapon. MOO

Can we infer then that JL had some connection to this house where the SW was issued...whether he had stayed there, possibly knew the residents, etc.? And if that's the case, I wonder what the probable cause was to get the SW and what they thought they might find and/or uncover?

 

[Seattle1]

Can we infer then that JL had some connection to this house where the SW was issued...whether he had stayed there, possibly knew the residents, etc.? And if that's the case, I wonder what the probable cause was to get the SW and what they thought they might find and/or uncover?

Yes -- given that authorities already provided they were following up specific FTA gun charges related to JL (i.e., JL previously charged and guilty plea accepted), I definitely think JL had a connection to the resident(s) of that home.

However, what I'm not saying is that this residence and/or the residents had anything to do with XH's disappearance or death.

I went back to Mollie's thread and now recall that CR's defense alleged on 7/15/21 that JL was in federal custody on a gun charge.

When JL was first approached by LE on 5/29, JL fled on foot and it was his GF (passenger in the vehicle) that told arresting officers that they had a gun in the vehicle. JL was apprehended later on 5/29 and booked in Iowa County Jail. He was later transferred to Poweshiek Jail on 5/30 where he was also interviewed by the ATF on the weapons charge. As this would be a federal charge -- it explains why JL fell off the Iowa State Court & Custody roster.

7/14/21 - JL was ordered detained by the feds until trial.
8/4/21- JL was indicted by a federal grand jury on a single count of Possession of Unregistered Firearm ( modified or short 12 gauge shotgun).
8/6/21 - Jury Trial set for Oct 4, 2021 - Cedar Rapids.
8/25/21 - Change of Plea Hearing -- 10/4 trial date canceled.
8/25/21 - Report & Recommendation by Magistrate Roberts to accept a guilty plea to Count-1 of Indictment.
9/9/21 - Order accepting R&R signed by Judge Williams.

JL's federal sentencing hearing pursuant to the guilty plea is pending.

Per Vine -- it appears JL is being held in Jefferson County Jail (Fairfield, IA).

VINELink
USA v. Lowe (1:21-cr-00044), Iowa Northern District Court

ETA: add updated MSM

UPDATE:

NEW SHARON, Iowa (KCRG) -The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is clarifying that the search of a southeast Iowa home is not directly related to the death of Xavior Harrelson.

Initially, it was reported that The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were searching a home in New Sharon, Iowa. The search was in connection to federal firearms charges filed against a man named James Lowe in July.

Our news partner KCRG reports that the IDCI was simply "tagging along" because Lowe had at one point been in a relationship with Harrelson's mother.

10-year-old Xavior Harrelson's body was discovered on Sep. 30 in a cornfield three miles from his home in Montezuma. Officials have not yet released a cause of death.

Officials clarify purpose of search not directly related to Xavior Harrelson case

 

[Seattle1]

Officials clarify purpose of search not directly related to Xavior Harrelson case

Oct 19, 2021

UPDATE:

NEW SHARON, Iowa (KCRG) -The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is clarifying that the search of a southeast Iowa home is not directly related to the death of Xavior Harrelson.

Initially, it was reported that The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were searching a home in New Sharon, Iowa. The search was in connection to federal firearms charges filed against a man named James Lowe in July.

Our news partner KCRG reports that the IDCI was simply "tagging along" because Lowe had at one point been in a relationship with Harrelson's mother.

10-year-old Xavior Harrelson's body was discovered on Sep. 30 in a cornfield three miles from his home in Montezuma. Officials have not yet released a cause of death.

 

[UltraViolet4545]

Hmm the timing seems a little too convenient.

The firearms charge was in July, and they’re just now executing a warrant on the home 3 months later?

MOO, they’re executing the warrant now because they have probable cause after finding the body & completing an autopsy.

 

[LeeJay55]

Back to the top little man can't let u go to page 2!
Justice for Xavior!

 

[Lusitana]

Just waiting for some news about what happened to X.

 

[Amstorrs]

Just waiting for some news about what happened to X.

Me too. I’m hoping we get more information sooner rather than later.

 

[Chelly]

OK, I'll buy for now, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation's statement that the search of the southeast Iowa home is not directly related to the death of Xavier Harrison. Can't overlook the odd coincidences tho.

 

[JKM]

When they arrested JL, they almost certainly did a search of his home, since the arrest was for weapons charges. So if X had been left alone, LE would have found him quickly. JMO

There is a great book called All Alone in the World Children of the Incarcerated by Nell Bernstein. We assume some kind of follow up or contact would be made by police in those situations but it doesn’t always happen that way; it may be as simple as “kid get your butt home” or nothing.

 

[Seattle1]

What's next in Xavior Harrelson investigation

MONTEZUMA, Iowa —

The Division of Criminal Investigation said the autopsy on Xavior Harrelson is not complete and there is no official cause of death or determination if his death is a crime.

But that has not stopped the town from honoring Xavior.


“There's a lot of questions still out there,” Montezuma Elementary School Principal Kurt Hanna said.

Hanna said it's been a tough day. Kids are back in class after learning that Xavior Harrelson is no longer missing.

 

[iamnotagolem]

How could his death be anything other than a crime?

 

[Lusitana]

When a kid dies, I can't stop thinking about the other kids that knew him going back to school. So sad.

 

[Megnut]

How could his death be anything other than a crime?

Speculation only but conceivably, if the frequent arguing is true (single parenthood with an only child can be a challenge for anyone! Add in close quarters, health issues and added deoendencies), perhaps Xavier had someone he trusted, and a way to contact this person (say, a former bf of his mom's). Next day, bf shows up or arranges a meet up spot, and Xavier leaves with him. Not running away, just leaving. Maybe it's happened before, enough that Xavier's mom wasn't even alarmed. Limited number of places Xavier could go. If he'd done it before, he always came back. Perhaps that's why she didn't sound any alarms, she figured he might be with her ex and felt he was safe there... she may have felt Xavier was mad or upset and would come home when ready.

And maybe that would have happened. But the arrest happened... Xavier could've been left alone, afraid, without phone or direction, and did the only thing he could do -- try to get home. Likely? I don't know. Possible? Maybe.

JMO

 

[Pavelsky]

Until they release his cause of death we don’t know. I don’t actually think this is what happened ..JMO