Isn't there a law about aiding and abetting a fugitive? Harboring a fugitive would mean letting them live with you, or helping them hide??? I don't know. Only second cup of coffee. Can't think. But I remember there being an outrage in Maria Lauterbach's case when her murdered fled to Mexico, and his wife knew, but didn't report it, and/or didn't report contact with him while a fugitive. She wasn't charged, btw.
At any rate, I don't think they'll levy charges against him anytime soon either. Thursday is his hearing on the reckless driving. He's locked up, and will be for awhile, so no reason to rush a case and foul it up. Take the time, dot the i, cross the t, and see where the evidence leads them. Even with DNA, and if the DNA is semen, while to most that would be hard to dismiss, it would be a strange case to present to jurors stating "Ladies and gentlemen of the juror. On such and such date, Morgan Harrington disappeared from JPA and was found months later on a farm 10 miles away. Morgan's death has been ruled a homicide. JM's DNA from semen was found on her body. JM never came forward and said he was with Morgan. We have found no connection between Morgan and JW, therefore we present to you that JM is guilty of abducting Morgan from JPA area, and murdering her, disposing of her body on the farm. " and then expect the juror to say "yup, we agree, guilty"... 5 minute trial? Not likely. As Longo said, much to be done on the case before it goes to trial. I don't know how much information they already have on Morgan's case, and how they will be able to determine where JM was at the time. If he was never questioned then, thus no alibi on record for that time, going to be rough going for investigators. I sure couldn't remember where I was then. Of course JM knows where he was, but he ain't talking!
But speaking of Morgan's case, once her body was found, IIRC, they spoke with all neighboring land, anyone they could find that would have a reason to be on that land. Hunters, and fishermen I would think would have been among that round up. Now, whether JM was EVER spoken to then, or his name anywhere in that case file....that's going to be important, and I hope it's there! Whether it was in talking to neighboring landowners, people known to the area, etc., I hope there is some statement from him in that file! Because if he said he didn't know her, never saw her, etc., and it's in that file, and then his DNA is found....someone's got some 'splaining to do!!!
I'm wondering if they will lump most of the cases together, and go that route? Barton Corbin was charged with his wife's murder, as well as his exgf from college murder. I want to say they were both in the same case, but can't remember, because he pled guilty during the start of the trial when the gun was shown to have been obtained from a friend of his. Once the gun was shown to have been in his possession, he threw the towel in. Trying to think of cases were more than one offense of murder was tried as one case. Wasn't BTK??
At the same time, if linking the cases aren't strong enough for a case, they might try them individually with the one being the strongest first, thus he would then have prior convictions, that might be able to be brought up in the other cases. Not sure.
Is there a stature of limitation on rape charges? Can others come forward now?
JMO!
