Napa Man Arrested: Authorities inform us that a man from Napa currently held in custody in Sacramento will shortly be moved to Kentucky to stand trial for murder.
The victim, in this instance, is the husband of a deceased former captain of the California Highway Patrol.
The case is a little murky, but in the end, we had a formally divorced married couple dead and a Napa suspect in jail for the husband’s death.
Kentucky’s law enforcement officials think Michael Harding was killed in September. North of Sacramento, in the Yuba-Sutter region, Michael married Captain Julie Harding of the California Highway Patrol.
Friends claim that the two were going through a difficult divorce before Michael was found shot to death.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police confirm to ABC7 News that an arrest has been made in connection with Michael’s slaying. Last Thursday, Napa resident Thomas O’Donnell was taken into custody at the Sacramento International Airport. According to Sacramento County officers, he was at a terminal waiting to board a flight when he was arrested and is now charged with murder.
Friends of Michael Harding are devastated by the news that he was afraid in the weeks before being discovered dead from a gunshot wound.
“He was in fear for, you know, his life as well because his doors were chained up; they were propped up. So like you were trying to keep someone out,” said Preston Cleary.
On the same day that murder suspect O’Donnell was detained at the Sacramento International Airport, Julie Harding, a CHP employee on leave, was detained in Tennessee for criminal trespassing and later released.
Locals claim that she attempted to steal her husband’s dog from his girlfriend’s home. Julie Harding was discovered dead two days later. However, there is no indication that foul play was involved in her death. If she knew murder suspect O’Donnell, that is unknown.
“Mike was truly just a good-hearted individual. I hope to see this over with, and Mike can finally rest in peace,” said Cleary. Follow Newswatchlist.com for more information. You can also leave your thoughts in the comment section, and don’t forget to bookmark our website.