A Pennsylvania man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting and murdering his wife—and then confessing through a string of disturbing text messages to family and coworkers.
Matthew Scott Harrison, 49, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus an additional five to 10 years for the brutal killing of his wife, Jami Harrison, in their Manheim home on February 5, 2024. The sentence was handed down by Lancaster County Judge Jeffrey A. Conrad, who called Harrison’s actions “one of the most cowardly acts a man can do.”
Harrison pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and strangulation. As part of the plea deal, charges of second-degree murder and aggravated indecent assault were dropped.
According to prosecutors, Harrison sexually assaulted and strangled his wife inside their home before fleeing the scene. Even more disturbing: it was Jami’s then-11-year-old daughter who found her mother’s lifeless body and called 911.
During sentencing, one of Jami’s daughters confronted Harrison directly in court. Turning to face him, she called him “a coward” and said her family had once hoped he’d be a father figure—but instead, he became a monster. “You took away the only true parent we had,” she said, heartbroken that her younger sister was left to discover the horrifying scene.
Prosecutors read aloud a series of vile and threatening text messages Harrison sent in the days leading up to the murder. Messages included “You’re not getting away with this,” “It’s till death do us apart,” and even one where he chillingly declared, “If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.” He referred to his wife using degrading language and wrote that she deserved “misery and much much pain.”
In messages to a coworker two days later, Harrison admitted, “I won’t be back,” and said, “The demon in me broke free.” He added that he had overheard Jami “having an inappropriate conversation,” and that “was all I could take.”
Court documents also revealed a disturbing exchange with his son days before the murder. In one message, Harrison allegedly wrote, “If I kill her by now I’m cool son.” His son seemed to brush it off, responding, “Come on now ol head lol,” but Harrison continued, “You think I’m kidding?” He referenced a past incident involving his son, writing, “Ever since what happened to you… I’ve had murder on my brain.”
After his arrest, Harrison reportedly told police that he believed Jami “wanted him to kill her” and that by doing so, he had “set her free.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Harrison was ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution. The judge echoed the family’s heartbreak, calling the crime not just brutal, but senseless.
The little girl who survived the trauma is now in the care of other family members, with authorities describing her as “strong and brave,” though clearly deeply affected by what she witnessed.
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Author: What’s Up Team
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