Westchester County prosecutors have two new suspects in a controversial 1996 double homicide of an upstate millionaire that spawned 5 trials and an overturned conviction — however no solutions.
Now, Westchester DA Miriam Rocah has set her sights on a pair of potential culprits who brutally killed Archie Harris, whose property was price in extra of $2 million on the time of his dying, and his house well being aide inside his Eastchester house, prosecutors introduced.
“An intensive and ongoing investigation was undertaken by my Conviction Evaluate Unit, following a request in 2023, has recognized two people concerned within the murders of Archie Harris and Betty Ramcharan and no connection to Selwyn Days, who was beforehand charged,” the DA mentioned.
“As we bear a change in administration on the DA’s Workplace this week, it’s my hope that these important developments result in persevering with investigation and motion in order that justice will be achieved for the households of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,” Rocah mentioned.
The violent slayings have dogged the Westchester DA’S Workplace for many years.
Days, of Mount Vernon, grew to become an early suspect shortly after the our bodies — and Harris’ canine — have been found on Nov. 21, 1996, all viciously overwhelmed and stabbed to dying.
Days’ mom, Stella Davis had been the 76-year-old millionaire’s earlier well being care aide and filed a sexual abuse grievance in opposition to Harris in July 1996 months earlier than the murders.
The case remained chilly till April 2001, when Days was indicted on homicide costs based mostly largely on an alleged confession after an intense grilling by Eastchester detectives.
However Days’ first trial led to a hung jury in December 2003, the primary of 5 trials.
He was convicted of second-degree homicide in April 2004 and sentenced to 50 years to life in jail — solely to have the conviction overturned on Dec. 31, 2009.
Days’ third trial additionally led to a hung jury in March 2011, however a fourth trial led to a new conviction seven months later and one other 50-years-to-life sentence.
Nevertheless, that conviction was additionally tossed by a state appellate courtroom, which led to a fifth trial in 2017 that led to his acquittal on all the fees within the controversial case.
Days spent 16 years behind bars earlier than being cleared — with the case going chilly once more.
On Monday, prosecutors introduced that there have been new suspects, however supplied no additional particulars. The workplace didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Monday.
Rocah didn’t search re-election and incoming DA Susan Cacace is about to switch her subsequent month.
Supply hyperlink
