Mother Charged With Murder Of Infant [Archive] - Crime Library Message Boards

odette

10-22-2007, 07:17 AM

Mother charged with murder of infant

news14.com - By: Porcha Johnson - 10/21/2007

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Charged with murder
A Harnett county mother is charged with the murder of her child. Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, is charged with first degree murder of her 11-month-old baby Harmony Jade Creech.

SPRING LAKE, N.C. -- A Harnett county mother is charged with the murder of her child. Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, is charged with first degree murder of her 11-month-old baby Harmony Jade Creech. After issuing an Amber Alert and spending days searching for the baby, investigators found her remains in the attic of the family's Spring Lake home.

Heuser’s neighbors say her daughter Harmony's disappearance sounded fishy from the start. “Initially, I felt there was foul play involved but I felt also that it was someone they knew," said Stacie Siebert. "I felt it was an inside job from the beginning." continued: »

http://news14.com/content/top_stories/588651/mother-charged-with-murder-of-infant/Default.aspx

http://i21.tinypic.com/rvd7xx.jpg
Johni Michelle Heuser, above, was
charged with murdering her 11-month-old
daughter.

odette

10-22-2007, 07:22 AM

Leads scarce in search for missing baby

newsobserver.com - By Mandy Locke, Staff Writer - Oct 20, 2007

Friday was supposed to be a big day for 11-month-old Harmony Jude Creech.

Harmony had waited her whole life to meet her father, a soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division.

But when Robert Earl Creech II -- fresh off the plane from a 15-month tour in Iraq -- walked into his daughter's bedroom Friday, she was gone.

Harmony had vanished during the night, sometime after her mother put her down to sleep and before late Friday morning, Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said. Also missing: a pink sheet, a handful of bibs and nearly all of Harmony's clothes.

Since midday Friday, Harnett County officials have been searching for the baby girl. A Federal Bureau of Investigation team of child abduction specialists joined the hunt Friday night. Saturday, investigators had no leads. Anxious to narrow their search, Rollins said a scarcity of promising tips had his investigators pacing tracks they'd worn the day before.

"We feel like we're behind the eight-ball," Rollins said Saturday. continued: »

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/743568.html

http://i24.tinypic.com/hti3xl.jpg
Police and sheriff's deputies in Harnett County
are searching for Harmony Jude Creech, an
11-month-old girl feared to have been taken from
her crib. She is shown in an undated photo.
Courtesy of Harnett County Sheriff's Office

odette

10-22-2007, 07:26 AM

Mother charged in baby's death

McClatchy-Tribune - By MANDY LOCKE AND SAMIHA KHANNA - Oct. 21, 2007

RALEIGH, N.C. — Authorities on Saturday found the body of a missing 11-month-old girl hidden in the attic of her Spring Lake home and later charged the child's mother in connection with the death.

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office charged Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, with first-degree murder. She was being held without bail.

Harmony Creech had been dead for three or four weeks, Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins announced late Saturday night.

Rollins said Heuser's three other children were placed in foster care.

Police had issued a statewide Amber Alert on Friday after Harmony's family reported her missing. The FBI helped the Harnett County Sheriff's Department, although authorities never labeled the case an abduction.

On Saturday, the mother told investigators she had found the baby dead in its crib and concealed the body in the attic of her home.

"Her reasoning for such was that she was fearful," Rollins said of the 25-year-old mother of four.

Though the girl's body was found around lunchtime Saturday, authorities made the announcement at 9 p.m. local time because they didn't want news of the recovery to interfere with interviews with key people, specifically Heuser, Rollins said.

"She has been telling us a lot of lies for a long time. It finally, through some good interview techniques, brought the truth out," the sheriff said. continued: »

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5232641.html

odette

10-22-2007, 07:28 AM

Body of Missing Infant Found in Attic

Authorities Say Child Dead for Weeks, Charge Mother With Murder

abcnews.go.com - Oct. 21, 2007

Authorities have found the body of an 11-month-old girl, who reported missing by her soldier father Ronald Earl Creech II Friday when he returned from his 15-month Iraq deployment, in the attic of North Carolina home.

Now, the girl's mother, Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, has been charged with first degree murder.

Investigators still are unsure of how Harmony Creech died. Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said Harmony Creech apparently had been dead for weeks when the body was discovered in the attic of Heuser's home. continued: »

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3756842

odette

10-22-2007, 07:31 AM

Body of missing baby found in her home

newsobserver.com - By Mandy Locke and Samiha Khanna - Oct 20, 2007- 11:04 PM

Authorities Saturday found the remains of a missing 11-month-old girl in the attic of her Spring Lake home.

Harmony Jude Creech apparently had been dead for weeks, Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins announced late Saturday night.

No charges have been filed. Rollins said the child's mother, Johni Michelle Heuser, told investigators she had found the baby dead in its crib and put the body in the attic of her home.

Neighbors said late Saturday they had been bothered by a foul smell for several weeks and that the smell only subsided recently when overnight temperatures dropped. Several neighbors said they had searched their yards for dead animals because of the smell.

Heuser was described by neighbors as a secretive, private person who seldom left home.

Police had issued a statewide Amber Alert on Friday after Harmony’s family reported her missing. The FBI assisted the Harnett County Sheriff’s Department, although authorities never labeled the case an abduction.

The discovery of Harmony's body brought a tragic end to a drama that began shortly before noon Friday, when the baby's father returned from Iraq to see his infant girl for the first time.

When Robert Earl Creech II of the 82nd Airborne Division -- fresh off the plane from a 15-month tour in Iraq -- walked into his daughter's bedroom Friday, she was gone. continued: »

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/743969.html

odette

10-22-2007, 07:34 AM

Officials find missing baby dead in attic

myrtlebeachonline.com - By Jessica Rocha and Peggy Lim - Mon, Oct. 22, 2007

SPRING LAKE, N.C. -- When investigators found the remains of Harmony Jade Creech's body this weekend, she was inside a diaper box in the family's attic just feet from the crib her mother originally told police she was abducted from, said Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins.

The statewide Amber Alert for the 11-month-old baby girl is now canceled and Harmony's mother, Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, is being held without bail in the Harnett County jail on a charge of first-degree murder. Heuser's other three children are in the custody of the state.

The baby's father, Ronald Earl Creech II, just returned from a 15-month deployment in Iraq. Now, he must bury his first daughter, whom he had seen just once during a leave shortly after her birth in January.

Investigators believe Harmony had been dead for three or four weeks, Rollins said.

Those who know Heuser and Creech grieve the loss of the couple's daughter. They wonder what happened in that house that led to Harmony's death.

"Even a crib death, you don't have to be afraid of getting in trouble," said Creech's grandmother, Mary Creech, from her home in Coffee Springs, Ala. "Something don't add up," she added. continued: »

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/225705.html

odette

10-22-2007, 08:05 AM

Mom Charged With Murder Expected in Court Monday

wral.com - Beau Minnick - Oct. 21 4:55 p.m.

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Missing Harnett County Baby Found Dead in Attic
http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » WEB ONLY: News Conference - Harnett County Baby Found Dead
http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Family: Mom Charged With Murder ‘Not in the Right State of Mind’

Spring Lake — A Harnett County mother charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 11-month-old daughter is expected in court Monday morning.

Authorities arrested Johni Heuser, who goes by her middle name, Michelle, after they found the body of her daughter, Harmony Jade Creech, in the attic of the family's home Saturday.

Police charged Heuser, 25, with first-degree murder. She was confined to the Harnett County Detention Center with no bond.

"It's a tragic end to a sad situation for this family and for the community as well," Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said. continued:»

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1952100/

odette

10-22-2007, 08:08 AM

Family: Mom Charged With Murder 'Not in the Right State of Mind'

wral.com - Posted: Oct. 21 6:09 p.m. - Updated: Today at 6:53 a.m.

Spring Lake — Family members of the Harnett County mother charged with murder in her baby’s death said they continue to support her, but they don’t understand what happened.

“My daughter obviously was not in the right state of mind,” said Hannibal Irrizary, father of Michelle Heuser, 25. “This is not in her character, you know, the stuff that has gone on.” continued: »

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1953349/

http://i24.tinypic.com/v5j03a.jpg

Johni Michelle Heuser

odette

10-22-2007, 12:15 PM

Mom Charged in Baby's Death Makes Brief Court Appearance

wral.com - Posted: Today at 9:36 a.m.

Lillington — A Harnett County mother charged with killing her 11-month-old daughter briefly appeared in court Monday morning.

Excerpt: Heuser showed no emotion in a brief court hearing Monday. She responded "Yes, sir" when asked by a judge whether she understood the charge against her and asked that a defense attorney be appointed for her.

A few family members who attended the hearing left in tears without commenting.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1954649/

odette

10-22-2007, 12:29 PM

Accused mother appears in court

news14.com - By: Ilin Chen - Updated: 10/22/2007 11:37 AM

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Murder Charges: News 14 Carolina's Ilin Chen has more on the investigation from the Harnett County Courthouse

FAYETTEVILLE -- A woman charged with killing her baby made her first court appearance Monday in Harnett County.

Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 11-month-old Harmony Creech. Authorities first issued an Amber Alert for Creech on Friday because Heuser reported her missing. She had claimed that she had last seen her baby asleep in the crib the night before. continued: »

http://news14.com/content/headlines/588659/accused-mother-due-in-harnett-court/Default.aspx

http://i24.tinypic.com/nxtg8n.jpg
Johni Michelle Heuser made her first
court appearance on Monday.

odette

10-22-2007, 05:46 PM

911 Tape: Mom Sobbed As She Reported Dead Child Missing

Spring Lake, NC - (WFMY, AP, WRAL) - Police say a 911 tape shows a North Carolina mother telling police that her child was missing, even though her child was already dead.

Johni Michelle Heuser, 25, faces first-degree murder charges in the death of her 11-month old daughter, Harmony Jade Creech.

WRAL-TV obtained a copy of the tape. In it, Heuser's mother can be heard calling 911 last Friday to report the child missing. Heuser can be heard sobbing in the background, and helping relay information about the child to dispatchers. A statewide Amber Alert was soon issued. However, investigators say that as that call was made, the remains of Heuser's daughter were upstairs in an attic, and had been there for weeks.

Police say after conducting a search Saturday, they found Harmony's body in a diaper box. WRAL-TV reports investigators also found trash bags filled with baby clothes and shoes, a pipe, and written directions to a nearby trash dump. continued: »

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=54838

http://i21.tinypic.com/6f06r4.jpg
Johni Michelle Heuser

odette

10-22-2007, 05:57 PM

Harnett authorities release 911 call reporting missing infant

Listen to the audio - 911 Call

fayobserver.com - Monday, October 22, 2007

The mother of 11-month-old Harmony Jade Creech is heard sobbing during a 911 call Friday to report the baby missing.

Authorities would soon learn the baby was already dead. continued: »

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=275647

odette

10-22-2007, 06:16 PM

Mom Charged in Baby's Death Sobbed During 911 Call

wral.com - Updated: Today at 4:56 p.m.

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Mom Charged in Baby's Death Sobbed During 911 Call

http://i23.tinypic.com/zldtlu.png » Johni Michelle Heuser Arrest Warrant
http://i23.tinypic.com/zldtlu.png » Search Warrant in Harmony Creech's Slaying

Lillington — A Harnett County mother charged with killing her 11-month-old daughter could be heard sobbing and screaming during a 911Call (http://www.wral.com/news/local/audio/1955529/) to report the baby's disappearance. continued: »

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1954649/

odette

10-22-2007, 06:31 PM

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » N.C. baby found dead in attic 1:11

(CNN) Police discover the wife of a soldier serving in Iraq hid the body of their dead daughter the in the attic.

• Mom put baby's body in attic, police say

Watch sheriff on what the mother has told police »
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/21/missing.baby.ap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

odette

10-22-2007, 06:53 PM

http://i23.tinypic.com/fn7jfm.jpg
Johni Michelle Heuser

http://www.myspace.com/chellbell1982

odette

10-23-2007, 07:59 AM

Soldier says mother was good at deception

fayobserver.com - By Erinn McGuire - October 23, 2007

The mother charged in the death of her baby girl “was good at deceiving everyone,” the child’s father says.

Sgt. Ronald Earl Creech II made the statement Monday through 82nd Airborne spokesman Maj. Tom Earnhardt.

Johni Michelle Heuser has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of their 11-month-old daughter, Harmony Jade Creech.

Sgt. Creech returned Friday from a 15-month deployment in Iraq and expected to see the baby.

“Harmony’s mother was good at deceiving everyone who would ask about Harmony and where she was,” Creech said through Earnhardt. “The stories were credible and everyone believed her. My goal for the last year was to complete my mission and return home to my children. I have returned home to a tragedy I would not wish upon any parent of any child.”

Creech had not seen the baby since November, when they spent 15 days together during a midtour deployment, Earnhardt said.

“My heart goes out to him the most,” said Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins on Monday at a news conference in Lillington.

Rollins said investigators were suspicious from the beginning.

“We knew something wasn’t right,” he said.

Rollins described Heuser as a deceptive woman who showed little remorse throughout the interview process.

A polygraph test “confirmed that she was a habitual liar,” he said. continued: »

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=275706

http://i21.tinypic.com/6y34hu.jpg
A memorial sits outside the home on Ray Road near Spring Lake where Harmony Jade
Creech was found dead. - Staff photo by Marc Hall

odette

10-23-2007, 08:09 AM

911 Call, New Details Emerge in Spring Lake Baby's Death

wral.com - Updated: Today at 6:12 a.m.

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » What Heuser Did Before Being Charged With Murder
http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » New Details Emerge in Spring Lake Baby's Death

Lillington — A Harnett County mother charged with killing her 11-month-old daughter sobbed and screamed while her mother reported the baby's disappearance to a Harnett County 911 dispatcher.

During the five-minute call Friday, Michelle Heuser sounded as if she were in hysterics and at one point, her mother told the dispatcher that Heuser was holding onto the baby's father, who had returned hours earlier from a 15-month deployment in Iraq, to get through the crisis.

Heuser, 25, showed no emotion, however, during a brief court hearing Monday when she faced a first-degree murder charge in the death of Harmony Jade Creech.

She responded "Yes, sir" when a judge asked if she understood the charge against her, and she asked the court to appoint a defense attorney for her.

"I haven't seen a lot of (remorse)," Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said during a news conference about the investigation late Monday afternoon. "(She has been) a liar – deceptive right up to the point of just being back to the corner and can't go anywhere else. … I don't know that she's told the truth now." continued: »

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1954649/

odette

10-23-2007, 10:19 AM

Father speaks out about baby's death, mother's arrest

abclocal.go.com

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Father speaks out about baby's death, mother's arrest

(10/23/07 -- SPRING LAKE) - For the first time an 82nd Airborne soldier is speaking out about the tragedy he faced as he returned home to Iraq to find his daughter missing and later found dead.

It comes the same day the Harnett County Sherriff released new details about Michelle Heuser's arrest. She appeared in court Monday on first degree murder charges in connection with the death of the couple's baby.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=5721661

odette

10-24-2007, 09:30 AM

911 RECORDING RELEASED - Dead baby's father: Mom's crying an act

Soldier had thought daughter was still alive

charlotte.com - THOMASI MCDONALD - (Raleigh) News & Observer - Oct. 24, 2007

A seemingly distraught Johni Michelle Heuser can be heard crying while her mother talked with an emergency dispatcher Friday morning to report that Heuser's baby daughter, Harmony Jade Creech, was missing.

During the 911 call, Heuser wailed, sobbed and retched as she clung to the child's father, Sgt. Ronald Creech II, who expected a joyous reunion with his daughter after a 15-month deployment in Iraq. continued: »

http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/331551.html

odette

10-24-2007, 07:13 PM

Memorial fund set up in baby’s honor

news14.com - By: News 14 Carolina Staff - 10/24/2007 03:29 PM

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- The father of a baby who was found dead over the weekend has set up a memorial fund in her honor.

Harmony Jade Creech's body was found Saturday in the attic of her Harnett County home. — continued: »

http://news14.com/content/headlines/588753/memorial-fund-set-up-in-baby-s-honor/Default.aspx

odette

10-24-2007, 07:15 PM

http://i24.tinypic.com/309iolk.jpg
Harmony Jade Creech :rose:

odette

10-24-2007, 07:25 PM

Gaming System Focus of Probe Into Baby's Death

wral.com - Posted: Today at 6:10 p.m.

http://i21.tinypic.com/iqkglf.gif » Gaming System Focus of Probe Into Baby's Death

Spring Lake — The focus of the investigation into the death of an 11-month-old girl has shifted to a video-game system owned by the baby's mother, who is accused of killing her. — continued: »

Excerpt: As part of their investigation, authorities seized an Xbox video-game system from Heuser's home, and they were examining her playing habits to develop possible leads in the case.

"It can be utilized to connect with the Internet, so you can talk with other people, play games with other people, that sort of thing," Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said.

In an e-mail to WRAL, a woman who claims to live near the family said she recognized Heuser's game character on her computer.

She said Heuser was online as late as last Thursday to participate in a role-playing game.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1965230/

odette

10-26-2007, 06:29 AM

Mom's lifestyle part of mystery

fayobserver.com - Nancy McCleary - October 26, 2007

LILLINGTON — Harnett County lawmen are trying to construct a picture of how Johni Michelle Heuser was living in recent months as part of understanding how her youngest child died.

That includes a look at Heuser’s video-game habit. Investigators seized an Xbox 360 game system from her home.

Sheriff’s Maj. Gary McNeill said lawmen don’t know how the game system — and the time she might have been spending with it — fits into the investigation.

“We’re not sure what the relationship is,” he said. — continued: »

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=276025

RaVeN71806

11-14-2007, 10:55 AM

This is so sad my hearts broken for this little one and her dad..:rose:
have they heard anymore about the cause of death..

LatrobeGirl

11-14-2007, 11:30 AM

One of the articles says her other 3 children are in foster care....FOUR KIDS BY AGE TWENTY-FIVE? And unmarried....and inmature (JMOO- playing video games)...and good at lying (up to a point).

What about these other 3 kids? Who were their fathers? What kind of condition were they in? Is it possible this baby starved or was neglected to death? (Just thinking about those internet gamers who were charged with neglect after their kids were found living in filth and starving....although they had plenty of electronic equipment, they had little to no food....) Could this be a similar situation?

What a shame....poor Harmony.

LatrobeGirl

11-14-2007, 11:43 AM

Whoa....has anyone checked out her myspace? The link is above right underneath the big picture of her posing....

Her background says "Angel of Darkness", a picture of a blood-spatted grim-reaper with an angelic face (I tried to post the pic in here but can't)....and she has a big graphic that says "50% Angel, 50% Devil".....

I'd say 100% devil is more accurate....

And she has a graphic that says "I'm the girl that your mom warned you about". No kidding.

I notice that no one has left her a comment since mid-September. Alot of times, after an arrest, supporters of someone will leave messages on the myspace. No comments.....no supporters (other than family)?

No wonder.

KTScarlettOkity

11-14-2007, 01:07 PM

Just a side comment regarding gaming. I just turned 40 this year and have been a player of MMORPG's for many MANY years. I have a more than full time job, volunteer at my church, have a husband (no kids though other than 2 beloved cats) and still manage to get in a fair amount of game time every week.

I'm not saying that woman didn't neglect her children. Clearly she is a sorry excuse for a mother doing what she did. But I am saying that there are indeed many mature and older online gamers who play but don't have their real life adversely effected. As with every hobby, there are responsible ways and irresponsible ways to to approach them. And clearly this woman is the poster child of irresponsibility.

RaVeN71806

11-14-2007, 08:50 PM

RaVeN71806

11-14-2007, 08:55 PM

I wonder if all the people on her myspace friends know she killed her child..I was reading the comments people left and I was just wondering that..

MamaMari

11-14-2007, 10:38 PM

odette

11-16-2007, 06:02 AM

Has anyone heard any new news about this case?
I have been looking for infor everyday since she was charged in the murder and have been unsuccesful in finding any media information. It's frustrating. :confused:

I've been looking for info too MamaMari. It appears that LE are still waiting to learn the cause of death.

Authorities await word on infant's cause of death

fayobserver.com - November 02, 2007

LILLINGTON — Lawmen are still waiting to learn how Harmony Jade Creech died, a Harnett County deputy said Thursday.

“It could be months,” said Maj. Gary McNeill of the Sheriff’s Office. “It usually takes three months to get a final report in a normal situation, and this is not a normal situation.” .....

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=276553