Trial set for the 1982 murder of young teen girl.

[Tonja]

This will be a very interesting trial. What is not being written for the public's viewing is that our Carson City Sheriff's brother, Steve Furlong, was the boyfriend and committed suicide right after the murder of Ms. Harris. I have been told by a very reliable source that Mr. Steve Furlong was into drugs and had a violent temper towards another ex-girl friend of his.

For some of you who may know of me, then you know that I have a personal interest that all the evidence be presented. I strongly believe that a defendant is entitled to receive a FAIR TRIAL.

Although the story indicates that the DNA test results show the blood belonged to Mr. Mitchell, the defense has not had the opportunity to have it tested themselves. The evidence has been held in Washoe County, and for that reason alone, I have to question it. I do know for a fact, that there has been evidence that has been stored within the Washoe County evidence room that has been tampered with on several occasions.


Nevada Appeal story:

A monthlong murder trial has been set for April in the 1982 killing of a Douglas County teen.

David Winfield Mitchell, 61, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of open murder Monday in Carson City District Court.

The trial is expected to take four weeks, with jury selection beginning April 3.

Mitchell, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, was arrested Aug. 18 by international police on the Caribbean island, after DNA testing of evidence found on Sheila Jo Harris' body and clothing allegedly matched samples of saliva and blood obtained from Mitchell by warrant in the 1980s.

On Jan. 6, 1982, Harris, 18, was found slain in the bedroom of her Lompa Street apartment.

An autopsy revealed that Harris had been sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled.

Harris' former boyfriend and Mitchell were both suspects in the 1982 murder, but investigators were unable to find physical evidence linking them to the crime.

Mitchell was arrested in the 1980s, but the charges were later dismissed with a right to refile because of a lack of evidence.

Mitchell denies having any contact with Harris outside of asking her if she wanted her name on her door when she moved in, according to court records.

Newly appointed District Judge Todd Russell will hear the case and newly elected District Attorney Neil Rombardo will be in charge of the prosecution.

Rombardo said he has reviewed Mitchell's file and has been in contact with current District Attorney Noel Waters about the case.