UPDATE (Feb. 8, 2024): Matthew Harrison was taken into custody after he was located in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Harrison was found in a hotel and taken into custody after a brief stand-off with police. Arrangements are being made for Harrison to be transported back to Lancaster County where he will be arraigned. The NLCRPD would like to thank all the stakeholders and associated partners who contributed to the investigation and assisted in the capture of Harrison. Further details will be released at a later time. 

Initial release (Feb. 7, 2024): The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office approved charges Wednesday of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, strangulation, and two counts of aggravated indecent assault against suspect Matthew Harrison, who remains wanted.

Harrison is described as a 48-year-old, light-skinned black male, approximately 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, with hazel eyes. Harrison is believed to be driving a black, 2017 K1500, four-door, Chevy Silverado pick-up truck bearing a Pennsylvania license plate ZND7298.

Harrison is believed to have ties to areas in both Lancaster and York Counties. He is considered to be a dangerous person and wanted for questioning by the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department (NLCRPD). Anyone who sees Harrison or his vehicle should call 911 immediately.

On Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at approximately 4:14 p.m., the NLCRPD was dispatched to a residence in the 2200 block of E. Mount Hope Road, Manheim, Pennsylvania, within Penn Township in response to a 911 call from an 11-year-old juvenile that found the victim, identified as 49-year-old Jami Harrison, deceased.

The juvenile told the dispatcher the suspect was "really mean and hurts" the victim.

Responding officers found the victim lying deceased in her bed with red marks on her neck and possible bruising on her forehead. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office ruled the manner of death homicide with the cause being death by asphyxia due to strangulation. The autopsy also showed signs of sexual assault to the victim's body.

Further information collected by officers showed:

-The suspect had been staying at a Manheim hotel, which he had checked out of on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, and was gone by 1:40 p.m.

-A forensic search on the victim's phone Feb. 7, 2024, showed text messages on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4, 2024, of the suspect insulting the victim and mentioning he needed to grab things from the home in the 2200 block of E. Mount Hope Road on Feb. 5, 2024.

-Text messages extracted from the suspect's phone  on Feb.7, 2024, include him telling a coworker "I won't be back" and "the demon in me broke free" and a family member "I've been having murder on my brain" on Feb. 5, 2024.

Anyone with further information is asked to call NLCRPD at (717)733-0965 or Lancaster County Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-1913.   You may also submit a tip through CrimeWatch via the "Submit a Tip" feature.  Tipsters may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names.

The NLCRPD and District Attorney's Office continue investigating the case. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will be provided when appropriate.

Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department Officer Matthew Hinkle filed charges which were approved by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.