Prosecution rests in trial of man accused of killing daughters in ritual gone wrong

Prosecution Rests in Harris Trial

Thursday a state DNA expert testified samples from Larry Harris‘ fingers, chest and shoes provided links to Kendra and Alysha Suing.

Harris is facing murder charges for the January, 2008 deaths of the young Suing sisters.

While several points provided DNA links between Harris and the girls, some provided an especially good match.
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While she found the girls’ blood on samples from Harris, there was no DNA evidence of a sexual assault on either girl.

Police testified they took black and white candles from Harris’ home last January, along with bells, a necklace, and several books on Witchcraft.

The knife Police found in a master bedroom closet tested positive for Alysha Suing’s blood and Larry Harris’ fingerprints.

The Prosecution called an Associate State Medical Examiner who said the girls were likely strangled between three and 10 minutes before dying, and added Alysha’s neck broke during the alleged attack. “This is something that is commonly seen in the case of strangulation,” testified Dr. Michelle Catallier. She said both girls died from being strangled, not because of the fire that broke out in the home the same evening.
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The state’s final witness was a Des Moines Detective who searched the contents of a computer taken from Harris’ home. The Detective said someone used the computer to look up a web site on serial killer Ted Bundy the day the girls died.

The Defense will begin its portion of the trial Friday.

Harris on deaths: I didn’t do this on purpose

SIOUX CITY — Jurors watched video today in Woodbury County District Court of Lawrence Douglas Harris Sr. denying to his then-wife that he killed his two stepdaughters while casting a spell in the basement of their Nebraska Street home.

“I didn’t do this on purpose,” said Harris, dressed in a white paper jumpsuit and slumped over in a chair. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Police say the 26-year-old Sioux City man stabbed and strangled his stepdaughters, Kendra Suing, 10, and Alysha Suing, 8, in their home on Jan. 6, 2008 and then set a fire in the basement. Harris has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.

Harris raised his voice, pointed at the light gray interview room wall, cried and rubbed his face and hair while talking to Marla Stroman in the 38 minute conversation videotaped at Sioux City Police headquarters.
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Harris told Stroman that he was casting a spell in the basement to get her 13-year-old son “straightened back out.” He said the spell must have reversed, resulting in the girls’ deaths.
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