2008 Woodie Awards
Architect arrested in murder case
Fionnola C. Villamejor
Date created: 1/31/05 Section: NEWS
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From the time he was named prime suspect until the time of his arrest, authorities needed a solid link to connect the accused directly with the disappearance of Harms in order to obtain an arrest warrant.
That link came in the summer of 2003, when an oriental rug that went mysteriously missing from Harms' residence was turned into police, after police used media exposure hoping to discover its location.
The rug was turned into police in April 2003 by San Jose resident Charlotte Massey, according to the arrest affidavit. Massey had found the rug during the summer of 2001, a few weeks after the disappearance of Harms.
Massey found the rug as it lay at a dumpster, about a half-mile from Nasmeh's home in San Jose. The dumpster was situated behind a shopping center which was under construction due to remodeling at the time.
Extensive forensic tests done on the rug recently link Maurice Nasmeh to Jeanine Harms, according to the official arrest affidavit, "the rug found a half mile from Nasmeh's residence is linked to both Jeanine Harms and Nasmeh.
This development in the case was enough evidence for authorities to arrest and formally charge Maurice Nasmeh with felony murder.
"We never arrest anyone for homicide that we're not absolutely sure is the right one," according to lead investigator Mike Schembri of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office,
Since the body of Jeanine Harms has not yet been found, police believe there's a risk for destruction of evidence, should Nasmeh be let out on bail. He remains in jail on a no bail warrant. His next appearance in court is scheduled for February 18.
That link came in the summer of 2003, when an oriental rug that went mysteriously missing from Harms' residence was turned into police, after police used media exposure hoping to discover its location.
The rug was turned into police in April 2003 by San Jose resident Charlotte Massey, according to the arrest affidavit. Massey had found the rug during the summer of 2001, a few weeks after the disappearance of Harms.
Massey found the rug as it lay at a dumpster, about a half-mile from Nasmeh's home in San Jose. The dumpster was situated behind a shopping center which was under construction due to remodeling at the time.
Extensive forensic tests done on the rug recently link Maurice Nasmeh to Jeanine Harms, according to the official arrest affidavit, "the rug found a half mile from Nasmeh's residence is linked to both Jeanine Harms and Nasmeh.
This development in the case was enough evidence for authorities to arrest and formally charge Maurice Nasmeh with felony murder.
"We never arrest anyone for homicide that we're not absolutely sure is the right one," according to lead investigator Mike Schembri of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office,
Since the body of Jeanine Harms has not yet been found, police believe there's a risk for destruction of evidence, should Nasmeh be let out on bail. He remains in jail on a no bail warrant. His next appearance in court is scheduled for February 18.
