Napa Valley hit man learns his destiny for killing CHP lover’s husband

A Napa Valley man convicted in a chilling murder-for-hire scheme together with his lover has been sentenced to life behind bars.

A Kentucky choose on Wednesday slapped Thomas O’Donnell with a life sentence for the 2022 killing of Michael Harding, whose estranged spouse — former California Freeway Patrol captain Julie Harding — was accused of recruiting O’Donnell to hold out the homicide.

The sentence comes weeks after a Cumberland County jury discovered O’Donnell responsible of homicide after he lured Harding to a vacant house in Burkesville, Kentucky, beneath the guise of an HVAC service name earlier than fatally taking pictures him.

In the course of the sentencing listening to, Cumberland County Circuit Choose David Williams made clear he seen the crime as one of many worst he had encountered in a long time on the bench.

“I practiced regulation for 45 years. This is without doubt one of the most cold-blooded, heinous acts I’ve ever seen anyone commit,” Williams mentioned.

The choose mentioned he was significantly moved by statements from Harding’s kin describing the devastating impression of the killing.

In line with prosecutors, the homicide was the end result of a plot hatched amid the Hardings’ contentious divorce proceedings. Investigators alleged that Julie Harding, who was romantically concerned with O’Donnell, organized for him to kill her estranged husband in September 2022.

Proof introduced throughout trial included cellphone data, DNA proof and textual content messages that prosecutors mentioned confirmed how Michael Harding was lured to an remoted property on Glasgow Highway in Burkesville.

As beforehand reported, jurors heard testimony that Harding exchanged messages with a pay as you go telephone shortly earlier than arriving on the property.

“At 4:10 p.m., Michael Harding texts the pay as you go telephone, ‘35 minutes out,’” FBI Particular Agent Elizabeth Wheeler testified throughout the trial.

The reply learn: “No worries.”

When Harding requested, “Is that good for you?” the response was, “Sure.”

“See ya quickly,” Harding texted moments later.

“Good,” got here the ultimate response.

Prosecutors argued the pay as you go telephone traveled alongside O’Donnell’s private cellphone on a number of journeys between California and Tennessee and finally positioned him close to the Kentucky crime scene on the day of the killing.

Protection attorneys maintained there was no direct proof O’Donnell was the shooter and recommended one other unidentified particular person could have carried out the slaying. Jurors rejected that argument after deliberating for roughly two hours earlier than convicting him.

Choose Williams additionally criticized O’Donnell for refusing to acknowledge duty.

“Perhaps you’ll have time to just accept your actions,” Choose Williams mentioned. “I’m gonna sentence you to life in jail, and I’ll simply inform you that I believe that’s most deserved.”

The choose went even additional, saying he wouldn’t have been stunned if O’Donnell had acquired a loss of life sentence had the case been eligible for capital punishment.

Julie Harding by no means confronted trial. She was arrested in December 2022, however died by suicide two days later because the investigation unfolded.

O’Donnell, 64, is anticipated to enchantment each his conviction and sentence, in line with court docket proceedings.

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