Ralph Harris

Case overview

Ralph Harris was found guilty by a jury on March 3, 1999, for the August 17, 1992 slaying of a Chatham community resident. Harris was sentenced to death on March 26, and the sentence was later commuted to life in prison following a Prisoner Review Board State of Illinois response in opposition to a petition of executive clemency.

In addition to the death penalty, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Porter sentenced Harris to 60 years in prison for trying to kill Patterson's brother and another 15 years in prison for robbing both men. Authorities believed Harris allegedly committed four murders in 1992.

Harris was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison for an armed robbery in 1991 and was later paroled from prison on Jan. 20, 1995. A month later he started raping and robbing women at gunpoint. Harris was also charged with killing two men in 1995. Most of the victims Harris allegedly murdered were older men. Police said Harris robbed, raped, and murdered to feed a drug habit.

In total, Harris was charged with six murders, 13 armed robberies, and six sexual assaults. When he was charged, some Chicago police detectives noted that Harris, who at the time of his arrest was 23, did not fit the usual mold of a serial killer because he had been raised in a stable home with good parents.

Timeline

• July 21, 1992 — Harris terrorized the Chatham community in the southeast side of Chicago during armed or attempt armed robberies.
• August 16, 1995 — The last attack occurred just over six months after Harris was released on January 22, 1995.
• August 17, 1992 — A Chatham community resident was slain (the basis for the March 3, 1999 guilty verdict).
• August 24, 1992 — Harris pled guilty to two armed robberies and was sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
• January 20, 1995 — Harris was paroled from prison.
• January 22, 1995 — Harris was released from the Illinois Department of Corrections.
• February 14, 1995 — Harris attacked his first victims after release.
• March 3, 1999 — A jury found Ralph Harris guilty of first degree murder and attempt armed robbery of William Patterson and attempt first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm of James Patterson.
• March 24, 1999 — Judge Dennis Porter sentenced Harris to the death penalty.
• March 26, 1999 — Harris was sentenced to death.
• August 29, 1995 — After Harris was arrested, he was charged with twenty felony cases.
• April 7, 2000 — In case number 95CR-27600, a jury convicted Harris of armed robbery and multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault of Rhonda Thompson.
• May 10, 2000 — Judge Dennis Porter sentenced Harris to a total of one hundred twenty years.
• September 22, 1999 — In case number 95CR-27595, Judge Porter convicted Harris of first degree murder and attempt armed robbery of David Ford.
• October 25, 1999 — Judge Porter sentenced Harris to the death penalty.
• October 24, 1999 — Harris was sentenced to death.

The offence

Over a three year period from July 21, 1992 to August 16, 1995, Ralph Harris terrorized the Chatham community in the southeast side of Chicago.

During armed or attempt armed robberies in nine different attacks, Harris fired twenty-eight shots into the bodies of eleven men, killing six and injuring five. Many who survived were critically injured.

He sexually assaulted six women at gunpoint and robbed another nine victims at gunpoint.

The defendant was described as a serial killer, a serial rapist, and a serial armed robber. The victims included men and women, both young and old. The victims included teachers, business people, laborers, counselors, custodians, cosmetologists, housewives, real estate brokers, administrative assistants, speech pathologists, and retirees. The victims were said to have been randomly targeted while going about their lives.

A violent and deadly crime spree extended over three years. Harris was incarcerated from August 24, 1992 to January 22, 1995 in the Illinois Department of Corrections for two additional armed robberies for which he was convicted. Harris was incarcerated for approximately twenty-nine of the thirty-seven month period.

During the period when he was incarcerated and later on bond for the armed robberies, Harris shot Danny Smith seven times, shot Thomas Hodges one time killing him, shot Jimmie Bramlett two times killing him, shot Willie Williams two times, shot David Ford five times killing him, shot William Patterson two times killing him, and shot James Patterson one time. The defendant killed David Ford and William Patterson and shot James Patterson on the same day. All the shootings occurred during armed or attempt armed robberies.

After being released from the Illinois Department of Corrections on January 22, 1995, Harris resumed attacks less than one month later on February 14, 1995. The last attack occurred just over six months later on August 16, 1995.

From February 14, 1995 to August 16, 1995, Harris shot Eric Watkins two times killing him, shot James Henry four times, shot James Williamson one time killing him, and shot James Brown one time, during armed or attempt armed robberies. During this six month period, the crimes included sexual assaults in connection with the robberies.

Harris’ sexual assaults included anally assaulting Marilyn Edwards, forcing Bettye Webber to perform oral sex and vaginally assaulting her, attempting to anally penetrate Joan Porche, forcing Rhonda Thompson to perform oral sex and anally and vaginally assaulting her, vaginally assaulting Rita Jackson, and vaginally assaulting Deyonous Moore. All these sexual assaults occurred during armed robberies.

In addition to killing two victims, shooting two others, and sexually assaulting seven more victims during this six month period, Harris robbed nine victims at gunpoint.

Investigation

When Harris was charged, some Chicago police detectives noted that Harris at the time of his arrest was 23 and did not fit the usual mold of a serial killer because he had been raised in a stable home with good parents.

Evidence from most of the twenty charged cases was used in the trials or in aggravation during the sentencing hearings. Virtually every type of evidence was introduced against Harris, including eyewitness identification, DNA evidence, ballistics evidence, fingerprint evidence, and Harris’ confessions.

Arrest and charges

After Ralph Harris was arrested on August 29, 1995, he was charged with twenty felony cases.

Harris was charged across the following cases:

• Case 95CR-27598 — First degree murder and attempt armed robbery of William Patterson and attempt first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm of James Patterson.
• Case number 95CR-27595 — First degree murder and attempt armed robbery of David Ford.
• Case number 95CR-27600 — Armed robbery and multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault of Rhonda Thompson.

At the time the charges were presented in total, Harris was charged with six murders, 13 armed robberies, and six sexual assaults.

Trial

Case 95CR-27598

In case 95CR-27598, Harris was convicted by a jury of first degree murder and attempt armed robbery of William Patterson and attempt first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm of James Patterson on March 3, 1999.

Sentencing in case 95CR-27598

On March 24, 1999, Judge Dennis Porter sentenced Harris to the death penalty. Harris received a death sentence on March 26.

In addition to the death penalty, Judge Dennis Porter sentenced Harris to 60 years in prison for trying to kill Patterson's brother and another 15 years in prison for robbing both men.

Case 95CR-27595

In case number 95CR-27595, Harris was convicted by Judge Porter of first degree murder and attempt armed robbery of David Ford on September 22, 1999.

Judge Porter sentenced Harris to the death penalty on October 25, and Harris was sentenced to death on October 24, 1999.

Case number 95CR-27600

In case number 95CR-27600, Harris was convicted by a jury of armed robbery and multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault of Rhonda Thompson on April 7, 2000.

Sentencing in case number 95CR-27600

On May 10, 2000, Judge Porter sentenced Harris to a total of one hundred twenty years.

During the sentencing hearings, Judge Porter also heard about Harris’ other criminal acts.

Sentencing

Judge Dennis Porter sentenced Harris to death in connection with convictions tied to William Patterson on March 26, 1999 and to David Ford on October 24, 1999.

Judge Porter also sentenced Harris to 60 years in prison for trying to kill Patterson's brother and to 15 years in prison for robbing both men.

Judge Porter sentenced Harris to a total of one hundred twenty years in connection with the convictions that included aggravated criminal sexual assault of Rhonda Thompson.

The remaining seventeen cases were dismissed by the People of the State of Illinois, given the two death penalty sentences, the one hundred twenty year sentence, and the testimony of the victims in aggravation.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Ralph Harris was sentenced to death on March 26 and October 24, 1999. The death penalty was commuted to life in prison.

A Prisoner Review Board State of Illinois response in opposition to a petition of executive clemency was included in the commutation outcome.

Aftermath

Many of Harris’ victims and/or their families attended Harris’ trials and/or sentencing hearings.

Victim impact statements of James Patterson, William Patterson’s brother, Naomi Michael Clark, David Ford’s mother, and Akira Ford, David Ford’s daughter, were presented in each respective sentencing hearing.

Other details

Prior criminal history and juvenile acts

In 1989 as a juvenile, Harris stabbed a passenger who was riding on the Chicago Transit Authority train in the neck with a screwdriver and took his jacket. Harris was found delinquent of robbery and aggravated robbery and sentenced to one year probation.

In 1990, police found Harris in possession of a fully loaded twenty-two caliber H & R handgun.

In 1991, Harris committed two armed robberies with a handgun, victimizing a former sergeant with the Chicago Police Department and a woman with her grandchildren.

On August 24, 1992, Harris pled guilty to both armed robberies and was sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Parole and further attacks

Harris was paroled from prison on Jan. 20, 1995.

Prison incarceration span

Victims named in shootings and assaults

Harris shot and/or killed the following individuals during armed or attempt armed robberies: Danny Smith, Thomas Hodges, Jimmie Bramlett, Willie Williams, David Ford, William Patterson, James Patterson, Eric Watkins, James Henry, James Williamson, and James Brown.

Harris sexually assaulted at gunpoint the following women: Marilyn Edwards, Bettye Webber, Joan Porche, Rhonda Thompson, Rita Jackson, and Deyonous Moore.

Harris was linked to victims of attempted or charged offenses including William Patterson, James Patterson, and Rhonda Thompson, with additional named victims including David Ford.

Confessions and evidence

The evidence introduced against Harris included eyewitness identification, DNA evidence, ballistics evidence, fingerprint evidence, and Harris’ confessions.