Posts on Murder Case...

10:00 PM PDT on Friday, July 17, 2009
Grand Terrace Son pleads not guilty
to killing his father
A man pleaded not guilty Friday in the fatal stabbing of his father outside their Grand Terrace mobile home earlier this week.
Thomas Ryan Harker, 28, faces a murder charge with a special allegation of use of a knife, according to a criminal complaint filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court. He returns to court Tuesday for confirmation of counsel.
His father, Thomas Charles Harker, 63, was found Monday morning behind his home at Grand Royal Mobile Estates. He had been stabbed several dozen times in the neck and chest with a folding knife, which was recovered at the scene, officials have said.
The younger Harker could not initially be located but was arrested Wednesday as he left Arrowhead Regional Medical Center's Behavioral Health Unit.
He remains jailed at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. His bail was set at $1 million.
No motive was released. The suspect had a previous conviction for possession of marijuana for sale, in which a term of his probation was that he cooperate with a psychiatrist, according to court records.
--Paul LaRocco
plarocco@PE.com

Grand Terrace man arrested for father's slaying
By Stacia Glenn
Posted: 07/15/2009 04:09:12 PM PDT

A son of the Grand Terrace man stabbed to death behind his mobile home earlier this week was arrested today outside of a behavioral health unit, authorities said.

Thomas Harker Jr., 28, is being booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of murder. He has not yet been charged.

He is accused of killing his father, 63-year-old Thomas Harker, behind his Grand Royal Estates mobile home on Newport Avenue. A park manager and maintenance man on Monday morning found Harker's body, which suffered several stab wounds to his neck and upper body.

The younger Harker had been living with his father.

Detectives said the father and son argued, but declined to discuss a motive.

Sgt. Frank Montanez said he could not comment on where Harker Jr. has been for the past three days or why he was arrested outside Arrowhead Regional Medical Center's behavioral ward unit.
"It's really a tragedy," he said. "The dad seemed like a really nice guy."

Neighbors said Harker was a quiet, polite man who kept mostly to himself. He was often seen sitting on his front steps, smoking a cigarette and talking on the telephone.

Detectives recovered the murder weapon - a folding knife - at the scene.
This is the bedroom community's first homicide since 1991.