Monica Thomas-Harris, 37

Monica Thomas-Harris, a 37-year-old black woman, was shot to death by her husband, Curtis "Keno" Harris, in a murder-suicide in Whittier on Saturday, Jan. 5. Police officers were sent to the Whittier Inn Motel at 11435 Whittier Blvd. at about 11:20 a.m. after employees reported seeing blood through the window of a room in the second floor. Thomas-Harris, a former West Covina resident, had been reported missing on Thursday, Jan. 3, by relatives.  Whittier Daily News report.

More details in the Los Angeles Times from reporter Andrew Blankstein.

Comments

[Yolanda]

I met Keno Harris in 2005. At the time he told me he was estranged from his wife. We continued a friendship until the summer of 2006 when he said he and his wife we're going to reconcile and asked me to step aside. I agreed to do so, as he claimed to love her and want to make it work. This past summer he showed up at my place of employment out of the blue looking for me, claiming that he and his wife we're broken up. Over the past few months we have been in communication. It's scary to me that I saw him November 14th, he was happy, laughing, smiling, talking about his son, only to terrorize and assualt his wife 2 days later. I never would have guessed he was this person. On Dec. 22, Keno called me and told me he was going to prison for six years, he never mentioned the 16 month sentence. He said he had a gun charge and wouldn't explain what happened. He asked that I not feel bad for him or cry for him. He asked to see me. It made me nervous not knowing what he was going to jail for, so I lied and told him my kids we're home for the weekend. What ever it was, I didn't want to be involved in it. He sent me text messages for the holidays. I never in a million years would have guessed he would have done something this horrible. He never said one bad thing about his wife. I just always assumed they'd find their way eventually. The pictures on the internet look as if she was a beautiful person full of life. It frightens me to know that once he was out of jail, after doing what he did to his own childs mother, he wanted to see me. I don't know what his mind set was. I thank God that I didn't agree to see him. My prayers will remain with the family.

[Lou]

This man was a coward. No other way to describe his behavior. A coward and a bully. He made his decision to kill and not face responsibility for his actions. Suicide is the Cowards way out.

[Lashia]

Ha! wow the cousin wants to write he was a loving person... well if he was so loving why in the world did he shoot her? it doesnt make since. they should have laft his behind in jail!!! he had no right to be set free. you dont kiddnap your wife..how insane what about her kids his kid hmm he didnt think about that now did he?? hmm "loving" really?

[Sara Catania]

As we await full disclosure of the prosecutorial bungling that led to the January 4 slaying of Monica Thomas-Harris in Los Angeles by her estranged husband, we have this to mull: the deep—and largely ignored-- tensions between law-and-order approach to domestic violence and the African American community.

Read more here: http://seehowweare.blogstream.com/v1/pid/281738_Do-not-forget-Monica-Thomas-Harris.html#TP

[K.Winn]

No matter how you try to spin this Gabe the bottom line is the JUDGE released him..she's the most responsible next to the killer himself. Wonder if you'd be this understanding if that was your relative that was killed like Ms. Harris..doubt it very seriously...workloads are never an excuse!!!

[Lisa M.]

How very chilling to read this story. In 2001 I was faced with a very similar incident. My estranged husband was released from jail after promising the judge he would stay away from my children and I. I cried, begged and pleaded with the judge. This man told me he would kill me and I believed him. Just 7 days later, he was killed in a standoff with police in my home, but not before stabbing my 11 year old son 4 times and setting my house on fire with him and my son inside.
The judges and prosecutors need to take the threats of these men very seriously. Fortunately the lives of myself and my children were saved but it's not so for many others. My prayers to Monica's family.

[Much2much41]

I can't believe that anyone would come to the defense of a man that hunted down, kidnapped, and killed a woman who was the mother of two children. Who cares what the media leaves out? He was a trifling FELON even before she did him the favor of marrying him. Instead of being grateful for having such a beautiful woman, he has the AUDACITY to take her life. I hope she rests in peace, but they can't make hell hot enough for him as far as I'm concerned. I hope he's deep fried throughout eternity.

[Observer]

My advice to women in this situation: get a handgun permit and arm yourself. Plain and simple. You have one life to live. You cant depend on the justice system to protect you.

When the system fails, this is the kind of tragedy that can happen. And then what will "they" say? "Sorry"? Sorry wont bring you back, and sorry wont ease the pain of your children and loved ones you'll leave behind. I am a Christian, but I believe in protecting yourself if your life is under threat. Don't be a victim. Don't allow yourself to become a story like this on the evening news. Peace.

[eh]

Yeah, that Curtis -- such a great guy. Except for that part about terrorizing and killing his wife. But I guess everyone has their faults, right?

[Leticia Watts]

This comment is in response to the family member of Curtis Harris. I really can't believe you have the nerve to be critical about the media's characterization of your cousin. I'm not trying to be mean, but he is a kidnapping monster. It's evident in the outcome, in fact he is a murderous, kidnapping monster! You can still love and miss him but don't ever make the mistake of forgetting there was a side of him that was not so "loving and mellow" as you say. He sure wasn't loving when he kidnapped his wife not once but twice nor was he mellow when he took her life in that motel room. As for your saying the charges were reduced...please technicalities exist all through the legal system that may change the charge but the fact that it happened still exist. He should have been locked up and maybe he could have gotten some psychological help which he obiviously needed, not time to cool off as you seem to think.

[family]

The media has a way of only reporting certain infomation and I think it is sad. Curtis was my cousin and he was a mellow and loving person. What the media is not telling this those kidnapping charges had been reduced due to some false information and Curtis sentence had also been reduced for the gun charge. I do not agree with the way he handled the situation. This has torn our family apart. I will never speak badly of Monica because her life was taken away from her. Her family is in our prayers and most of all her children. Yes, I agree the judge should not have let Curtis out of jail. Not because he was a kidnapping monster, only because he would have served those few months for the gun charge and got out. Maybe then he would have calmed down about the way he got there in the first place and been able to make a better decision. To the media, I know it sounds good in your headlines but if you are going to report the story please report the entire truth.
R.I.P Monica and Curtis

[coworker]

I worked with Monica and she was a wonderful woman and mother. I am deeply saddened by our court system and this judge. Who are they to protect? This monster kidnapped her twice before and would stalk her at our workplace. He needed time off to get his affairs in order, I just don't understand such injustice. If he is kidnapping anyone he obviously doesn't care about his "property" or elderly mother. Such an injustice, may she rest in peace and him go with all the horrible people of the world

[Prayer Partner]

I have to agree Praying Man. How can we ask abused women to report their attackers if the very people in charge are not going to do their parts on keeping them safe. Monica did everything that she was supposed to do and now what? Had she taken matters into her own hands, then they would have profiled her on the television show "Snapped!" I wonder if the judge has been sleeping nights since this happened?

[Gabe]

As I understand it, the deputy DA who had this case and knew it best did not participate in the OR release of this suspect. Instead someone else handled it and agreed with the defense attorney to the OR bond. This was presented to Judge Fisher as an agreed release. In a perfect world, Judge Fisher would know each case on her docket so well that she might look at the lawyers and say what the hell is this. But we're not living in the perfect world. You live in Los Angeles County, with the biggest court system in the world. Nobody told Judge Fisher that the assigned DA wasn't involved in this arrangement. They told her this was the agreement. If she looked behind every single deal every day, the county's business wouldn't get done. The DA's office screwed up because it's choking on its caseload as well. From time to time these mistakes are going to happen, as unacceptable as they are. Hopefully this will cause the DA's office to develop a better protocol so it doesn't agree to releases in situations like this again.

You can stop attacking Judge Fisher because she bears the least of the responsibility.

[ruben]

Read about this... that Judge and Court should be held responsible for this...poor lady...this could ve been prevented, our justice system is becoming a joke.

[Praying Man]

Lord, please have mercy on this woman's children.

Of all the senseless brutality that I am aware of, especially because I regularly read HR, the article attached to this incident is by far the most troubling that I have ever read.
How in the world could a so called "judge" ever release a serial abuser who, on more than one occasion, kidnapped and abused the very person who he was going to prison because of? Who he then murdered before taking his own miserable life. Judge Tia Fisher of the Pomona Court should be unseated from the bench, if not disbarred for her deadly judgment that led directly to the murder of this terrorized young mother.

Judge Tia Fisher, please just do the honorable thing and resign from the bench. At any rate, may God help us all, especially the children of Monica Thomas-Harris.

[K.Winn]

What a shame; the system failed this woman and her family. This animal should have never been free to attack her again. Obviously there is a lack of communication and this resulted in the death of this woman and the grief of a family. Some heads should roll so this woman's death will not be in vain and before another battered woman is done the same way. Shame on the judicial system in California!!

[James]

I use to work with Curtis over at Pactiv. This is very hard to understand. I wish he didn't make this horrible choice. This judge who released him must bear responsibility. Curtis was nice and mellow. Everyone at Pactiv liked him. I wish the judge would have exercised more competence in his decision.I'm sorry this happenned. R.I.P Curtis And Monica.