Suspect arrested in murder of model
A suspect has been arrested in the strangulation murder of a former Playboy model in her Ardmore condo, authorities said Wednesday.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael J. McGrath held a late afternoon press conference to announce the arrest of Jonathan Wesley Harris, 30, of Johnstown, for the murder of Christina CarlinKraft.
Harris, 30, was arrested by federal marshals as he got off a bus in Pittsburgh. He fled to western Pennsylvania from Philadelphia after authorities released surveillance images of Harris and labeled him a “person of interest” in the case.
Harris is charged with first-, secondand third-degree murder, robbery and theft in the Aug. 22 slaying of the 36-year-old former Playboy
model. Officials say Carlin-Kraft took a ride-hailing service to Philadelphia, met Harris and the two later returned to her Main Line apartment. A tipster provided his name after surveillance images were released.
Authorities say Carlin Kraft was beaten and strangled in her bedroom.
Police said Harris is the person seen in video surveillance release earlier in the week. They also indicated he sent text messages to a friend saying he had been with Carlin-Kraft the night she died.
The arrest came less than a week after police found former the Playboy model dead in her condo on the 100 block of Sibley Avenue in Ardmore. She also had done photo shoots with Vanity Fair, Victoria’s Secret, and Maxim.
It was determined Carlin Kraft died of ligature strangulation, meaning someone may have used a cord of some kind to strangle the victim. The death was ruled a homicide.
The surveillance video depicts a man who had contact with the victim during the early hours of Wednesday, Aug. 22, according to police.
Police said the contact occurred at South Broad and
Locust streets, and the surrounding blocks in Philadelphia. A short time later, the Harris and Carlin-Kraft entered a vehicle.
According to police, by 3 a.m. both entered Carlin Kraft’s apartment building. Police said, records indicate that the front door of the apartment opened at 3:08 a.m. and the back door leading to an outdoor terrace was closed at 5:19 a.m. This is when, police allege, a violent struggle occurred inside Carlin-Kraft’s apartment where she was her nose was broken, she was beaten and strangled to death.
Carlin-Kraft’s body was located later that evening when police made a wellness check at her residence.
A few days prior to her death, police say she had reported a theft from her condo. According to that report, on Aug. 18, she said she used a Lyft service to go to Center City, Philadelphia. The next day, she noticed items were missing from her home. She reported jewelry and Gucci items such as a purse and belt were among the missing items.
Police continue to hunt for a suspect in the burglary of the items from Carlin-Kraft’s apartment.