DNA test fails to show link between man, Harps killing

Forensic testing has failed to provide any connection between evidence gathered from the scene of Shannon Harps' slaying on New Year's Eve and a man who caught the interest of Seattle police detectives investigating the case.

Even as police admitted the case remains wide open with no suspects in hand, they also announced extra patrols, particularly in the East Precinct, which includes the Capitol Hill neighborhood where Harps, 31, was stabbed repeatedly outside her condominium.

After her slaying, police issued a sketch of a bearded man witnesses saw running from the scene.

As tips poured into the department in the days following, one tipster alerted them to a 29-year-old man with a violent criminal past who resembled the sketch.

The man was detained Jan. 5 by the Department of Corrections for violating conditions of his community supervision and has been in custody since then.

But on Wednesday, the Police Department issued a statement saying, "The forensic testing and investigative efforts completed to date have not provided sufficient information for an arrest."

Sources familiar with the case said the man's DNA simply did not match what was found on evidence collected from the crime scene.

Officially, the department has not acknowledged that any evidence was collected from the area around Harps' killing and on Wednesday continued that silence, with Sgt. Deanna Nollette saying she could not comment on evidence that is part of an ongoing investigation.

Nollette also said the department continues to hope that a tip from the public will help break what has proved to be a difficult case for detectives.

"The number of tips we are getting has fallen off considerably," she said. "The media's focus on the person of interest in custody on another matter has diverted the public's attention from assisting the department in solving this case."

Detectives were interested in this particular ex-convict, whose criminal history included several assaults against women and at least one incident in which he attacked a bouncer with a knife.

But just as officials would never publicly acknowledge that the man was a person of interest, they remained equally circumspect on Wednesday, refusing to say whether the tests absolutely rule him out.

"We haven't eliminated anyone as a person of interest," spokesman Mark Jamieson said.

The man is expected to have a hearing Thursday before Corrections Department hearing officers regarding his violation. He could be released after that hearing, with new conditions set on the terms of his supervision.

Police said the investigation remains active with several leads for detectives to follow.

"The key to this is out there," Nollette said. "Somebody might have heard a comment, seen something suspicious, had contact with somebody who they feel has useful information and we need them to share that with us. We're in no way at a dead end, but we want this to be in the forefront of people's minds."

HOW TO HELP

Tips in the Shannon Harps case can be called in to the tip line at the Seattle police homicide unit at 206-233-5000.