Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Woman takes plea deal


Krystal Harden, the second suspect in a 2006 case in which a Palm Bay man was murdered for about $100 and a car, will be sentenced in May to 40 years in prison.

She interrupted jury selection Monday in favor of taking a plea deal, prosecutors said.

Harden was facing trial on charges of first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon for her participation -- along with her boyfriend, Deo Frazer -- in connection with the Oct. 8, 2006, death of 20-year-old Christopher Wiggs.

But, during jury selection Monday, prosecutors said Harden, 20, agreed to plead guilty instead to a lesser offense of second-degree murder and the original robbery charge.

Harden would have faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted at trial of the first-degree murder, whereas under the second-degree murder charge, the judge has discretion on handing down a sentence of anything up to life. The robbery charge also is punishable by up to life.

Sentencing is set for 8 a.m. May 6 before Circuit Judge Jim Earp at the Moore Justice Center in Viera.

"There's an inherent risk in all jury trials, and we weigh that against the evidence, and 40 years was a fair resolution of this case," prosecutor Susan Garrett said.

According to trial testimony heard earlier this year during Frazer's trial, Harden -- a longtime acquaintance of Wiggs -- lured Wiggs to her apartment at the Oakwood Villas in Palm Bay under the guise of an "early-morning rendezvous."

Frazer, hiding behind the bedroom door with a knife, slashed Wiggs nine times, severing his jugular vein, prosecutors said.

Wiggs' body was found dumped at a West Melbourne subdivision construction site.

Prosecutors said Wiggs, who investigators said was known to carry large amounts of money, also was robbed of his sneakers and jewelry.

Police became suspicious of the couple after Harden's aunt called police to say there was blood in her guest bedroom where her then-17-year-old niece and boyfriend were staying, and that the couple and a comforter -- which matched the one in which Wiggs was found -- were missing.

Meanwhile, upon notification of her son's death, Wiggs' mother reported that the green Nissan Altima she had lent her son was missing.

The couple were arrested after they were discovered with Wiggs' car in Miami.

In her confession to police, Harden admitted to helping plan the robbery, but denied having prior knowledge about the stabbing, Garrett said.

Frazer initially supported Harden's statement, Garrett said. But he recanted when he took the stand, saying Harden already had committed the murder when he returned home, but that he took the rap partly to protect her and partly because a detective allegedly threatened him with the death penalty if he didn't cooperate, attorneys said.

Garrett said there's no evidence Harden -- who denied any prior knowledge of or participation in the stabbing -- wielded the knife, but "she was an active participant in the robbery. Therefore, she is responsible for the death of the individual under the felony murder law."

Frazer, 23, was sentenced last week to two concurrent life sentences following a jury conviction on charges of first-degree murder and robbery.

(Source : www.floridatoday.com)

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

could someone please show a picture of deo frazer i am a concern individual....

Anonymous said...

I am his younger sister. there is no need to worry you "concerned individual" he'd already been locked up for about 3 years before you figured out that there is no picture of him. So there is no need to worry.chances are you will never see his face. Just as I will never get to hug him again.

Anonymous said...

it is just a messed up situation for all families involved

Anonymous said...

Wow this is horrible. I feel for Chris Wiggs family the people who did this deserved to be punished and locked up for life. I went to elementary school with Chris and he was such a good young man. I am thankful they found these scum bags who killed him. They deserve to be in hell.

Anonymous said...

I understand why you would feel like that. He was your friend. But that's my big brother you are talking about. Don't you ever call him a scum bag. And only god can decide wether or not he goes to hell. You are merely human you cannot and will never get to judge him. He took someone's life and that is not acceptable. But he is human also. Just like you and me. So before you judge him and send his soul to hell, you need to understand that he was a good brother and son. And yes I feel for the family of Chris Wiggs. I wish my brother didn't take his life but no one can change that. Not even you oh so mighty judgemental one. He is not scum, he's a human being. A very much flawed human being but a human being all the same.

Anonymous said...

Wow

Anonymous said...

Wow well I know Krystal she deserves the death penalty like her father wydell Evans she is sick and has no remorse yes I unfortunately know her since she was a child and after this horrible time...

Anonymous said...

She don't deserve no death penalty. She and the boy Frazer were wrong... Nobody life deserves to be tooken away from them. But she's not a bad person I know her I use to date her for years... Krystal may be a lot of things but she's not a KILLER...

Anonymous said...

Most of ppl here have lost sight of what's important one is that it's not just one life lost there were 3 Wiggs R.I.P to him and Khrystal and Frazer yes they were wrong and who are we to judge they took a mans life and lost theirs in the process so to All you fake keyboard Gangsters that wouldn't say any of these things to any of theses ppl if given the chance fall back!! This could easily 'be your child just like it could 'be mine .... Not saying I'm pefect but I'll continue to keep C.Wiggs family in my prayers as I will with Frazer my Friends Co-Defendant As with all else God will prevail he always does!!!

Anonymous said...

There is a picture of Deo Frazer in Florida DOC inmate search.

Anonymous said...

They both deserve to die. And his sister is no better. She is probably running around robbing and stealing to support her drug habits and will one day be in prison too because she see's nothing wrong with what her brother has done.

Unknown said...

I Am his daughter and that's my dad and that's so wrong for what they did to my dad I never got to meet him and he gone

Unknown said...

Well he shouldn't have killed Chris you know Chris had a baby on the way and your brother and his girlfriend took his life over $100 Chris was a real good friend of mine and didn't deserve what they did to him!!

Unknown said...

He took Christopher wiggs life at 20 years old for what??? How would you feel if someone murdered your brother for $100

Unknown said...

I miss Chris wiggs and keep his picture up in my room from h.s he did not deserve what those pos did to him and I have nothing but great memories about him and I'm lucky to have had the chance to meet him and had classes at Mel high with him. He was my friend and I'll never forget how much he made me laugh in school. RIH

Anonymous said...

His family lives day by day knowing that he is gone. We can't see him or get letters from him. Your BROTHER IS A SCUM BAG, HIS GIRLFRIEND IS A LOW LIFE. If all you wanted was the money he would have gave you that . There was no reason to take his life. Now , his family only has memories, his daughter has just pictures, his nieces have vague encounters because they were too young to remember a lot, he never met his nephews, he never could do anything he wanted or planned. Those HORRIBLE PEOPLE took that away from him, from his family. As years pass by we suffer with the reality that he is not here, and all they get is time in jail. Its not fair and whoever defends these two terrible human beings deserves to rot in jail with them !

Unknown said...

I TOTALLY AGREE.. THAT WAS MY DEAR DEAR FRIEND KNAWLTHAT WAS MORE LIKE MY BROTHER. NOTHING BUT HREAT MEMORIES I HOLD NEAR & DEAR TO MY HEART & NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT MY FRIEND/BROTHER. BRUH CAN U SAVE ME A SPOT AT THE DINNER TABLE & TELL GOD THANKS FOR THE BLESSING HE SENDING. UNTIL MY DYING DAY I'LL KEEP YOUR MEMORY ALIVE

Unknown said...

Oh yes hell she do!!!

Unknown said...

Google his name his picture comes up

Anonymous said...

Bitch fuck you u don’t know Krystal the fuck you’re going to condemn somebody y’all people need a reality check