What we know about deaths, arrests

The death of a California Highway Patrol captain, her husband’s killing and an arrest for murder has prompted investigators across the country to find an answer as to how they all might be connected.Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee, Kentucky and Sacramento are trying to piece together the web of interviews, documents and evidence surrounding the death of CHP Yuba-Sutter Commander Julie Harding, 49, which came months after her husband 53-year-old Michael Harding’s murder. KCRA 3 has compiled everything we have learned below. You can also see a timeline of the case here. How are a CHP captain and her husband connected to Tennessee and Kentucky?Michael and Julie shared a home in Celina, Tennessee, that they bought in 2019.Julie was found dead with a gunshot wound Dec. 10 in that home. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said her death does not appear to be the result of foul play.Months prior, in Kentucky, troopers found Michael dead with gunshot wounds on Sept. 26 in a home on Glasgow Road in Burkesville — about 30 minutes away from the Tennessee home — after he was reported missing. Investigators ruled the former Sacramento-area man’s death a homicide. Preston Cleary was a friend of Michael’s. Cleary, who became almost friends with Michael when he moved to Tennessee, said Michael was set to serve as a groomsman in Cleary’s wedding. Michael was on his way to pick up a tuxedo for a wedding but disappeared shortly afterward. Cleary said Michael was making a service call on his way to a tuxedo shop in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but he never made it to the shop after the service call. Man accused of killing Michael Harding arrested in Sacramento and has a criminal historyThe Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said it helped Kentucky authorities arrest 60-year-old Thomas Francis O’Donnell, of Napa, on Dec. 8 at the Sacramento International Airport in connection with Michael’s death. O’Donnell is being held at the Sacramento County Main Jail and has waived an extradition hearing, meaning he will be sent back to Kentucky within 30 days. A Kentucky grand jury has heard evidence against O’Donnell, KCRA 3 has learned. Kentucky State Police said it partnered with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Kentucky, Tennessee and California before arresting O’Donnell. Authorities have not said what they believe a motive is for the killing. O’Donnell lived for a period in the Houston area of ​​Texas, where he was previously charged in 2006 with stalking a former girlfriend and was given probation.The victim had accused him of threatening to kill her after she broke up with him in 2005. In incidents that spanned nearly a year, he was accused of pushing her, choking her, forcing her to have sex with him, harassing her where she worked and chasing her with his car, according to court documents.He was charged with DUI in 2008 and completed his probation.Police reports filed against Julie Harding by Michael Harding’s girlfriendMichael’s girlfriend, whom KCRA 3 is choosing not to name, filed two police reports against Julie. The first one was Oct. 10, when Ring camera footage captured Julie at the woman’s front door. Julie can be seen calling Michael’s dog Charlie, which the woman took custody of after Michael died.Julie grabbed Charlie by the collar and ran off with him.The woman filed a second report Oct. 13 and this time told Murfreesboro police in Tennessee that she was afraid of Julie. After the CHP captain stole the dog, the woman realized her Netflix account was hacked.All of her shared profiles were deleted but two: One was the woman’s, but the profile picture was changed to a picture of a monkey, and the second was one Julie added in her name with a profile picture of an angry princess.Julie was arrested Dec. 8 in connection with those reports, two days before she was found dead.Were Michael and Julie Harding separated?Friends of the former couple and police reports filed by Michael’s girlfriend indicate that could be the case.In the girlfriend’s report, she stated that Michael and Julie were going through a divorce. Michael, who owned Around the Clock Heating and Air, closed his California office and moved to Tennessee first while Julie was preparing to retire in February 2022. But a person in Celina who did not wish to be named told KCRA 3 that complications arose with Julie and Michael’s marriage. At the couple’s former Northern California home in Antelope, neighbors said the two seemed like a nice couple when they lived there. On Dec 8, the same day Julie and O’Donnell were arrested for two separate cases, neighbors saw FBI agents with guns drawn entering the home.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The death of a California Highway Patrol captain, his husband’s killing and an arrest for murder has prompted investigators across the country to find an answer as to how they all might be connected.

Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee, Kentucky and Sacramento are trying to piece together the web of interviews, documents and evidence surrounding the death of CHP Yuba-Sutter Commander Julie Harding, 49, which came months after her husband 53-year-old Michael Harding’s murder .

KCRA 3 has compiled everything we have learned below. You can also see a timeline of the case here.

How are a CHP captain and her husband connected to Tennessee and Kentucky?

Michael and Julie shared a home in Celina, Tennessee that they bought in 2019.

Julie was found dead with a gunshot wound Dec. 10 in that home. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said her death did not appear to be the result of foul play.

Hearst Owned

A view of the home in Tennessee.

Months prior, in Kentucky, troopers found Michael dead with gunshot wounds on Sept. 26 in a home on Glasgow Road in Burkesville — about 30 minutes away from the Tennessee home — after he was reported missing.

Investigators ruled the former Sacramento-area man’s death a homicide.

Preston Cleary was a friend of Michael’s. Cleary, who became almost friends with Michael when he moved to Tennessee, said Michael was set to serve as a groomsman in Cleary’s wedding.

Michael was on his way to pick up a tuxedo for a wedding but disappeared shortly afterward. Cleary said Michael was making a service call on his way to a tuxedo shop in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but he never made it to the shop after the service call.

Man accused of killing Michael Harding arrested in Sacramento and has a criminal history

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said it helped Kentucky authorities arrest 60-year-old Thomas Francis O’Donnell, of Napa, on Dec. 8 at the Sacramento International Airport in connection with Michael’s death.

O’Donnell is being held at the Sacramento County Main Jail and has waived an extradition hearing, meaning he will be sent back to Kentucky within 30 days. A Kentucky grand jury has heard evidence against O’Donnell, KCRA 3 has learned.

Kentucky State Police said it partnered with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Kentucky, Tennessee and California before arresting O’Donnell.

Authorities have not said what they believe a motive is for the killing.

O’Donnell lived for a period in the Houston area of ​​Texas, where he was previously charged in 2006 with stalking a former girlfriend and was given probation.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office

A mug shot of Thomas O’Donnell from 2006.

The victim had accused him of threatening to kill her after she broke up with him in 2005. In incidents that spanned nearly a year, he was accused of pushing her, choking her, forcing her to have sex with him, harassing her where she worked and chasing her with his car, according to court documents.

He was charged with DUI in 2008 and completed his probation.

Police reports filed against Julie Harding by Michael Harding’s girlfriend

Michael’s girlfriend, whom KCRA 3 is choosing not to name, filed two police reports against Julie. The first one was Oct. 10, when Ring camera footage captured Julie at the woman’s front door. Julie can be seen calling Michael’s dog Charlie, which the woman took custody of after Michael died.

Julie grabbed Charlie by the collar and ran off with him.

The woman filed a second report Oct. 13 and this time told Murfreesboro police in Tennessee that she was afraid of Julie. After the CHP captain stole the dog, the woman realized her Netflix account was hacked.

All of her shared profiles were deleted but two: One was the woman’s, but the profile picture was changed to a picture of a monkey, and the second was one Julie added in her name with a profile picture of an angry princess.

Julie was arrested Dec. 8 in connection with those reports, two days before she was found dead.

Rutherford County Sheriff

Were Michael and Julie Harding separated?

Friends of the former couple and police reports filed by Michael’s girlfriend indicate that could be the case.

In the girlfriend’s report, she stated that Michael and Julie were going through a divorce.

Michael, who owned Around the Clock Heating and Air, closed his California office and moved to Tennessee first while Julie was preparing to retire in February 2022. But a person in Celina who did not wish to be named told KCRA 3 that complications arose with Julie and Michael’s marriage.

At the couple’s former Northern California home in Antelope, neighbors said the two seemed like a nice couple when they lived there. On Dec 8, the same day Julie and O’Donnell were arrested for two separate cases, neighbors saw FBI agents with guns drawn entering the home.