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UA reacts as details of slaying emerge
Court docs: Student premeditated killing
By: Claire Conrad
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
The UA student accused of killing her roommate early Wednesday morning tried to make the incident look like a suicide, according to court documents released yesterday afternoon.
Following an Aug. 28 police report and accusations that she had been involved in property theft, Galareka Harrison, a public administration freshman, became upset and purchased a knife while returning to the UA campus on Wednesday, court documents state.
After buying the knife, Harrison wrote a note pretending to be her roommate, Mia Henderson, a biology freshman.
Written as if Henderson were the author, the note mentioned ending her own life, court documents stated.
After writing the note, Harrison returned to her room in the Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall, where the women were roommates, and left the note on Henderson's desk, according to court documents.
Following several minutes of reflection, Harrison stabbed Henderson multiple times while Henderson was sleeping,
leading to her death, court documents stated.
Subsequently following the report of the theft, Henderson had refused to stay in the same room with Harrison. It is unclear where Henderson was staying or for how long. Henderson was offered alternative arrangements, but she declined, said University of Arizona Chief of Police Anthony Daykin.
Harrison was charged with the first-degree murder of her roommate, Henderson, on Wednesday afternoon.
She was booked into Pima County Jail and held on a $50,000 bail following her release from University Medical Center, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries, Daykin said.
Henderson, who was not responsive when police arrived at 5:47 a.m., was pronounced dead at 6:32 a.m. upon arrival at UMC. An autopsy conducted by Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner concluded that Henderson died from multiple stab wounds, according to police documents.
Henderson and Harrison were both in the Native American First Year Scholars Program, and were natives of the Navajo Nation. Henderson was from Tuba City while Harrison is from the Chinle area.
Following an Aug. 28 police report and accusations that she had been involved in property theft, Galareka Harrison, a public administration freshman, became upset and purchased a knife while returning to the UA campus on Wednesday, court documents state.
After buying the knife, Harrison wrote a note pretending to be her roommate, Mia Henderson, a biology freshman.
Written as if Henderson were the author, the note mentioned ending her own life, court documents stated.
After writing the note, Harrison returned to her room in the Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall, where the women were roommates, and left the note on Henderson's desk, according to court documents.
Following several minutes of reflection, Harrison stabbed Henderson multiple times while Henderson was sleeping,
leading to her death, court documents stated.
Subsequently following the report of the theft, Henderson had refused to stay in the same room with Harrison. It is unclear where Henderson was staying or for how long. Henderson was offered alternative arrangements, but she declined, said University of Arizona Chief of Police Anthony Daykin.
Harrison was charged with the first-degree murder of her roommate, Henderson, on Wednesday afternoon.
She was booked into Pima County Jail and held on a $50,000 bail following her release from University Medical Center, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries, Daykin said.
Henderson, who was not responsive when police arrived at 5:47 a.m., was pronounced dead at 6:32 a.m. upon arrival at UMC. An autopsy conducted by Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner concluded that Henderson died from multiple stab wounds, according to police documents.
Henderson and Harrison were both in the Native American First Year Scholars Program, and were natives of the Navajo Nation. Henderson was from Tuba City while Harrison is from the Chinle area.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Jeffrey Strunin
posted 9/07/07 @ 2:49 AM PST
As an alumni of the U, I am shocked and saddened by the events at Graham-Greenlee. I wish for a healthy grieving and healing process for those staff and students on campus dealing with this tragedy. (Continued…)
Janeth
posted 9/07/07 @ 2:06 PM PST
My heart goes out to the families of both students. We will be praying for both girls.
While I did not know Mia, her death comes as a shock to me as i'm sure it was to everyone else. (Continued…)
albailey
Amber Bailey
posted 9/07/07 @ 9:58 PM PST
To everyone who knew these two girls, I am so sorry. I know what I say may not easy the feeling of sorrow and grief, I just want you to know that there are people who are out here willing to listen. (Continued…)
Rob Monteleone
posted 9/08/07 @ 5:07 PM PST
Were they members of rival tribes?
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