Breakthrough in notorious unsolved murder of New York millionaire found dead in his home
A dramatic breakthrough in one of New York’s most notorious cold cases has been made – nearly three decades after a millionaire was found murdered in his home.
Archie Harris, 72, along with his home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35, and his pet dog were brutally beaten and stabbed to death in his Eastchester mansion in 1996.
An innocent man, Selwyn Days, spent 16 years behind bars for the crime – after the case became infamous for its five separate trials and two wrongful convictions. Days was released in 2017.
Now, a new development could finally crack the 27-year-old mystery.
Westchester District Attorney Miriam Rocah revealed her office has uncovered fresh evidence on Monday – and pointed to two new suspects in the brutal 1996 slayings.
The names of the two new suspects have not yet been revealed.
‘An extensive and ongoing investigation was undertaken by my Conviction Review Unit, following a request in 2023, has identified two individuals involved in the murders of Archie Harris and Betty Ramcharan and no connection to Selwyn Days, who was previously charged,’ Rocah revealed, as reported by the New York Post.
Archie Harris, 72, along with his home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35, and even his pet dog were brutally beaten and stabbed to death in his Eastchester mansion in 1996
The case became infamous after leading to five separate trials and two wrongful convictions of Selwyn Days (pictured), who was finally cleared in 2017
Westchester District Attorney Miriam Rocah revealed her office has uncovered fresh evidence on Monday and pointed to two new suspects in the brutal 1996 slayings
Harris was worth over $2 million at the time of his death.
Harris and Ramcharan’s bodies were discovered on November 21, 1996, in a bloody scene.
Days became the prime suspect after investigators learned his mother Stella Davis had previously worked as Harris’s carer and had filed sexual abuse allegations against the millionaire just months before the murders.
He was arrested in 2001 after allegedly confessing during an intense police interrogation.
His first trial in 2003 ended with a hung jury. A second trial led to a conviction and 50-year sentence. But that was dramatically overturned in 2009.
His third trial resulted in another hung jury, followed by a fourth trial conviction.
Justice finally prevailed in 2017 when he was acquitted of all charges in his fifth trial.
The DA made the revelation just weeks before leaving office.
‘As we undergo a change in administration at the DA’s Office this week, it is my hope that these significant developments lead to continuing investigation and action so that justice can be achieved for the families of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,’ Rocah said.
New York City has over 25,000 unsolved homicides dating back to 1965, according to city statistics.