30 Years Later, Roswell Police Hope To End Homicide Investigation

ROSWELL, GA — On the 31st anniversary of the homicide of a then-8-year-old Roswell boy, police are hoping to generate new leads that lead to the suspect who they believe may have spoken about the case over the years.

On Sunday, May 15, 1988, Joshua Harmon, who was 8 at the time, was reported missing to the Roswell Police Department by his mother. At the time of his murder, Joshua’s family lived in an apartment complex called “Roundtree Apartments." Today, it is known as “River Crossing at Roswell."

"Joshua regularly played outside in the area of his apartment building and the other buildings in the immediate vicinity," Roswell Police Public Information Officer Lisa Holland said. "He searched for turtles around the lake in the complex and played in the 'fort' in the woods behind his building."

On May 15, Joshua had been playing outside all day, with friends and alone. His mother recounts that he was in and out of the apartment throughout the day for various reasons. When his mother started making dinner, she asked her husband, Joshua's stepfather, to let Joshua know to stay close to home. When Joshua’s stepfather could not find him, Joshua’s mother called the Roswell Police, Holland said.

A neighbor informed the family that Joshua had stopped by their residence at approximately 7 p.m. to ask if his child, Joshua’s friend, could come outside to play. The family was spending time together and eating dinner so the boy could not come outside. Joshua told the neighbor that he was going to be waiting for the neighbor boy in the woods at the fort where the children commonly played together. This is the last reported sighting of Joshua alive, Holland said.

"After extensive searches over the next nearly 48 hours, Joshua Harmon’s lifeless body was located in the woods of the apartment complex on Tuesday, May 17, 1988," Holland said. "Joshua was beaten and strangled to death. Joshua was buried under loose dirt and pine straw. Logs were placed on top of his body to conceal him from immediate discovery."

Evidence was collected during the investigation that is still available.

"There have been incredible advancements in forensic technology since 1988," Holland said. "But science is not all that can be used to catch this killer. It is the hope of the Roswell Police Department and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office that the community will help with this case so that Joshua’s murderer can be identified and held accountable for this heinous crime."

Along with reviewing the available evidence, the Roswell Police Department is reaching out to witnesses from the original investigation. The department is also looking for new witnesses who may know, or have heard, something about this case over the years.

Holland said police are asking for anyone who may have any information about this case to call Crime Stoppers or the Roswell Police Department to share that information. In the last 31 years, Holland said the department believes the killer may have spoken to someone about this incident and disclosed their involvement.

If you have information and would like to speak with an investigator, call Detective Jennifer Bennett at 770-640-4380 or by email atjbennett@roswellgov.com.