Suspect In NJ Model's Murder Is Caught: Authorities

Authorities arrested a man Wednesday and charged him with killing former model Christina Carlin-Kraft, a New Jersey native murdered in a Pennsylvania condo last week (see video below).

Kevin Steele, the Montgomery County Pa. district attorney, said at a press conference Wednesday that Jonathan Wesley Harris, 30, was arrested after getting off a bus in Pittsburgh, largely thanks to tips from the public.

Harris, of Johnstown, is charged with first-, second-, and third-degree murder; robbery; theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; and possession of an instrument of crime with intent to commit a crime, court records show.

Carlin-Kraft, 36, who grew up in Atlantic County, was found strangled to death in a condo on the 100 block of Sibley Avenue in Lower Merion Township's Ardmore section in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Aug. 23, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Authorities in Montgomery County issued an arrest warrant for a Harris on Tuesday in connection with Carlin-Kraft's strangulation death in her condo on Sibley Avenue in Ardmore that occurred Aug. 22, court records show.

Steele said Carlin-Kraft met Harris – who was released from prison in July after being incarcerated on undisclosed charges – in Center City and took some kind of transportation to her Ardmore home in the early morning hours of Aug. 22. The two have no apparent history or relationship, Steele said.

Harris texted a friend in the early morning hours of Aug. 22 saying he was with a woman in her home in Ardmore, according to Steele.

The DA said after issuing photos and videos of Harris, they received tips, including the text message information, that led them to identify Harris as the suspect.

The DA's office released the photos and videos Monday.

Kraft had items stolen from her home on Aug. 19 her death. Police executed a search warrant at a Southwest Philadelphia home last week where they found some of her items, such as jewelry and designer bags, according to Action News.

Andre Melton, 31, of Philadelphia, is wanted by Lower Merion Police in connection with the break-in at her home, but Action News reports he is not a suspect in the murder.

Court records show Melton is wanted for burglary, criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property.

Carlin-Craft's booking page online says she is a model who was in a Playboy shoot, had runway appearances, appeared in print ads, and more. Both NJ Advance Media and The Philadelphia Inquirer confirmed that she's from New Jersey.

Anyone with information should contact Lower Merion Township Police at (610) 649-1000 or the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at (610) 278-3368.

Here is the video:

With reporting by Max Bennett

Images via YouTube and Montgomery County District Attorney's Office