Cleveland Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Killing Girlfriend

CLEVELAND — Lowell Harris was sentenced to life in prison this week after he was found guilty of killing his girlfriend.

Harris, 62, lived with Holly Watkins in a home near Hirst Court and Emery Avenue, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley said. Watkins' developmentally-delayed 21-year-old son also lived with the couple.

On April 17, 2018, Watkins didn't show up for her job at a West Park nursing home. However, Watkins' son did show up for his job at the same nursing home. Coworkers wondered why Holly hadn't come to work, but her son had. The 21-year-old said he heard arguing between Harris and Watkins the night before, and then a gunshot.

Two of the nursing home employees went to Watkins' home to check on her. They found her in her bedroom, with a gunshot wound to her neck. They called 911 and emergency personnel declared Watkins dead on the scene.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force linked Harris to the crime and took him into custody four days later. He was found at a friend's house in Columbia Station.

“All law enforcement agencies involved in this case deserve praise,” said O’Malley. “The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force for quickly tracking down this dangerous criminal, the Medical Examiner’s Office for their analytical expertise in processing the crime, and Cleveland Police for their diligent work gathering evidence.”

Harris's defense during the trial was that Watkins had shot herself. The Medical Examiner's Office argued the gunshot wound to Watkins' neck had to have been made from approximately three feet away from her body.

A jury found Harris guilty of two count of murder, one count of felonious assault, and having a weapon under disability (Harris was barred from having a gun because of a 1987 conviction for sexual battery).

He was sentenced to life in prison, but will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years.