Ardmore Murder Suspect Arrested In Pittsburgh: District Attorney

ARDMORE, PA – Montgomery County authorities said an arrest has been made in the murder of 36-year-old former model Christina Kraft in Ardmore.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said at a press conference Wednesday that Jonathan Wesley Harris, 30, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after getting off a bus in Pittsburgh 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.

Harris will be brought back to Montgomery County to face the charges, Steele said.

Authorities in Montgomery County issued an arrest warrant for a Harris on Tuesday in connection with Kraft's strangulation death in her condo on Sibley Avenue in Ardmore that occurred Aug. 22, court records show. The DA said Kraft was beaten and her nose was broken before she was strangled to death.

Steele said 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.

He said the door to her apartment was seen on camera opening at 3 a.m.,but that door did not open until police checked on the victim the night of Aug. 22.

Harris allegedly used a backdoor to flee the apartment, 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 above text message information, that led them to identify Harris as the suspect.

Steele said authorities are still searching for Andre Melton, 31, of Philadelphia, who is wanted in connection with an earlier break-in at her home. Court records show Melton is wanted for burglary, criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property.

It's unclear at this time if Melton and Harris know one another

Kraft was found strangled to death in a bedroom of a condo on the 100 block of Sibley Avenue the evening of Aug. 22 after Lower Merion Police were called to the condo for a welfare check, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

The DA's office said an autopsy revealed she was strangled to death via ligature.

Kraft's booking page online says she is a model who was in a Playboy shoot, had runway appearances, appeared in print ads, and more.

Images via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office