For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office persisted in pursuing a suspect in a 1996 double killing, resulting in multiple trials and overturned convictions before the accused was finally acquitted and released in 2017.
The current Westchester County District Attorney, Mimi Rocah, recently announced that a reinvestigation had identified two new suspects with no connection to the previously tried individual in the deaths of Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35.
This marks the first time the DA’s office has publicly shifted blame away from the acquitted individual, Selwyn Days, who was released in 2017 following a series of legal battles. Days’ lawyer, Glenn Garber, emphasized his client's innocence and called for a definitive resolution to the case.
Rocah, who assumed office in 2021 and was not involved in Days' prosecution, refrained from disclosing details about the new suspects, citing an ongoing investigation. She expressed hope that the recent developments would lead to further progress in achieving justice for the victims' families.
Despite Rocah's imminent departure from office, incoming DA Susan Cacace has pledged to continue reviewing cases like the double homicide. Garber expressed confidence in Cacace's commitment to holding the true perpetrators accountable.
The case involves Harris, a wealthy widower known for keeping cash at his residence, and Ramcharan, who was set to inherit a significant portion of his estate. Days was charged years later and served time in prison before being acquitted after his fifth trial.
Rocah established a Conviction Review Unit in 2021 to investigate wrongful conviction claims, leading to the reexamination of the Harris and Ramcharan case. The ongoing investigation underscores the pursuit of justice and closure for the families affected by the tragic events.
No immediate contact information was available for the relatives of Ramcharan and Harris at the time of the announcement.
