Image courtesy of MDOC
In September 2014, 36-year-old Christina Ann Thompson-Harris was found dead in her Davison, Michigan home. At first glance, her sudden death was ruled an accidental heroin overdose. But that conclusion didn’t sit right with her family. Christina had just given birth to her second child. She was breastfeeding and focused on caring for her newborn and toddler. Her loved ones insisted she had never used drugs, and years later, science backed them up—a test of her frozen breast milk showed no traces of heroin. That test would become a key piece of evidence in one of Michigan’s most chilling murder cases.
Jason Harris’s Secret Motive
Christina’s husband, Jason Thomas Harris, claimed he served her cereal the night before she died. But what he left out was that he had crushed heroin into it. He said she didn’t like the way it tasted and struggled to finish it. Later that night, she collapsed in their bedroom. Instead of calling 911, Jason said he helped her into bed. By morning, she was gone. Jason began telling co-workers about his wife’s death with what some described as an eerie lack of emotion. He also started openly discussing life without her, even making plans with another woman. Investigators later discovered Jason had been having affairs, wanted out of his marriage, and was looking forward to collecting life insurance. Prosecutors argued that he didn’t want to deal with a messy divorce, child support, or custody battles. Killing Christina was his solution.
Building the Case
For years, the case went cold. Christina’s family pushed authorities to take another look, and in 2019—five years after her death—Jason was charged. The new investigation revealed he had asked a co-worker if he knew someone who could “get rid of” his wife. After Christina died, he collected over $120,000 in life insurance and moved a new woman into the house less than two weeks later. At his 2021 trial, the jury heard evidence that included the breast milk test, testimony from friends and neighbors, and proof that Jason was shopping around for a hitman. They found him guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, solicitation of murder, and delivery of a controlled substance causing death.
Sentencing and Appeal
In December 2021, Jason Harris was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The judge didn’t mince words, calling him selfish and evil. Jason later appealed his conviction, claiming his attorney didn’t do enough to challenge the toxicology evidence. But in February 2024, a Michigan appeals court upheld his conviction, agreeing that the jury had more than enough evidence to convict him.
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Christina’s Legacy
Christina Harris’s story is one of heartbreak and resilience. Her family refused to let her death be dismissed as an overdose. They fought for the truth and never gave up. Today, Christina’s two daughters are growing up without their mother, but they’ll know she was deeply loved—and that justice was finally served. The case has also highlighted the power of persistence and the importance of not accepting quick conclusions when something feels wrong.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
