Who's There?

Summary

48 Hours – Episode: "Who's There?" (Released February 27, 2025)

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Who's There?" from CBS News' award-winning podcast series 48 Hours, host Anne-Marie Green delves deep into the haunting unsolved murder of David Harmon in Olathe, Kansas. This episode meticulously unpacks the complexities surrounding the 1982 homicide, exploring the initial investigation, the subsequent cold case, and the eventual reopening that led to convictions over two decades later. Through meticulous reporting, key evidence analysis, and interviews with pivotal figures, "Who's There?" paints a comprehensive picture of a community shattered by tragedy and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Background of the Murder

On a quiet night in 1982, the seemingly idyllic community of Olathe, Kansas, was rocked by the brutal murder of David Harmon, a beloved member of the Nazarene Church and a promising young man. The initial account painted a picture of a horrifying home invasion:

David’s Wife, Melinda Harmon: "I was asleep in bed with my husband when a series of loud thumps startled us. I put my ear to the wall, and after hearing nothing for over an hour, I heard a loud knock on the door. It was Melinda."
[01:15]

Detective Bill Wall recalls the scene as one of the most brutal he'd ever encountered:

Bill Wall: "It is the most gruesome crime scene that I've seen in 28 years... a classic case of an overkill."
[06:35]

Initial Investigation

The initial investigation was swift but riddled with inconsistencies. Melinda Harmon, the sole witness, reported that two intruders demanded the keys to the bank where David worked, leading investigators to suspect a robbery gone wrong. However, several red flags emerged:

• No Forced Entry: The house showed no signs of forced entry despite the reported home invasion.
• Bank Keys: Accessing the bank with only keys would be futile as the vault was on a timer.
• Excessive Violence: The brutality of the crime hinted at more than a simple robbery.

Detective Wall and Assistant District Attorney Paul Morrison recognized early on that:

Paul Morrison: "We don't believe this. There's more to this story than meets the eye."
[02:23]

Cold Case and Reopening

For 19 years, the case remained cold, becoming a legend within the Olathe Police Department. In 2001, the advancement of DNA technology provided a new avenue for investigation. Detectives Wall and Steve James revisited the evidence, uncovering new details that reignited the pursuit of truth.

Bill Wall: "Once we started, it was so intriguing, you don't want to put it down."
[06:18]

Interrogations and New Evidence

In December 2001, Wall and James approached Melinda Harmon, now known as Melinda Rash, residing in Ohio. Contrary to expectations, she invited the detectives into her home and began recounting the night of the murder with discrepancies from her original statement.

Bill Wall: "This is definitely not the same story... none of that."
[21:43]

Key inconsistencies included:

• Blood Evidence: Excessive blood on the pillowcase contrasted with minimal blood on Melinda’s nightgown, suggesting she might not have been unconscious as she claimed.

  Bill Wall: "She was standing away from the bed, and it's cast off to her."
  [19:16]

• Relationship with Mark Mangelsdorf: Evidence suggested a secretive affair between Melinda and her closeted friend, Mark Mangelsdorf, a student at Mid America Nazarene College.

Paul Morrison: "I believe she did this because she couldn't get a divorce... It was much better to be the widow Harmon than the divorcee."
[14:18]

Arrests and Trials

In 2003, Melinda Rash was arrested and charged with the murder of her husband based on the emerging evidence. Mark Mangelsdorf, once a close friend, was implicated and subsequently arrested, facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy.

Mark Mangelsdorf: "I did not kill David Harmon."
[17:48]

During Rash's trial, prosecutors presented a case built on circumstantial evidence, including:

• Affair Evidence: Cards and letters found in Mangelsdorf's apartment suggested an intimate relationship.
• Bloody Pillowcase: Contrary to her story of being knocked out, the extensive blood suggested active involvement during the murder.
• Video Testimony: The 2001 videotaped interrogation showcased discrepancies in her narrative.

Trials and Testimonies

The courtroom drama intensified as both Melinda Rash and Mark Mangelsdorf faced trial. Mangelsdorf chose to testify, a strategic move by his defense attorney, Mickey Sherman, to assert his innocence.

Mark Mangelsdorf: "I did not kill David Harmon."
[33:36]

However, his calm demeanor and lack of emotional display raised suspicions among observers:

Andy Hoffman (True Crime Writer): "Something's wrong there."
[34:58]

Despite his testimony, the weight of the evidence led to Rash’s conviction:

Paul Morrison: "In the 2001 tape, Rasch admits to involvement."
[31:31]

Sentencing and Aftermath

On May 12, 2006, both Melinda Rash and Mark Mangelsdorf were sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. Their sentencing marked the end of a 24-year ordeal for the Harmon family and the Olathe community.

Bill Wall: "Mr. Harmon's death was wrong, and I'm very, very sorry for that."
[43:35]

Rasch served nine years and was released in 2015, while Mangelsdorf served ten years, being released in 2016. The resolution brought closure to a case that had haunted a tight-knit community for over two decades.

Conclusion

"Who's There?" serves as a profound exploration of how initial perceptions can be challenged by evolving evidence and the relentless pursuit of truth. Through the meticulous unraveling of the Harmon case, the episode underscores the complexities of justice, the impact of community trust, and the enduring quest for closure. The detailed recounting of Investigators Wall and Morrison's dedication highlights the transformative power of investigative journalism in bringing justice to light.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Paul Morrison: "Every time you've got an unsolved murder, you got somebody walking around in your community that's killed somebody."
  [01:06]

• Bill Wall: "It's a classic case of an overkill."
  [06:35]

• Andy Hoffman: "Something's wrong there."
  [34:58]

• Melinda Rash: "I assure you, it wasn't me."
  [22:10]

• Mark Mangelsdorf: "I did not kill David Harmon."
  [17:48]

• Paul Morrison: "She had already made some serious admissions."
  [25:45]

Key Insights

• The Role of Community: The Harmon murder shattered the facade of a safe, religious community, revealing hidden tensions and relationships.

• Advancements in Forensics: The reopening of the case was pivotal, demonstrating how technological progress can revitalize cold cases.

• Psychological Manipulation: Melinda Rash's ability to manipulate the narrative underscores the complexities of human behavior in high-stress situations.

• Legal Strategy: The decision to have Mark Mangelsdorf testify was a double-edged sword, impacting both his and Melinda’s defense.

• Impact on Lives: The case illustrates the profound and lasting effects unsolved crimes can have on individuals and communities alike.

Final Thoughts

"Who's There?" is a testament to the intricate dance between truth and deception, the slow grind of justice, and the resilience of those determined to uncover the truth. It serves as a compelling reminder of the enduring quest for justice and the importance of not letting cases go cold, especially when new evidence and relentless investigation can change the course of history.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Paul Morrison]

Just like that?

[Bill Wall]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

No hassle?

[Paul Morrison]

None.

[Narrator]

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[Bill Wall]

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[Narrator]

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[Paul Morrison]

Every time you've got an unsolved murder, you got somebody walking around in your community that's killed somebody.

[Narrator]

David was just a very, very nice guy. They were just the normal all American young couple living next door. My husband and I were asleep in bed and just startled by a series of loud thumps on the other side of the wall. Just a sound that he'd never heard before. I said, I am going to put my ear to the wall. If I hear anything else, I am calling the police. I heard nothing, absolutely nothing for the next hour or more. I was just still awake and restless. The next thing that happened was I heard a loud on the door and it was Melinda.

[Paul Morrison]

When David Harmon got murdered, I was on call that weekend.

[Bill Wall]

According to police, sometime during Sunday night there on Sheridan Drive in Olathe.

[Paul Morrison]

My name is Paul Morrison. In 1982, I was an assistant district attorney here in Johnson County.

[Bill Wall]

The intruders went into Hiram's house, awoke Mrs. Hyruman.

[Paul Morrison]

That was the first murder scene that I'd ever seen. One of the most brutal murder scenes that I've ever seen in my career. Rear very, very bloody. He was disfigured so badly that the initial officers thought he'd been shot in the face with a shotgun. It traumatized a lot of people because what came out publicly was that there was this horrible home invasion. These people beat this poor guy to death in bed. It was one of those cases where you're going, you know, we don't believe this. There's more to this story than meets the eye.

[Bill Wall]

This was a place where people fel that they could get away from the city, raise a family and live a peaceful life. I think when this happened, it hit home. The people involved in this murder are members of the Nazarene Church and go to the college there. So this kind of rock their community a lot. I'm Bill Wall. I'm the detective with the Olathe, Kansas Police Department. There are a lot of murders, but this is intriguing. It's got a bit of a sex appeal to it. We got religion, we got a lover's triangle, we got money. And we felt that it was a case that could be solved. It was 19 years old when we opened it up. When I'm reading through this case file, I think that we got a shot. I mean, eventually you gotta go knock on the door. And that was the turning point obviously, of this case.

[Paul Morrison]

A knock on the door.

[Narrator]

Today, Olathe, Kansas is a major crossroads. A fast growing suburb of Kansas City, home to a large, conservative Christian community. But back in 1982, it was just a dot on the map.

[Andy Hoffman]

In 1982, this was a community where you didn't have to lock your doors, basically. I know that's a cliche, but there was not a lot of danger.

[Narrator]

Andy Hoffman was a reporter for Olathe's Daily News.

[Andy Hoffman]

The people that lived here were God fearing. They believed in the Bible. And when this horrendous murder happened, it changed the landscape of the community.

[Narrator]

Praise the God Almighty. There weren't a lot of homicides in Olathe, so the unsolved murder of David Harmon was a nightmare that stayed with them for more than two decades.

[Bill Wall]

First time I heard about that case was maybe in the, oh, early 90s.

[Narrator]

Bill Wall was a young patrol officer at the time.

[Bill Wall]

It was always kind of a case that had never been solved. And it was kind of a legend throughout the department.

[Narrator]

It might have stayed cold if not for a simple request in 2001 and some new technology, the crime lab came.

[Bill Wall]

Down and they had some time and they wanted to use their DNA expertise. You got any old cold cases? We had one. I'll grab this.

[Narrator]

The Harmon case moved out of the evidence vault and into the hands of detectives Bill Wall and Steve James.

[Paul Morrison]

For us, this is uncharted territory. I mean, we really didn't have a lot of experience in opening up cold cases.

[Narrator]

They went through all the evidence to learn what happened back in 1982.

[Bill Wall]

And once we get started into it, it's so intriguing, you don't want to put it down.

[Narrator]

There were accounts from Police officers, including J.W. larrick, then 27, one of the first responders.

[Bill Wall]

It was a very, very brutal crime scene.

[Narrator]

He found David Harmon's body upstairs in the master bedroom.

[Bill Wall]

It is the most gruesome Crime scene that I've seen in 28 years of being a police officer. He was just massacred.

[Narrator]

Harmon had been beaten repeatedly with a blunt object.

[Bill Wall]

Blood splattered everywhere. It is on pillows, sheets. It is on a comforter, a carpet, the nightstand next to him. It's everywhere. I mean, I think this is a classic case of an overkill.

[Narrator]

David's wife, Melinda, was the only witness. She told police two men, possibly black, had broken into their duplex.

[Bill Wall]

She's awakened by these sounds of someone beating her husband. And then all of a sudden, she's pulled out of bed and taken downstairs. She hears one intruder say the next, I think you hit him too hard. You may have killed him.

[Narrator]

She said they demanded the keys to the bank where David worked, and that's.

[Bill Wall]

When she's knocked unconscious.

[Narrator]

Melinda says when she came to, she ran next door for help. Her neighbor called the police. Then Melinda asked her to call friend Mark Mangelsdorf.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

It was a horrific incident. A very close friend of mine was murdered. And I was close friends both with he and his wife.

[Paul Morrison]

They kind of took him in. They'd have him over for dinner frequently. He'd be over there hanging out.

[Narrator]

Their friendship began at Mid America Nazarene College, where Melinda was a secretary.

[Paul Morrison]

Melinda was quite professional.

[Andy Hoffman]

She was not much older than our students.

[Narrator]

Don Stelting was dean of students at the college and Melinda's boss.

[Andy Hoffman]

Part of the responsibility of my office staff was to make a warm front.

[Paul Morrison]

Door for the students. She was a friendly person, and she worked hard at that.

[Narrator]

One of the students she befriended was Mark Mangelsdorf, the student body president.

[Paul Morrison]

He was an impressive, impressive young man. Good student.

[Narrator]

Melinda introduced Mark to her husband, David.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I mean, David was in many ways like a big brother to me. You know, he took me under his wing.

[Narrator]

They shared a passion for sports, business and their church. As word of David's murder spread, it stunned Olathe's Nazarene community. I remember when the phone call came, how unreal it was. Pam and Don Stelting were among the first to hear the news. I don't think we could even talk. It was such devastating news.

[Andy Hoffman]

It shook us all very deeply.

[Paul Morrison]

Because here was someone that we thought was just a perfect example of what church and the college stood for. And he was gone, his life snuffed out.

[Narrator]

His friends at the patron state bank were shocked. Why? Why would this happen? Why David? Joy Hempe and Hazel Hendricks. We didn't have murders in Olithe. And then to have it happen to a person that you Worked with every day. It was very scary.

[Paul Morrison]

Well, at first, everybody bought the story.

[Narrator]

Paul Morrison is now the district attorney. But back in 1982, I'm just a guppy. Back then, you know, he was still learning the job.

[Paul Morrison]

And I think everybody thought, gosh, it's just a horrible home invasion thing here. And we gotta find these guys because they're obviously extremely dangerous.

[Narrator]

Police immediately staked out the bank in case anyone tried breaking in.

[Paul Morrison]

Of course, it never happened.

[Narrator]

Stealing David's keys baffled Joy Hempe. If they got inside the bank with the keys, all they would get would be pencils, erasers, and paper clips. You couldn't get in the vault. It was on a timer.

[Paul Morrison]

So those are actually his then.

[Narrator]

It didn't take long for investigators to realize the pieces of the puzzle just weren't adding up.

[Paul Morrison]

No forced entry to the house. There was nothing else taken. Plus, the person that's able to get them access to the bank, they kill immediately. I don't think anybody was comfortable saying that. First day, you know, we don't believe it. But there are eyebrows beginning to be raised about this story.

[Narrator]

As doubts grew about Melinda Harmon's story, the focus of the investigation shifted.

[Bill Wall]

I'm sure some of those detectives back then were thinking, hey, this is not right. There's something more here.

[Narrator]

Did they believe that Melinda Harmon was involved in her husband's murder and they suspected she had help?

[Paul Morrison]

Some questions came up, and in particular, question about this person, Mark Mangelstar.

[Narrator]

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[Andy Hoffman]

It seemed to be an indication of.

[Paul Morrison]

Very bad judgment on the part of the.

[Andy Hoffman]

In our minds, there's someone out there.

[Paul Morrison]

Who really had done this horrid murder.

[Andy Hoffman]

And why aren't they looking for them instead?

[Narrator]

But police and prosecutors say there were no signs of intruders. Instead, all the evidence seemed to point to those closest to David, his wife Melinda, and his best friend Mark. And what's more, investigators believed they knew the motive.

[Andy Hoffman]

No one was talking on the record. Everyone in the community was talking about it off the record.

[Narrator]

Andy Hoffman has covered the case for more than two decades. And what were they saying?

[Andy Hoffman]

It's the Nazarene divorce.

[Paul Morrison]

I believe she did this because she couldn't get a divorce. In her mind, it was much better to be the widow Harmon than the divorcee.

[Narrator]

Harmonies District Attorney Paul Morrison believed Melinda Harmon was unhappy in her marriage and caught up in a secret affair with Mark Mangelsdorf.

[Paul Morrison]

It was definitely a romance.

[Narrator]

But because of their strong religious beliefs, Morrison doubts it was sexual.

[Paul Morrison]

The promise of sex, the lure of sex unfulfilled can be stronger than the actual thing.

[Narrator]

The conservative Christian world they lived in had strict rules of behavior.

[Andy Hoffman]

He didn't go to the movies.

[Narrator]

We didn't dance. Mark Wood was a student at Mid America Nazarene College at the time.

[Bill Wall]

The old joke we used to have back then was that you don't smoke.

[Narrator]

And you don't chew and you don't.

[Andy Hoffman]

Date the girls who do.

[Narrator]

And when you marry, you marry for Life.

[Paul Morrison]

Back in 1982, in the Nazarene Church, divorce was not the option that it is today. It would have not been a good thing, would have caused a certain amount of shame and scandal.

[Andy Hoffman]

To believe that one would have to.

[Paul Morrison]

Not know the Nazarene Church at that time. To think that someone would plan murder to avoid divorce is ludicrous.

[Narrator]

Mark Megelsdorf and Melinda Harmon always denied they had a romantic relationship. And at first they cooperated with investigators, but that soon stopped and leads dried up.

[Bill Wall]

There's a lot of people that remember this case that were members of the church, members of our community. They all thought that the suspects had been identified. Why aren't we moving forward?

[Narrator]

Investigators had a bloody murder scene, but no footprints or Fingerprints and no murder weapon. Not enough evidence to prosecute.

[Paul Morrison]

The question of is that going to be provable beyond a reasonable doubt? Probably wasn't quite there.

[Narrator]

With no charges against them, Mangelsdorf and Harmon both left Olathe. Melinda Harmon headed back home to Ohio with her parents. Mark Mangelsdorf went off to Harvard Business School and became a successful corporate executive.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

Definitely went on with my life and it's not something that I really dwelled on or focused on a lot.

[Narrator]

He and his second wife Christina live in a million dollar home in Pel, just outside New York City. He's the father of four. With one more on the way. The Mangelsdorfs sat down with 48 hours for their only television interview. When's the first time that you heard about this?

[Christina Mangelsdorf]

It was fairly shortly after we started dating. Honestly, my first reaction was this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. There's no way that he could have done this. And, you know, he didn't need to give me any of the facts of the case or any assurances that he had to know that, you know. No, I mean, that's not in his personality.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

The fact that the police considered me as a suspect in the course of their investigation was hurtful and, you know, certainly leaves an impression on you.

[Narrator]

Did you kill David Harmon?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I did not kill David Harmon.

[Narrator]

And Megelsdorf doesn't believe Melinda Harmon was involved either.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

Melinda was my good friend and I choose to believe that that was not in her character.

[Narrator]

Back in Olathe, the unsolved Harmon murder had been shelved for almost two decades, but never forgotten.

[Andy Hoffman]

They didn't have it on the front burner, but they did not forget about it. The community wouldn't let them forget about it.

[Bill Wall]

When you read it, it's kind of a no brainer. The suspects are identified, these people did it, and now we got to prove it.

[Narrator]

As detectives Bill Wall and Steve James began going over the 19 year old evidence, they found it odd that blood spatter was all across Melinda Harmon's pillowcase.

[Bill Wall]

If she's laying in bed, her head should be here, right?

[Narrator]

Right.

[Paul Morrison]

Should be a void.

[Bill Wall]

There should be a spot where there's no blood. Where there's no blood.

[Narrator]

With so much blood on the pillowcase, Wall and James were surprised how little blood was on Melinda and her nightgown.

[Paul Morrison]

You would think you would see at least some blood up in this general area up here toward the top of the nightgown.

[Narrator]

The only blood was at the bottom of the gown.

[Bill Wall]

She's Standing away from the bed, and it's cast off to her.

[Narrator]

They also had doubts about Melinda's story of being knocked out by intruders.

[Paul Morrison]

If she truly was knocked unconscious for that period of time, she wouldn't have remembered anything.

[Narrator]

Evidence was mounting, but they still didn't have a case. They needed to re interview the suspects. In December 2001, detectives Wall and James showed up at Melinda's home in Ohio.

[Bill Wall]

This is our shot. We wanted to catch her cold.

[Narrator]

Are you nervous?

[Bill Wall]

Yeah, I'm nervous.

[Narrator]

What happens?

[Bill Wall]

Knock on the door, she answers.

[Narrator]

And what happened next would forever change the course of this case. Had she not let you in, where would we be today?

[Paul Morrison]

We would not be sitting here today.

[Narrator]

When Melinda Harmon left Olathe, Kansas, in 1982, she never looked back. She moved to this Columbus, Ohio, suburb and started over.

[Bill Wall]

This is an upscale neighborhood, a very nice house. She's living a pretty good life here.

[Narrator]

Known here as Melinda Rash. She's a soccer mom with two children, married to a successful dentist, active in her community and her church.

[Bill Wall]

Everyone thought that Melinda Rash was a perfect person, the great neighbor, just doing everything right.

[Narrator]

So when detectives Bill Wall and Steve James showed up out of the blue at the rasch home in 2001, they didn't expect her to talk to them.

[Bill Wall]

Steve and I both thought that she's probably going to say, hey, I left that back in Olathe. You're going to have to talk to my attorneys. Something along those lines. But she didn't.

[Narrator]

Instead, she invited them in.

[Paul Morrison]

It's beyond what I expected to happen.

[Narrator]

As they sat in her kitchen, Rasch told the detectives about the night her first husband, David Harmon, was murdered.

[Bill Wall]

She says that she was awakened by these horrifying sounds of someone striking her husband. She sees a shadowy figure, and she runs to the bathroom.

[Narrator]

This isn't the same story as two decades ago.

[Bill Wall]

This is definitely not the same story. What happened to the two black guys that broke in demanding bank keep? What happened to, I think you hit him too hard. You may have killed him. None of that.

[Paul Morrison]

She doesn't remember the lie she told.

[Narrator]

For 19 years, detectives had waited for this kind of break.

[Bill Wall]

I accused her. I said, I know you killed him. Either you killed him or he did.

[Narrator]

What did she say?

[Bill Wall]

Well, I assure you, it wasn't me.

[Narrator]

And Melinda didn't stop there. Instead of ending the conversation or calling her lawyer, she kept talking.

[Bill Wall]

She wanted to please us. She didn't want her neighbors to be talked to about this. I don't think she ever shared with anybody. About what happened in 1982.

[Narrator]

She just wanted you to go away.

[Bill Wall]

Absolutely. And she thought she could manipulate us to get us to go away.

[Narrator]

But they didn't go away. In fact, after three hours, Rasch agreed to continue talking at the sheriff's department. Only now the interrogation would be videotaped. Because he'd established a rapport with Rasch, Detective Bill Wall conducted the interview for.

[Bill Wall]

Three or four hours out at your house.

[Narrator]

I'm sorry. I should have offered you a drink at the house.

[Bill Wall]

Sorry.

[Narrator]

I'm usually a very good hostess. Investigators had always believed Melinda Harmon Rasch and Mark Mangelsdorf conspired to murder David Harmon so they could be together. Now, Bill Wall needed details of their romance to prove motive.

[Bill Wall]

She said they were friends at first. We're friends. Well, later on, as their relationship blossomed, she said that there became an emotional bond between the two of them. You shared innermost, deepest feelings in a.

[Narrator]

Way that is inappropriate.

[Paul Morrison]

Right.

[Bill Wall]

You should have been sharing with your husband. Probably Right. She said that her feelings were inappropriate and that her husband David would definitely not approve.

[Narrator]

But according to Rasch, Mangelsdorf wanted more.

[Bill Wall]

Did he ever come out and say, I love you, I want to have sex with you?

[Narrator]

I would say so.

[Bill Wall]

He said that I would say so. She told me that she got the impression he wanted her to get a divorce.

[Narrator]

There were innuendos made.

[Bill Wall]

Okay, innuendos made about what?

[Narrator]

About had life been different.

[Bill Wall]

He didn't like the fact you were married. Right.

[Narrator]

With their romance established, Bill Wall now needed Rasch to connect Mark Mangelsdorf to the murder.

[Bill Wall]

If you did not kill him, you know who did. And we'd been down that road. And now you're trying to lead me to believe.

[Narrator]

Well, I know in my heart.

[Bill Wall]

You know in your heart was. Yes. That Margot. Mm.

[Narrator]

In my heart, I know that. She told Wall she didn't see Mangelsdorf that night, but sensed his.

[Bill Wall]

Where was the presence coming from?

[Narrator]

The stairs. Why is she saying she felt Mangelsdorf's presence rather than. I saw him bludgeon my husband.

[Bill Wall]

I just don't think she wanted to go there yet. She knew if she said that, then that would implicate her further.

[Narrator]

So she's holding back.

[Bill Wall]

Absolutely.

[Narrator]

Rasch wanted to know the consequences before giving up any more information. I don't know where I stand.

[Bill Wall]

Okay, so there is a little more here. There's a little more, but we just want to get a little deal there before we go forward.

[Narrator]

Yeah, because I don't.

[Bill Wall]

You need to know what consequences?

[Narrator]

Yeah, I need to know where I stand. Bill Wall called District Attorney Paul Morrison in Olathe.

[Paul Morrison]

I, like everybody else, was shocked that.

[Narrator]

She talked to him and told him Rasch wanted to discuss a deal.

[Paul Morrison]

I remember telling Wall that I wasn't going to buy a pig and a poke because we didn't know exactly what she had to offer. That in my opinion, she had already made some serious admissions. So let's not make any deals today that we might regret later.

[Narrator]

After almost two decades of frustration, Morrison finally had a toehold. But it would take two more years of. Of pouring over every piece of evidence to make a case.

[Paul Morrison]

You've got no statute of limitations on a murder case. So we had the luxury of making sure that we got our ducks all lined up as straight as we could before we went into battle.

[Narrator]

In 2003, with those ducks lined up, Melinda Harmon Rasch was finally arrested and charged with her husband's murder. The news stunned Mark Mangles.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

It did surprise me. It caught me off guard. I thought that this thing had potentially run its course. And it, of course, had not.

[Bill Wall]

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[Narrator]

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[Bill Wall]

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[Narrator]

Doesn't matter if it's a major engine.

[Bill Wall]

Repair or your first time swapping your windshield wipers. Ebay has that part you need ready.

[Narrator]

To click perfectly into place for changes.

[Bill Wall]

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[Narrator]

But you already know that.

[Paul Morrison]

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[Narrator]

Eligible items only Exclusion supply I know in my heart.

[Bill Wall]

You know in your heart what? That Mark did it.

[Narrator]

Melinda Rash's new story of the murder was the end for Mark and Christina Mangelsdorf's quiet Life in Pelham, New York.

[Christina Mangelsdorf]

It was just about exactly 10:00, and the phone rang. And Mark answered it. The person just said, you know, this is Detective Hines from the Pelham Police Department. Could you come downstairs, please? No. We knew what they were there for.

[Narrator]

Living with a cloud of suspicion for 23 years Mark Mangelsdorf knew this day could come. But for Christina, there was no preparing for what happened next.

[Christina Mangelsdorf]

The minute Mark opened the front door, I mean, there they were, and the handcuffs were on him like that, and they walk him off within about 30 seconds. And I was busy looking at the detective saying, wait, you know, can I kiss him goodbye? What the. What do I do now?

[Narrator]

Mark Mangelsdorf was arrested and escorted back to Kansas to face murder charges for the 1982 slaying of his close friend David Harmon. He was charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, the same charges Rash is facing. Just one week after Mangelsdorf's arrest, Melinda Rasch goes on trial for the murder of her first husband. By her side, showing support, is her current husband. In spite of the dramatic interrogation tapes, prosecutor Paul Morrison knows getting a conviction after 23 years will be tough.

[Paul Morrison]

About 2:33am David Harmon was beaten to death in his bed.

[Narrator]

He begins by setting out to establish a motive for the crime.

[Paul Morrison]

Her world revolved around the church. Divorce was an unthinkable option. You've got that sort of perverted thinking about that not being an option, and it manifests itself in what most of us would consider to be the unthinkable, and that is that you kill him.

[Narrator]

Morrison sets out to prove a case largely built on circumstantial evidence. Evidence of an alleged love affair. They were just standing very close together and lies. First, Rasch said she was in bed while her husband was being beaten to death. But prosecutors show her pillow covered in blood. Then there is her claim she was knocked out for more than an hour.

[Paul Morrison]

That didn't fit at all. And in fact, she didn't have any real injuries other than a tiny bruise on her cheek.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors begin unraveling Rasch's story of what happened that night, weaving a different story.

[Paul Morrison]

There was about 20 cards and letters.

[Bill Wall]

From Melinda Harmon to Mark Mangelsdorf.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors produce a stack of cards and letters found in Mark Mangelsdorf's apartment, suggesting signs of an intimate relationship.

[Bill Wall]

Police were just signed either Melinda or.

[Andy Hoffman]

Love, Melinda or I love you, Melinda.

[Paul Morrison]

That type of thing.

[Narrator]

As the evidence mounts, it is the 2001 police videotape that cements the case against her and Mark Mangelsdorf.

[Bill Wall]

You had to know that was him.

[Narrator]

In my heart, I knew of him. As prosecutors slowly built their case, Rasch's defense team knew they had to confront the allegations of an affair and murder head on. To do that, they turned to the person at the center of this case to testify. But it was not their client, Melinda Rash, they called to the stand. It was Mark Mangelsdorf.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I plan to tell the jury the truth, just exactly as I told the police 23 years ago.

[Narrator]

And for the first time in 23 years, Mark Mangelsdorf and Melinda Rash are together again. This time, the only thing they are sharing is the charge of murder. The Squire affirmed that. The testimony.

[Bill Wall]

You're about to believe the truth, the.

[Narrator]

Whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

Yes, indeed. Thank you.

[Narrator]

Mangelsdorf's testimony is crucial for Rash's defense and ultimately his own. The defense wants to show Mangelsdorf is not capable of murder and that he and Rasch couldn't have conspired to commit such a crime.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I felt that it would be an opportunity for me to tell the truth, to potentially assist in uncovering the truth for the jury, giving them full information, full facts.

[Narrator]

Mark Mangelsdorf's defense attorney, Mickey Sherman, says it's a gamble worth taking, even though anything Mangelsdorf says could be used against him. Why were you so willing to have him testify?

[Mickey Sherman]

Truth is the truth. I felt that I'd rather put him on the witness stand now and let the jury let the world know what his recollection was, rather than have this cloud over his head.

[Narrator]

Questioned by Rash's defense attorney, Tom Bath, Mangelsdorf answers questions point blank about accusations of an affair.

[Bill Wall]

Mr. Mangelsdorf, were you having an affair with Melinda Harmon?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

No, I absolutely was not.

[Bill Wall]

Were you romantically involved with her? No. Were you physical in any kind of.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

Sexual way with her? No, I was not physical with her. Melinda Harmon was my friend.

[Bill Wall]

And how about David Harmon?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

David Harmon was also my friend.

[Bill Wall]

Did you kill David Harmon?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I did not kill David Harmon.

[Narrator]

Mangelsdorf looks calm on the stand, even under tough cross examination from prosecutor Paul Morrison.

[Paul Morrison]

Are you aware of the fact that she said it was an emotionally inappropriate, intimate relationship?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I'm aware that she made that statement.

[Paul Morrison]

Were you aware of the fact that she said that you told her, I want to have sex with you?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I read that statement as well.

[Paul Morrison]

Were you aware of the fact that she said she thinks you killed David Harmon?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I don't know the specific words, but I. I did view the tape, and so I'm.

[Paul Morrison]

You're aware of that? Yes.

[Bill Wall]

Yes.

[Narrator]

How did he do on the witness stand?

[Mickey Sherman]

You know, I thought he did fantastic. We all thought he did fantastic.

[Narrator]

For defense attorney Mickey Sherman, this was a dress rehearsal. He got to see how his client will do as A witness. But true crime writer Andy Hoffman believes Mangelsdorf taking the stand may not have been the best defense for Rasch or for himself.

[Andy Hoffman]

There was no feelings of sorrow for David, you know, no, it was all just rehearsed. And I'm in here and I'm going to walk my way out of here, and I'm not showing any emotion. I think you really saw Mark Mangelsdorf as Mark Mangelsdorf, totally controlled, totally sure of himself. But something's wrong there.

[Bill Wall]

Please rise.

[Narrator]

Melinda Rash never took the stand or spoke publicly about the murder of her husband. After nearly three weeks of testimony and over 60 witnesses, Rasch's trial comes to a close. After two days, the jury reaches a verdict.

[Paul Morrison]

The court will read the verdict of the jury. On count one, we the jury find the defendant guilty of murder. On count two, we the jury find the defendant guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.

[Narrator]

Did Mark help or hurt her on the stand?

[Andy Hoffman]

He hurt her. If they believed him, they wouldn't have convicted her.

[Narrator]

Out on bail, Mark Mangelsdorf was at home with his wife Christina when they learned of Rasch's fate. When you saw the word guilty, what was your reaction?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I think surprised and disappointed.

[Narrator]

You thought she was innocent?

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

Yes.

[Narrator]

Christina believes the outcome will be different for her husband.

[Christina Mangelsdorf]

It wasn't like we looked at this and said, you know, oh, my gosh, you know, the same thing is going to happen to Mark. I mean, there's still a confidence that it's a very different case and that Mark will ultimately be found innocent.

[Narrator]

As Mangelsdorf now starts to prepare for his own trial, Melinda Rasche, facing life in prison, sits in a Kansas county jail awaiting sentencing. But as he will learn, she's not sitting quietly. This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. During tax season, your personal info travels to a lot of places between payroll, your tax consultant, and the IRS. If your W2 gets exposed, that's just the ticket for identity thieves. That's why Lifelock monitors millions of data points every second. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed, or your money back.

[Bill Wall]

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[Narrator]

Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast terms apply. Moms tired of overthinking every decision around what's best for your kids? Stop. Get Smartypants vitamins and worry about one last thing. Smarty Pants Kids Multi and omegas support kids overall health with 16 daily nutrients, including vitamin C for immune support and D3 for bone health. That's 45% more nutrients than the leading kids. Multigumy brand seems like a no brainer, right? Get smarty pants on Amazon today. Here in Olathe, Kansas, Melinda Rash is behind bars, facing life in prison for the murder of her husband, David Harmon. Back in Pelham, New York, Mark Mangelsdorf begins to prepare for his trial, confident a jury will find him innocent.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

When they see the evidence as it's presented, we think they'll come to the same conclusion that we know is the reality that I'm innocent.

[Mickey Sherman]

I believe in Mark and I believe that a jury will believe in Mark both in his innocence and his character.

[Narrator]

Defense attorney Mickey Sherman is on the offensive. What's your best evidence?

[Mickey Sherman]

Mark Mangelsdorf getting on the stand and telling the story and the lack of such a story on the part of the state.

[Narrator]

While Sherman makes his plans for Mangelsdorf's defense, he's unaware Melinda Rash is making plans of her own.

[Andy Hoffman]

You begin to think about your children. I think you begin to think about.

[Narrator]

Your future writer Andy Hoffman.

[Andy Hoffman]

And you begin to think, oh, my God, I'm convicted and I'm facing life in prison. What can I do?

[Narrator]

With few choices, Rasch makes a stunning move and turns to prosecutor Paul Morrison, looking to make a deal. In exchange for a lighter sentence, she says she'll finally tell the truth of what happened that night. Her husband was brutally murdered. Melinda Rash admits for the first time she took part in the murder of her husband, David Harmon. And she says she did it with Mark Mangelsdorf's help. It sounds like a big break for the prosecution, but it could be a bigger break for the defense.

[Andy Hoffman]

I think it's going to be great fodder for the defense. She told a lie in 82. She told half truths in 2001. She was convicted in 2005. And now facing life in prison, she's going to come clean and tell the truth. Well, do you believe her?

[Narrator]

How concerned are you about her testimony?

[Mickey Sherman]

Well, I could put on a big act and say it's no big deal because she's lied before, but of course I'm concerned.

[Narrator]

The usually confident Mickey Sherman knows this could be trouble.

[Mickey Sherman]

I mean, this is someone who is obviously going to implicate him. And her credibility, her believability is going to make a great difference in whether or not Mark Mangelsdorf is going to be convicted or acquitted.

[Christina Mangelsdorf]

There we go.

[Narrator]

The stakes are high. If convicted, Mangelsdorf, now a father of five, could spend the rest of his life life in prison. In February 2006, appearing in court for a pretrial hearing, Mark Mangelsdorf shocks everyone with a statement of his own.

[Mickey Sherman]

Mr. Mangelsdorf does plead guilty and agree that he did participate in this crime.

[Narrator]

After 24 years of maintaining his innocence, Mark Mangelsdorf now admits he helped kill his close friend, David Harmon.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

It was time for me to plead guilty and to get this behind us.

[Narrator]

By his side is his wife, Christina.

[Christina Mangelsdorf]

I love my husband and he is the best husband and the best father that he can be, and we're gonna be there for him.

[Paul Morrison]

During the summer of 1981, the two kissed for the first, first time in the family room of the duplex, pleading.

[Narrator]

To second degree murder. Mangelsdorf stands there while prosecutor Paul Morrison reads Melinda Rash's confession.

[Paul Morrison]

The week before the homicide, Mangelsdorf informed Melinda that he had purchased a weapon, specifically a crowbar with which to murder David Harmon. He indicated that the time for the homicide was getting closer.

[Narrator]

And in the confession, Melinda Rash related a chilling scene at her husband's funeral. Mark Mangelsdorf whispered in Rasch's ear. He got rid of the murder weapon. Remarkably, for a couple who now admits they committed this brutal murder to have a relationship. It was the last time they were together.

[Paul Morrison]

She was ready to testify that during this relationship that she had with Mark Mangelsdorf, during their discussions of how they were going to end up together, her and Mark, that for her, it came down to the fact that she chose murder over the social stigma of divorce.

[Mickey Sherman]

Bottom line is that she was just one of the factors which we all considered in deciding whether or not Mark should plead guilty. Mark finally made the call himself. He wanted to get on with his life. He saw the possibilities of conviction, saw the possibilities of acquittal, and elected to plead guilty.

[Narrator]

All eyes on May 12, 2006. In two separate hearings, Mark Mangelsdorf and Melinda Rasch are sentenced for the horrific murder of David Harmon.

[Paul Morrison]

I do not suggest that this punishment is equivalent to the crime itself. No punishment could be.

[Narrator]

They are Both sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. To the Harmon family, words do not adequately express the things I feel in my heart. Just words are not enough. I'm horrified beyond words that I was.

[Bill Wall]

Ever connected to this.

[Narrator]

And I knew the minute it happened.

[Bill Wall]

That it was wrong.

[Narrator]

For that, I'm very, very, very sorry.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

I have pled guilty to this. I've acknowledged my involvement. I'm truly, truly sorry for David's death and for the loss of the time that you've experienced not being able to spend time with him.

[Bill Wall]

Mr. Carter. Good afternoon, you, Honor.

[Narrator]

But for David's father, John, Melinda and Mark's apologies will never be enough.

[Bill Wall]

Melinda, I hold you more responsible than Mark. You as a wife could have called a halt to the entire plot at any time. Mark, you're not only a murderer, you're also a thief. You took our one and only child.

[Mark Mangelsdorf]

In a vicious, not just normal, a.

[Bill Wall]

Vicious attack and act of violence. You conned everybody while you were living a lie for over 20 years.

[Narrator]

It took 24 years. But for this small town of Olathe, Kansas, the memory of a haunting murder can finally be laid to rest. And for David Harmon, a 24 year old injustice has come to an end. Melinda Rash served nine years in prison and was released in 2015. Mark Mangelsdorf was released in 2016 after serving 10 years.