Cold Case Files: REOPENED - A Deadly Affair
Host: Brooke Giddings
Guest: Paul Morrison, Assistant District Attorney
Release Date: July 17, 2025
Introduction
In the gripping episode titled "REOPENED: A Deadly Affair" from the Cold Case Files podcast, host Brooke Giddings delves deep into one of Kansas's most baffling and enduring murder cases. With the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Paul Morrison, the episode unravels the intricate details of David Harmon's murder, the subsequent investigation, and the eventual reopening of the case nearly two decades later.
The Crime
On the night of February 27, 1982, David Harmon, a 25-year-old bank cashier, was brutally murdered in his duplex in Olathe, Kansas. David and his wife, Melinda Harmon, had been living in the duplex alongside their neighbors, Gayle and David Bergstrand.
Gail Bergstrand, the neighbor, recounts hearing disturbing noises around 2:30 AM:
Melinda Harmon [00:59]: "This was the kind of a loud noise that just wakes you up from a deep sleep. You sit up in the bed, just bolt upright, and you just look at each other and say, what was that? I told my husband, I said, I'm going to call the police. And he said, well, what are you going to tell them? That you heard thumping in our neighbor's duplex?"
Shortly after these unsettling noises ceased, the Bergstronds were awakened by Melinda Harmon herself, who reported,
Melinda Harmon [01:30]: "I think Dave is dead."
Upon arrival, Officer Larrick discovered David Harmon's lifeless body in the master bedroom, his face mutilated from repeated blows with a blunt object. The scene was grisly, with blood and brain matter splattered throughout the room, making it evident that a severe bludgeoning had taken place.
Initial Investigation
Detective Larrick's initial investigation pointed towards Melinda Harmon as a potential witness. However, further interrogations revealed inconsistencies in her story that raised suspicions. Melinda claimed that intruders had forced her to retrieve the bank keys, but no evidence of a typical home invasion, such as attempts to access the bank, was found.
Brooke Giddings [07:44]: "The real thing that stuck in our mind was what would anybody accomplish by taking the keys and breaking into the bank in the middle of the night, knowing full well that there's a time lock on the vault? I mean, you get what, office chairs, a check protector, that's about it."
Attorney Paul Morrison shared his skepticism:
Paul Morrison [08:01]: "Ada Morrison also believe that Melinda's story was questionable, especially since no one attempted to break into the bank."
As the investigation progressed, attention shifted to Melinda's close friend, Mark Mangelsdorf, who appeared at the crime scene with visibly wet hair, suggesting he had taken a shower—a suspicious detail given the early morning hour. Further scrutiny revealed a tangled web of personal relationships, including letters and greeting cards that hinted at an intimate affair between Melinda and Mark, providing a potential motive for murder.
The Case Goes Cold
Despite mounting suspicions, the detectives lacked concrete evidence to convict Melinda or Mark. Melinda's family grew increasingly protective, with her father becoming uncooperative, ultimately removing Melinda from the household and returning her to Ohio. Without sufficient proof, the case was left unsolved, joining the unfortunate statistic that one-third of all American murders remain open.
Brooke Giddings [10:41]: "Well, the bottom line is that we think they're involved. And we thought from the very beginning that there was enough information to arrest both of them for David's murder. But we never thought for one minute there was enough information to convict him. So we did not make an arrest."
Reopening the Case
In 2001, nineteen years after the initial investigation, Cold Case detectives Steve James and Bill Wall revisited David Harmon's murder. Upon reviewing the case files, they identified overlooked evidence that rekindled their belief in the original suspicions against Melinda and Mark.
Brooke Giddings [11:31]: "With the exception of this is Detective James. When you read this thing, it reads like, hey, it was either Melinda or Mark. It had been one of them or both of them. Probably both."
A critical piece of evidence was Melinda's pink nightgown, which had blood splattered only at the bottom, contradicting her account of the crime scene where she should have been drenched in blood if she had genuinely witnessed the assault.
Brooke Giddings [12:06]: "Melinda's story is that she woke up in the middle of the night to someone beating her husband. She was pulled out of bed. Well, if you look at the crime scene, you would see that she should have had a lot more blood on. This nightgown just reaffirmed everything that we were reading in the case file. And now the physical evidence is starting to support that."
Melinda's Interrogation
Detectives James and Wall tracked down Melinda Harmon in Delaware, Ohio, in December 2001. During the interrogation, Melinda's evolving narrative unveiled further inconsistencies, especially regarding the number of intruders and the sequence of events.
Brooke Giddings [14:12]: "Right away, we realized, hey, what about the two black guys that broke in demanding the bank keys? What about one guy saying to the other, I think you hit him too hard. You may have killed him? There wasn't any of that."
Under intense questioning, Melinda began to reveal the depth of her involvement, hinting at guilt without outright confession. This shift in her demeanor provided the detectives with the leverage needed to build their case.
Brooke Giddings [16:02]: "We're convinced that she's into this up to her neck. So now all I gotta do is just keep her rolling. I gotta keep her talking. And usually good things happen when people keep talking."
The Trial
Both Melinda Harmon and Mark Mangelsdorf were indicted for murder. Melinda stood trial first, with Mark serving as a key witness for the prosecution. Throughout the trial, Melinda chose not to testify, leaving the jury to gauge her credibility based on her prior statements and the new evidence presented.
Brooke Giddings [22:49]: "The jury got to see her firsthand, how she reacted. And anybody with life experiences that watches this tape will see that this woman is up to this. To her neck. She is guilty. She conspired with this Mark Mangelsdorf to kill her husband."
Assistant District Attorney Paul Morrison expressed his frustration with the plea negotiations, aiming for full accountability but ultimately securing a lesser charge in exchange for testimony against Mark.
Sentencing and Aftermath
In 2005, both Melinda Harmon and Mark Mangelsdorf were sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. As part of her plea deal, Melinda provided detailed accounts of her affair with Mark and how it culminated in her husband's murder. Their convictions provided a semblance of closure to the grieving Harmon family.
Brooke Giddings [27:20]: "To the Harmon family, I'm really sorry. Words do not adequately express the things I feel in my heart. Just words are not enough. And I would love to have better words."
Mark Mangelsdorf, who confessed to his role in the murder, was sentenced to the maximum term allowed at the time, ensuring that justice was served even if both would eventually be released decades later.
Conclusion and Reflections
"A Deadly Affair" serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities involved in solving cold cases. Through relentless pursuit and the advancement of forensic technology, the Cold Case Files team was able to shed light on a tragic event that had long remained shrouded in mystery. The episode highlights the importance of perseverance, the impact of personal relationships on criminal motives, and the enduring quest for justice.
Paul Morrison [23:56]: "John Harmon, David's father, wasn't one of them. I think what Paul Morrison did was the only way that he could have achieved closure. Paul said he wanted to do the right thing, so he went ahead and did it. So to his credit, he didn't get it. It's something."
As both Melinda and Mark served their sentences and were eventually released, the case stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of law enforcement in seeking the truth, no matter how much time has passed.
Produced by: McKamey, Lynn, Steve Delamater
Associate Producer: Julie McGruder
Executive Producer: Ted Butler
Music by: Blake Maples
Distributed by: PodcastOne
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For more information and to explore similar cases, visit A&E's Real Crime Blog.