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A man from Napa Valley has been convicted for his role in a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by a former California Highway Patrol captain, aimed at killing her husband. Text messages played a crucial role in uncovering the plot.
In Kentucky, a jury at the Cumberland County courthouse found Thomas O’Donnell guilty on Friday for the murder of Michael Harding, who was the estranged husband of Julie Harding.
According to prosecutors, Julie Harding enlisted O’Donnell, whom she had reportedly described to colleagues as her romantic partner, to execute the murder amidst ongoing divorce proceedings, as reported by KCRA 3.
The jury reached their guilty verdict in just about two hours following the closing arguments.
“There’s no evidence someone else killed him,” stated Prosecutor Jesse Stockton, as he concluded his presentation to the 12-member jury.
“All this evidence points to this amateur hitman from California. Do your duty. Find him guilty of murder.”
The quick verdict came after days of testimony from dozens of witnesses, including an FBI agent who walked jurors through 2022 text messages showing how Harding was lured to a secluded home under the guise of an HVAC repair.
“At 4:10 p.m., Michael Harding texts the prepaid phone, ‘35 minutes out,’” Special Agent Elizabeth Wheeler testified. She said someone replied, “No worries.”
Michael then responded, “Is that good for you?”
The user of the prepaid phone replied, “Yes.”
“See ya soon,” Michael texted.
“Perfect,” came the response at 4:16 p.m.
FBI data showed the prepaid phone traveled alongside O’Donnell’s personal phone, including three trips to Celina, Tennessee, where Michael lived.
Two days before the murder, O’Donnell’s phone was near Julie’s Sacramento home at the same time as hers.
Prosecutors argued this is when she hired him. On the day of the killing, Julie Harding’s phone was in Sacramento, while O’Donnell’s phone and the prepaid phone were near the crime scene in Kentucky, where Harding was shot at a vacant home on Sept. 19, 2022.
Prosecutors also pointed to DNA and ammunition evidence, though investigators never recovered the murder weapon, the prepaid phone, or a key fob linked to the case.
The defense argued that phone data only shows device locations —not who was using them —and noted there was no direct proof of payment.
Attorneys claimed O’Donnell was involved in a plan but did not intend for Harding to be killed, suggesting a third, unknown man may have carried out the shooting.
“Julie came up with a plan involving another man and Tom,” said defense attorney Sara Zeurcher. “Tom was involved with this plan but did not intend for this result to happen. There has been no proof he had any idea that Michael Harding would be murdered.”
The defense also pointed to Julie as the only person who may have known the full truth. She died by suicide months after the killing.
The murder happened on Sept. 19, 2022, at a vacant home on Glasgow Road in Burkesville, Kentucky. O’Donnell, 64, now faces 20 years to life in prison and he will be sentenced on Monday.