DNA Testing Leads to Man’s Arrest in 1998 Riverside County Killing That His Father Is Also Charged In



The son of a man charged in a 1998 cold-case killing was arrested after DNA testing also tied him to the crime that another person had wrongfully served 20 years behind bars for, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in a news release.

Googie Rene Harris Jr., 40, was arrested in Palm Desert last Friday and charged with one count of murder in connection with the killing of his father’s ex-wife, Terry Cheek, authorities said.
The latest arrest, of Harris Jr., comes after DNA testing of a watch found near the victim’s body connected him to her killing, according to the DA’s office.

Investigators believe the watch was knocked off of Harris Jr.’s arm when the victim’s body was left along Temescal Canyon Road, the DA said.

The father-son duo and Leal are all believed to have been involved in a plan to kill the woman, authorities said. A motive for the killing is unknown.
https://ktla.com/2019/12/17/dna-test...so-charged-in/