Penn township man sentenced to life for strangling wife to death

PENN TOWNSHIP, PA — A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional five to 10 years after pleading guilty to the 2024 murder of his wife, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Matthew Scott Harrison admitted in court Wednesday to charges of first-degree murder and strangulation for killing his wife, Jami Harrison, 49, at their home on East Mount Hope Road on February 5, 2024. One of Jami’s daughters later discovered her body.

During sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Conrad told Harrison he had a duty to protect his wife but instead committed “one of the most cowardly acts a man can do.” Harrison offered limited remarks in court, stating there was “no reason” to elaborate on his actions but later claimed he was sorry.

Prosecutors revealed Harrison had sent more than 120 degrading and threatening messages to Jami in the days leading up to the killing and had communicated his intent to harm her to family and co-workers. After the murder, he admitted to investigators that he believed he had “set her free.”

Jami’s daughters addressed the court during the hearing, describing the lasting trauma of losing their mother and calling Harrison abusive and cowardly. One daughter said Jami was “our only true parent” and that Harrison “stole that from us.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Harrison was ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution.

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