f you haven’t listened to part one of this series, you should definitely go back and listen to that one first. Part 1 gave a general overview of this case. In Part 2, we are going to dig into Who was Cal Harris? What evidence made him appear guilty, what evidence might be missing? We'll go over both sides of the story. Then in Part 3 we will go down the next rabbit hole of another man, or men, who could also be responsible for her disappearance. We're going to briefly go through some background information of the case for those who may be just listening in for the first time.
Calvin “Cal” Harris is a wealthy businessman from Tioga County, New York, best known for being at the center of one of the most high-profile and controversial murder cases in upstate New York. Harris owned car dealerships and was financially well-off. He lived in the rural community of Spencer, NY, with his wife, Michele Harris, and their four children. On September 11, 2001, Michele disappeared. Her van was found at the end of the long driveway of their home, but she was never seen again, and her body has never been recovered. Harris was charged with Michele’s murder multiple times. His first trial in 2007 ended in a conviction, but the verdict was overturned. He was convicted again in 2009, but that conviction was also overturned. A third trial in 2015 ended in a hung jury.Finally, in 2016, during his fourth trial, Harris was acquitted of all charges. The case became infamous because it combined elements of wealth, marital discord (the couple was in the middle of a divorce when Michele vanished), and questions about circumstantial evidence. Media outlets like 48 Hours and Dateline NBC covered it extensively. Harris has consistently maintained his innocence, suggesting that Michele may have been harmed by someone else after leaving the house that night. With no body, no murder weapon, and no direct evidence, the case remains one of New York’s most debated unsolved mysteries.
So lets dig a little deeper...
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.