Police have charged a man with murder in connection with the 2001
disappearance of Los Gatos resident Jeanine Harms, the Mercury News
has learned.
The man who was arrested, 40-year-old Maurice Xavier Nasmeh, was
seen with Harms shortly before police believe she disappeared on
July 28, 2001. The two of them were seen buying beer at a
convenience store near her house late at night.
A close friend of the victim met news of Nasmeh's arrest with
``really a lot of mixed emotions. I'm thankful something has finally
happened, but at the same time, it dredges up a lot of pain. I've
always felt that it was him.''
The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department scheduled a noon
news conference to announce the arrest.
``This has been a very long investigation,'' Assistant District
Attorney Karyn Sinunu, who said her office and the police made the
case on the front burner almost from the day it happened. ``It's
such a relief to have this wrapped up. The family is very
happy.''
Sinunu said the big break came when a woman responded to a
picture in the newspaper of a rug that was missing from Harms'
apartment.
She said ``very sophisticated'' forensic lab analysis on the rug
fibers tied Nasmeh directly to the crime, when combined with
physical evidence gathered from numerous other sources.
Harms' body has never been found.
Nasmeh was arrested this morning by Los Gatos police in San Jose
shortly after he left his home.
Staff Writer Connie Skipitares contributed to
this report. Contact Chuck Carroll at ccarroll@mercurynews.com
or (408) 920-5206.