SOME EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MAN WILL BE SENTENCED FOR HIS ROLE IN A MURDER FOR HIRE PLOT. EARLIER THIS MONTH, 64 YEAR OLD THOMAS O’DONNELL WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY FOR KILLING FORMER SACRAMENTO AREA BUSINESSMAN MICHAEL HARDING IN 2022. PROSECUTORS SAY O’DONNELL WAS HIRED BY HARDING’S ESTRANGED WIFE, FORMER CHP CAPTAIN JULIE HARDING. THE COUPLE HAD MOVED TO TENNESSEE AT THE TIME OF THE PLOT. JULIE LATER TOOK HER OWN LIFE. JURORS RECOMMENDED 20 TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON FOR O’DONNELL, WHO IS
California man to be sentenced in murder-for-hire plot involving former CHP captain’s former husband
Updated: 7:27 AM PDT May 27, 2026
A Bay Area man found guilty of a murder-for-hire plot involving the estranged husband of a California Highway Patrol captain is set to be sentenced Wednesday.Jurors earlier this month found Thomas O’Donnell guilty of the 2022 murder of Michael Harding, who was in the process of divorcing CHP Capt. Julie Harding. O’Donnell’s defense attorney stated that while O’Donnell was part of the plot, he never intended for this result to happen and that there was no proof Michael Harding would be murdered.However, prosecutors argued that “all this evidence points to this amateur hitman from California.”Michael and Julie Harding had moved to Tennessee at the time of the plot. Michael’s murder happened on Sept. 19, 2022, at a vacant home listed for sale on Glasgow Road in Burkesville, Kentucky.Prosecutors said that Michael was lured to that address with calls and texts asking for his HVAC services.Julie was found to have killed herself in Tennessee after Michael’s death.Jurors recommended 20 to 50 years in prison for O’Donnell.See earlier coverage of the trial below.Day 5: Jurors convict Thomas O’DonnellDay 4: FBI details final texts before murder of CHP captain’s estranged husbandDay 3: Former CHP captain’s coworkers described her ‘erratic’ behavior before murderDay 2: Detective says phone data led them to Thomas O’Donnell in murder-for-hire investigationDay 1: Trial begins in murder-for-hire case involving former CHP captainSee more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
, Ky. —
A Bay Area man found guilty of a murder-for-hire plot involving the estranged husband of a California Highway Patrol captain is set to be sentenced Wednesday.
Jurors earlier this month found Thomas O’Donnell guilty of the 2022 murder of Michael Harding, who was in the process of divorcing CHP Capt. Julie Harding.
O’Donnell’s defense attorney stated that while O’Donnell was part of the plot, he never intended for this result to happen and that there was no proof Michael Harding would be murdered.
However, prosecutors argued that “all this evidence points to this amateur hitman from California.”
Michael and Julie Harding had moved to Tennessee at the time of the plot. Michael’s murder happened on Sept. 19, 2022, at a vacant home listed for sale on Glasgow Road in Burkesville, Kentucky.
Prosecutors said that Michael was lured to that address with calls and texts asking for his HVAC services.
Julie was found to have killed herself in Tennessee after Michael’s death.
Jurors recommended 20 to 50 years in prison for O’Donnell.
See earlier coverage of the trial below.
Day 5: Jurors convict Thomas O’Donnell
Day 4: FBI details final texts before murder of CHP captain’s estranged husband
Day 3: Former CHP captain’s coworkers described her ‘erratic’ behavior before murder
Day 2: Detective says phone data led them to Thomas O’Donnell in murder-for-hire investigation
Day 1: Trial begins in murder-for-hire case involving former CHP captain
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google