Bloody footprints link New Kensington murder suspect to crime scene, police say

Police say bloody footprints link a New Kensington man to the stabbing death of his former roommate.

Nico Harris, 40, is charged with killing David Risher, 58, in the house they once shared at 615 Freeport Road. Police said they arrested Harris after finding bloody footprints near Risher’s body that matched a pair of sandals Harris was wearing when arrested.

It is unclear exactly when Risher was killed, but police say he was reported missing by his sister at 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. A man who lived in the same home as Risher told police he last saw Risher about 5 p.m. Thursday and called Risher’s Westmoreland County Community Action caseworker when he didn’t see Risher the next day, the complaint said.

Police said they received a call from Risher’s brother-in-law Friday informing them he had found Risher’s body in a pool of blood in the home’s basement, according to the complaint. Risher had been stabbed multiple times, police said.

Risher’s brother-in-law and sister, according to the complaint, told police they saw Harris leaving the house “sweaty and angry” about five minutes before police arrived.

Harris had lived at the home until September of last year.

Harris was arrested by an Arnold police officer moments later, wearing the sandals police said matched the footprints in the basement near Risher’s body. Also found in the basement were bare foot prints police say were from the other man who lived in the house. According to the complaint, the bare foot prints appeared to have been made after the bloody sandal prints were made.

Police said they found four knives in the basement, two under Risher’s body and two near it. At least two of the knives match a set police found in the home’s kitchen, the complaint said.

One of the knives found in the basement had a bloody imprint on its handle police said also matched Harris’ sandals.

Harris is being held without bond at the Westmoreland County jail on charges of criminal homicide, burglary and trespassing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 18.