A deadly fire in Sioux City that claimed the lives of two girls has taken a bizarre twist. The investigation of the fire has led to two first-degree murder charges against the stepfather of the two girls who died. The girls are identified at 10-year-old Kendra and eight-year-old Alysha Suing.
The stepfather, Lawrence Douglas Harris Senior, is being held on a two-million dollar bond in the Woodbury County jail. Sioux City Police Chief Joe Frisbee says Harris voluntarily talked with investigators on the scene and told them a chilling story about how the girls died. Frisbee says Harris told police he was the only person at the scene who could have committed the murders.
Frisbee says Harris told investigators “he had been casting a spell that had gone bad. The spell could have had severe consequences.” Frisbee says Harris appeared to have blood on his person. An autopsy determined the two girls died from strangulation and stab wounds. Frisbee says there are more details to be learned.
“When you talk about people casting spells, and spells gone bad, obviously there is lot more going on here than just a straight arson and homicide,” Frisbee says. Harris is schedule to next appear in court on January 18th.