A Time To Kill

A Mother Disappears The Day After 9/11

(CBS)  This story originally aired Nov. 10, 2007. It was updated on June 24, 2008.

Tioga County in upstate New York is the kind of place where people go to escape the problems of the big cities.

So when 35-year-old Michele Harris disappeared, it mystified State Police Captain Mark Lester. "Normally you would expect at some point along this way we're gonna find her," he says. "And we still haven't been able to find her remains."

As correspondent Erin Moriarty reports, in the early morning hours of Sept. 12, 2001, Michele's van was found at the end of her driveway.

But getting a search under way wouldn't be easy. "It's the day after 9/11. We had just sent five or 600 troopers to New York City the night before. Most of our canines had been sent to New York City. Most of our aircraft was working with New York City. So, trying to gear this thing up quickly wasn't happening as easy as it normally would," Lester explains.

Adding to the pressure was that Michele was the wife of Cal Harris, a prominent businessman from a wealthy and influential Tioga County family.

The patriarch, Dwight Harris, bought a string of car dealerships for his three sons to help him run.

Michele, fresh out of college, was working as a secretary at one of the dealerships when she caught the eye of Dwight's youngest son Cal.

"Michele was just like a magnet. She was beautiful. She was full of life. And she smiled all the time. And she was a happy person. And she was young, I think that that was something that thoroughly attracted Cal," remembers Barbara Thayer, Cal and Michele's nanny housekeeper.

And Cal was a catch -- an outstanding athlete in high school, an all-American lacrosse player in college, and by the age of 27 a successful businessman.

Michele, the older of two children from a working class family, had never met anyone like Cal. "Michelle came from a small town, not a wealthy family or anything like that," Barb says. "And then here's this man that kinda sweeps ya off your feet. And you know, you travel and you go to Hawaii and you do fun things. Life could be pretty rosy, you know?"

It was a fairytale romance and no one was happier than Michele when she married Cal and became pregnant.

By the time she was 33, she had four children under the age of six. And Cal provided well: the couple lived on a 252-acre estate, complete with a private lake.

Cindy and Tom Turner spent most weekends with the couple. "You could tell they loved each other very much," Tom says. "I mean, they always wanted to be around each other."

If there were any marital problems, Michele kept them hidden from friends and family, including her sister-in-law Shannon Taylor. "I thought that her life was absolutely perfect. You never saw her when she wasn't smiling or laughing," Shannon remembers.

That is, until Michele's fourth child was born. That's when Shannon would learn that life at the Harris house was no longer quite so perfect.

Michele began talking about Cal’s temper and his controlling behavior. "Everything just had to be absolutely perfect," Shannon says.

Asked what would happen if things weren't perfect, Shannon tells Moriarty, "He'd scream. He'd yell. He wanted her to dress a certain way."

"He wanted her thin. He wanted her to look good. And she would lose weight for him," recalls Cindy Turner.

But nothing she did, Michele told friends, seemed to please Cal. "Cal had told her that she was born in Tioga Center, raised in Tioga Center, and she'd die in Tioga Center, like 'You're small town. You're beneath me. You’re never going to be up to my level,'" Barb says.

And then Michele discovered Cal was having an affair.

Cal and Michele tried to save the marriage, but in January 2001, after 10 years, Michele filed for divorce. But according to Shannon and Michele's brother Greg, Cal did not want the divorce.

Greg says it was a bitter split, as Michele fought with Cal over money, demanding a full accounting of his businesses.

The situation was made even worse because the couple, forced by the courts, continued sharing the house.

But on Sept. 9, 2001, while horseback riding, Barb remembers Michele seemed happier. "And we were coming back down towards the barn and she said 'I'm so happy. I can't believe it.' She says, 'I'm finally getting my life back. I can’t believe how I feel,'" Barb recalls.

Michele had not told her husband yet, but she had decided to accept Cal’s financial offer and finalize the divorce. Three days later, just hours before she was supposed to meet her lawyer, Michele disappeared.

[upstatecop]

Harris was just granted a new trial at 2 pm today.

[braxty1]

They need to check Tubbs; he could of been paid to say he saw her that morning. It''s obvious who done it (Cal). The evidence is overwhelming even if there''s no body. He did it and he''s got the money to pay someone (Tubbs) to come up and say something as simple as seeing her that morning with a guy that he says who definently doesn''t look like Cal. It''s also weird that he doesn''t come forward until after the verdict was read. So someone had to of came up with a back-up plan incase he was read a guilty verdict(Cal). It''s just way to OBVIOUS.

[braxty1]

I didn''t know that he had a new trial today. What happened at the trial?

[luceys]

I just watched this episode (first time seeing this show). As the show progressed I was waiting for some huge piece of evidence to clearly incriminate Harris, but was suprised that none came up. I am shocked and appalled that he was found guilty in the first trial. From what the show illustrated, there was no body, no weapon and no tie between Harris and the so-called victim. Only hunches and hear-say. We don''t even know if she is dead! He was convicted because they found blood in his house? How do we know HE is the one who drew that blood? How do we know if she died as a result? There is NO PROOF at all.

There isn''t enough evidence to convict, the family just wants to ease their pain and blame anyone for this murder and investigators want a scapegoat after 4 years of incompetency. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!

[luceys]

I think I should also point out that she lived in that house with him. I challenge anyone who thinks he is guilty to give me a clear argument to why he is beyond the shadow of a doubt guilty. Exactly, you can''t.

[whitewoods1]

I was very surprised at the treatment of this Owego case (the disappearance of Michelle Harris) on 48 Hours. I don''t even understand why everyone is assuming that the woman was murdered. She''s just missing. We don''t know that she''s dead. I was shocked that they tried (and succeeded in) convicting her husband of murder. And I felt that Erin Moriarty was very biased in her assumptions about Cal Harris''s guilt. I thought that the producers of the show were just trying to lead the viewer into believing that he''s guilty--so they could create a classic murder-mystery twist ending, where the murderer turned out to be a completely different person. I hope one day this case will be solved.

I just don''t believe that someone should be found guilty of murder when there''s no hard evidence that a murder even took place and just because of a little odd behavior. Also, his lack of concern over the disappearance of his estranged wife doesn''t even really seem that odd to me. Personally, I found it odd that there was at least one man Michelle was seeing that her close friends knew nothing about. In any case, it seems to me there are still a number of possible suspects in this case and several leads that were never really followed up on.

[putmy2centsi]

Clearly Harris is a psycho. FOr those of you that think that you need a body for "hard evidence" has never heard of hydrochloric acid and remember another thing, he had "connections" in the car business. Michele''s body could have been put in a trunk, the car sent to a crusher and then melted down. Your next can of soup might contain what was once Michele Harris.
Calvin Harris (why does everybody refer to him as Cal like they are all old buddies?) is a puke and anyone that knows him or has worked for him knows this.
Harris''s girlfriend that he was cheating with loves an abusive relationship. She was in another one with yet another car dealer that put her in a hospital several times in Cortland.

[mrscannoli]

1. On the day of September 11th, and subsequent days thereafter, everybody was riveted to the tv with loved ones close by. Why was she out at a bar on September 11th when her 4 kids were at home? Especially when she lives in New York!?! Her behavior towards the end was very odd, and she was hanging out with odd people.

2. What 23 year old man dates a married 35 year old woman with 4 kids who is still living with her husband, moves to a different state, and buys her a house?? All to find out she isn''t as interested in him as he is in her. Then he is the last person to see her alive.

3. Why does Cal''s reaction send up red flags? His soon to be ex-wife is dating multiple men, and they have clearly both moved on. They were far from being in love. It may be a sad truth, but how many people who go through horrible divorces would truly be devastated if the other person went missing?

4. Usually, you can trust the family and friends of a victim as to their instincts to who did it, but it is obvious that Michele hid quite a lot from her friends and family %u2013 her marital problems for many years, here new boyfriends, and what else?

I''m speaking about this case from strictly a law standpoint concerning reasonable doubt. Do I think Cal was capable of committing the crime? Absolutely. Do I think he did? I don''t know. Should he be convicted based on a bloody rug? NO WAY! Were there other people capable of committing the crime (ie: RAPIST)? Absolutely.

[mrscannoli]

Also, with the Scott Petersons and other "husband murders wife" cases in the media, it''s kind of scary that everybody is just assuming that''s the answer to every other unsolved case. It seems that played a HUGE PART in the jury convicting Cal with one of the most circumstantial cases brought to trial. It also played a huge part in the police NOT investigating the boyfriend and the rapist further.

[missingamerica]

Frankly, when the victim of the story''s man count ticked up to three I lost interest. Unfeeling on my part, perhaps, but I''ve been in that world before. I still remember the motto:

"He who has the gold, rules."

[wattermelann]

Sociopaths don''t care. Cal Harris behavior smacks that of a sociopath. There is special technology that can local bodies and I think the investigators didn''t take their investigation that extra mile. They dwelled too much on the blood spatter and Harris'' behavior. Rich people who are born and grow up in a rich environment can be very sociopathetic-I can do anything I want and no one can stop me or hurt me for what I do. This is a classic case of the rich getting away with murder--and they do.

[wattermelann]

I have read the article again and did some homework. The label isn''t sociopathology anymore it is antisocial personality disorder which of which this Cal Harris fits the description. His behavior towards women fits a child that lacks any bonding with his mother-which is quite prevalent in traditional aristocratic families where the woman has the child and hands him over to a nanny-no bonding takes place. This Harris monster does not know how to bond with women-therefore women are just trophies. With his incredibly inflated ego, low tolerance, temper tantrums, physical violence, inability to show emotion at the right time, lying, sneakiness, and manipulation he is playing out his personality disorder perfectly and hiding his murder. Why wasn''t this freak evaluated by a psychiatrist while he was in prison? What happened to the children? Rest assured Tioga County you have a murderer living in your mists and selling you cars. I''d move--big time! And boycott his dealership!

[kalesr1]

I would like to know why Psychic Detective Phil Jordan was not called into help locate Michele''s body??? He lives right there!!! This case would make a huge turn if she was located. Cal will have to answer sooner or later for his actions, as for Cal''s last minute witness I lived in Candor, NY and knew this man. He is NOT credible.

[tiogalocal]

It''s funny to hear comments from people that didn''t know who Cal was. I knew Cal as a businessman, and he was the biggest weasel in the business. Anyone that knows Cal knew he could never kill Michelle himself, but we also know he absolutely had someoene else do it for him; that''s the kind of person he is. Text book spoiled rotten mamas boy who couldn''t have wanted he wanted. Yes, he''s guilty, but it typical Cal fashion, he had someone else do the dirty work for him.

[wegoagain]

Kal Harris'' is like the model Owego citizen. Threats with murder are a daily thing in that county. It was A Judges daughter calling me at home to give me death threats if not for the daily threats from model Tioga citizens or their offspring not much happens in Owego. I am law Enforcement, the Jurors did a great job. Now the Judge is helping Prominent Owego do what they know best stick together, They can do no wrong. I think the man from Candor, Joe Farmer could have made a more believable story like a brown eyed girl or man with one arm did it, or Mr. Harris payed farmer Joe to have her placed in the combine.

[jgntec]

Their is a lot that was not told I''am sure of that but what was told makes Me want to know more about this story and others that don''t make HEADLINE NEWS.
This story may not have made it to us IF MONEY WAS NOT A FACTOR!(ROOT OF EVIL)I have some things I would like to know? 1) Where was HE dearing the trial?
2) Why did HE wait to come forward?
3) What does HE hope to gain from this or has HE
gained something we will hear about?
4) Why was he out @ 5:40 with hay,I''am sure he was
not bring it in from the field to put in his barn,
wet hay meldews then get''s hot and burns later.
Any farmer Knows this. Or had HE sold some and
delivering it? Hard to trace after 7yrs.
5) I can think of a lot of ways to dispose of a body
on HIS land.At that time of year in the woods with
falling leaves could hide a small grave very well.
6) He had a car lot''s and a lot of cleaners have acid
in them enough of one type could do the job.(acid
used to clean aluminum burn skin bad)
7) A car going to the crusher for disposal or
shedding,with the body in it may not be found,
7yrs hard to trace!
8) I could not let someone I loved and the mother of
My kid''s that disappeared with out looking for her
even if I hated her,for the sake of My kids.
Their is a lot more I could bring up but I dont know what thse Police have done.Let us know what is going on with this case please.

[tf14901]

Just so everyone who is going to post is CORRECTLY informed, SHE WAS AT THE BAR/RESTAURANT AS SHE WAS EMPLOYED THERE!! No matter what tragedy we had that day people still had to work that day and the next, and the next.

[tf14901]

Just so everyone who is going to post is CORRECTLY informed, SHE WAS AT THE BAR/RESTAURANT AS SHE WAS EMPLOYED THERE!! No matter what tragedy we had that day people still had to work that day and the next, and the next.

[newsjunky5]

Cal is a car salesman. He could not have lied.

[southhaven3]

I, too, was shocked that Harris was found guilty. He may be as guilty as sin, but you need evidence or a confession to prove a case. It frightens me that a man can be found guilty because some people found his behaviour or comments did not fit their presuppositions about how he "should" act. People do not behave in some prescribed way in a crisis or when in shock. We should all be very worried if someone can be convicted on so little. And how on earth did the judge even let the case come to trial with so little to go on--no body, no physical evidence (except a very few drops of blood), no confession.

[fibonacci_]

I see one of the most arrogant people "obviously not a lawyer" I have ever come across in my entire life is at it again. I think he is desperately trying with his intellect to make up for something that he is missing in his life. A Napoleon complex of sort. - Mongoven

[pipagirl32]

I live close to were this happened, but did not know much about the case until I watched 48 hours.I went to bed pondering many things in my head and the first thing I thought when I woke was WHY HAS ANYONE NOT CONTACTED PHILL JORDAN.THE MAN IS GREAT AT WHAT HE DOES AND HAS HELPED SOLVE OTHER CASES LIKE THIS.Alot of times police will use physics to help.So lets use our abiltys to help this poor woman.Even her family could contact him and have the head policeman there.Please lets find out what happend to her.After all it is not the former husband who is suffering.It is her children.Lets think about them and I am sure she would want them to know the truth.So lets get Phill involved and help the kids.

[thespectre24]

For all the people commenting on this story, maybe its a good idea for someone who actually LIVES in the area to shed some light. If you were to ask anyone who knew Michelle what they thought, they''d say Cal did it, because Michelle would never do that to her kids. And in the time that this ''credible'' witness was sharing his testimony, he was brought in by police. TWICE!!! If you really feel like you need to no everything that happened with this story, go to:
www.pressconnects.com

and search for Cal Harris. This will give you the insight about the story you need to formulate a smart comment on this subject.

[luvtrucrime]

it seemed that the first time Cal displayed any emotion at all was when he was convicted, then a second time when he was released. so much emotion for himself and none for his missing/dead wife. not even enough concern to phone the police about a missing person?

i''m sure that the farmer has been paid off to step forward. he''s paid off to be a witness, but his presence wasn''t necessary until cal was actually convicted. ooooh ok, so now he saw something. very handy.

[wegoagain]

Owego flip flop. Flip Floppin. You are a small community with large problems. In the midst of a National tragedy your perfect way of life had to take the spotlight. Quite the attention grabber Owego. Please please dont get a complex. The misfortune here is with Michele, her children and her family. Oh and what I think of Owego.

[putmy2centsi]

He missed his kids so so much that he''s back selling cars again. Already!

[jeffr82]

I agree with superchez1. No evidence, no conviction. Jurors who convict on circumstantial evidence are knuckle-dragging mouth breathers (which seems to effect more and more Americans everyday, thanks to the gov''t school system no doubt).

I can see Cal''s lack of emotion concerning his wife. Put yourself in his shoes; he''s just watched the love of his life, the mother of his children, throw everything away. Reject him and start a life of absolute debauchery and narcissistic hedonism. He''s watched the most precious person in his life has become a two-bit *** having multiple flings with whoever she could run up against. If it were me, I too would have withdrawn emotionally and just prayed that this whole thing would be over and that she''d take the shame and insult she''s brought to him and his family away. He undoubtedly knew that her new behavior would be ruinous, and just wanted it over. How doesn''t matter how so much as she could have decided simply to move away with some other *** and complete her transformation into a real whorish scumbag. Matter of fact we don''t know that that didn''t happen!

[sassalin]

Jeffr82,

Why do you find the need to make the victim..let me say that one more time, victim seem like a *** or a horrible person in general. The husband is always the first suspect for good reason. With her gone his life would be less stressful. How about her claims he was controlling and mean? She can''t be telling the truth? Circumstantial evidence is all you have at times. Do soem research...circumstantial evidence is meant to form a puzzle and at the end the picture is clear. Just because you may have had a bad experience in life don''t assume every woman is the same.

[thespectre24]

Yeah, Owego sure did take the spotlight, wegoagain. Which is why you find out about this roughly three days ago, which if my math tells me right, is roughly 6 YEARS after it happened. No one''s saying that this was more important than 9/11, it merely HAPPENED around that time.

[mommyann1]

For a witness to come forward 6 years after the crime, with a vague at best description, and for that testimony to be deemed worthy enough to grant a new trial is beyond ridiculous. As an area resident familiar with the case, I am disgusted that this man is considered credible. He claims he didn''t hear about the case at first, and then didn''t consider what he says he saw important. (!?!?!?) It''s a true mouth breather moment, folks. Please keep the children in your thoughts and prayers. Imagine their lives for the past 6 years, and it''s only going to continue.

[auntblue]

There are plenty of reasons to think he is guilty of murdering his wife. However, proving it a second time won''t be easy. The so called witness was a ridiculous attempt to insure a second tial. More than likely, this one will get him aquitted.

[kimynoregon]

can see Cal''''s lack of emotion concerning his wife. Put yourself in his shoes; he''''s just watched the love of his life, the mother of his children, throw everything away. Reject him and start a life of absolute debauchery and narcissistic hedonism. He''''s watched the most precious person in his life has become a two-bit *** having multiple flings with whoever she could run up against. If it were me, I too would have withdrawn emotionally and just prayed that this whole thing would be over and that she''''d take the shame and insult she''''s brought to him and his family away. He undoubtedly knew that her new behavior would be ruinous, and just wanted it over. How doesn''''t matter how so much as she could have decided simply to move away with some other *** and complete her transformation into a real whorish scumbag. Matter of fact we don''''t know that that didn''''t happen!

Terrible jeff82, poor taste on your comment.
I''ll just leave it at that.

[sun4girl]

I HAVE KNOWN MICKELLE SINCE I WAS IN SCHOOL , SHE WAS A GOOD GOOD GIRL FROM A GOOD FAMILY , CAL SHOULD PAY FOR WHAT HE DID, SOMEONE SAID THERE WAS A NEW CONCRETE FLOOR PUT IN THE CAR DEALERSHIP THE DAY AFTER SHE DIED I BELIEVE SHE IS BURIED UNDER THERE AND SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK IT OUT. AS FAR AS THE NEW WITNESS GOES THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT RELIABLE I KNOW THEM TO THEY ARE PROBABLY GETTING PAID GOOD FOR THE NEW INFO.

[paul_in_va]

I think it is tragic that a panel of 12 jurors can review the evidence, convict a murderer in under 4hrs, and one debt ridden, authority plagued, story teller, can interupt justice and put this man back on the streets for a year. Gee, Maybe OJ didn''t commit murder either!! Justice has not been served here.

[calvindidit]

He is the only suspect who wouldn''t take a lie detector test...Wonder why?

[wegoagain]

Erin Moriarty, my concern is for the children in Tioga County. Please contact The National School Safety and Security Services. "School Safety Post Crisis Consulting Support" This community seems to have done some math. They will pay all expenses. Lets help the community move forward. They seem to be flip flopped.

[heisguilty1]

Cal is guilty as sin and I trust that he will be convicted in this next trial and justice will finally be served. Why did he have no emotion? You have to have a heart to have emotion. He was having affairs while they were still married, long before Michele and they were legally separated before she starting seeing anyone. It''s too bad that the courts (or her lawyer?) required that they stay together in the same home during the divorce proceedings. I''m sure that just added fuel to the fire in an already bad marriage. As far as this Tubbs guy, I agree, he is NOT a credible witness and ironically his back taxes were recently paid! I hope they are keeping an eye on his bank account. Something definitely smells rotten in Denmark!

[nikila40]

OK, you''ll probably think I''m crazy with this post. I do remember while watching 48 Hours that Calvin supposedly said he knew where to hide a body where nobody would find it. He doesn''t seem too concerned about his own land, as it didn''t bother him at all that they searched there. What about a cemetery? A newly dug grave? Any cemeteries nearby that held a burial on 9/11? That''s one place nobody would look - in the grave of another. Yikes...just a thought!

[mrsjp-2009]

just a thought.....we have (or did have) Phil Jordan living in Tioga County. He has been featured on Court TV and Discovery Times finding missing people and solving crimes. WHY didn''t anyone consult him?

[leslielyn-2009]

WHY HAVE THEY NOT CHECK THE BARN WHERE THE HORSES ARE KEPT, HE COULD HAVE TAKEN HER OUT ON HORSE BACK TO GET RID OF THE BODY, CHECK STABLES, STALLS, AND SADDLES, ETC..... LESLIELYN

[compry]

the nieghbor who came forward to state he saw Michele at the end of the driveway had told his wife that thier money toubles had been resolved, hinting that he was paid by Cal Harris. The rumours in Owego is that Cal took the body of Michele in the trunk of a car that was then shreded at a local metal recyclable place owned by a criminal named Wietsman who owed a lot of money in taxes and fines. Th fact that the Judge in the murder trial has alowed the testamony of a person whose own wife calls a liar shows that the trial should be moved to a county where the judges would not be bribed so easily by Cal Harris.

[dlucero76]

People need to stop watching so much T.V...What happen to "guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt"? Do I think he did it? YES. Would I have found him guilty?NO. Why? Because the prosecution did not prove their case "Beyond a shadow of a doubt". Come on people, the idea is to let a guilty person walk before putting an innocent guy behind bars. That''s why over and over we are seeing people that were wrongly convicted set free after many years behind bars. And it''s because-Oh I think he did it, or he might have did it, or he could have did it or my gut tells me he did it ..GET REAL!

[donnaleac]

Not only was a new concrete floor poured the day after she went missing but has anyone thought that Cal may have also used one of the cars on his lot to remove the body from the house, dispose of it under the floor where the new concrete was to be poured, and cleaned the vehicle or disposed of it? I think that floor should be jack hammered up to look for evidence.

[dlucero76]

Well there is alot of Polumbo''s, Revolver P.I.''s, Miami SUV''s, and old ladies who wrote about it on here and some of you are probably right-she''s probably under that slab but they will never be able to go in there and dig it up and the bottom line is this guy will walk eventually- no body, murder weapon, just little spots of blood that a Court of Appeals will through out. The bottom line is, as usual the police dropped the ball, they should have secured the home from the very beginning and brought in the pro''s but they didn''t....Sorry.

[newsreader57]

I haven''t read all the comments but a did read quite a few;no one seems to mention the "private lake" that was part of the estate. The police never mentioned any divers searcing the lake for a body or weapon.

[carolcape]

Cal is Guilty, of course. I heard this case before, but did not know what the outcome was. Sorry to hear that he was released . The man that came forward, this man is probably being paid off. If he is not being paid off, he saw someone who Cal hired to abduct her and murder her and dispose of her body far from his land. My opinion is, She is Not on that Land. Someone took her somewhere else and murdered her and placed her in an unknown location, probably even in another state. A fine tooth comb should be taken to any monies he removed from his accounts previous to this, because he could afford to pay a hit man. Also, the fact that he tried to get rid of her possessions two weeks after she went missing, that proves it in itself. I have things here belonged to my mother who died a year ago of natural causes, I have to go through them and everyday, I put it off and it''s over a year. I know there is things I have to throw out. So give me a break, he is Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. And his new girlfriend indicating he said to her when she went to his home that she was afraid his wife would walk in, his words, "oh, she won''t be coming home". He knew she was dead and that is why she wasn''t coming home. I hope he gets the death penalty.

[dr1321]

i worked for cal. he was a hot headed control freak, and oh by the way he did it and recycled her body at the steel yard and everybody in Owego knows it.

[klhudson01]

I think this is really a sad case for our judicial system. Someone''s love one lost her life and our justice system failed her and her family. I wonder if Cal with his errogant attitude may have paid off the local mortitian to burrie her or to have her cremated without anyones knowledge? Just my thoughts!