Man charged in 2007 Houston murder of girlfriend nearly two decades later

Zachary Harper was charged on Tuesday with the 2007 murder of his then-girlfriend, Yosheka Jarmon, at their apartment in northeast Houston. The case had remained unsolved for nearly 20 years until detectives completed additional evidence testing following Harper's recent arrest.

Harper was already in custody in April for the 2023 murder of Armin Mirazimi. That detention prompted investigators to reexamine the Jarmon case. Police state that Jarmon was strangled with an electrical cord and that one of her arms had been slashed.

Terance Jarmon, the victim's brother, discovered his sister's body inside a closet. Neighbors had contacted authorities after finding Jarmon's two young children alone outside the apartment. Investigators cited witness accounts of a man matching Harper's description near the scene. They also located Jarmon's vehicle near the residence where Harper stayed in the days after the killing.

Terance Jarmon said Harper's behavior after the incident raised early suspicions. "He ain't come back home, and then the next day he ain't call to check up on the kids or nothing," he said. However, he noted that police initially lacked sufficient evidence for a murder charge because the victim's and Harper's fingerprints were mixed, rendering the analysis inconclusive.

Records indicate that Harper accumulated at least five criminal charges in the years following the 2007 homicide. These offenses include unlawful weapon possession, drug possession, and a terroristic threat charge related to an ex-girlfriend. Police stated that Harper had been violent toward Jarmon in the period leading up to the murder.

Terance Jarmon said he learned of the prior abuse only after the case concluded. "I didn't find out this 'til after it was all over with," he said. "He used to beat on her and stuff like that, but she never did - he didn't do nothing to the face."

Harper was denied bond and remains held in the Harris County Jail. His listed attorney did not return a message seeking comment.