Murder victim's mother grateful for verdict

The mother of murder victim Sheila Jo Harris said Tuesday she was grateful and relieved that her 18-year-old daughter's killer had finally been convicted 25 years after the teenager's death.

"It's just a tremendous relief," said Linda Bratton of Gardnerville.

"When you put your life in the hands of 12 other people, it's the most unnerving, scary position you can be in," she said. "Thank goodness they applied the law. The jury should be pleased and proud of their decision."

David Winfield Mitchell, 62, was found guilty Tuesday in Carson City District Court of first degree murder with a deadly weapon.

A four-woman, eight-man jury deliberated for five hours before returning the verdict and is to return to court today for sentencing.

Bratton and her daughters Shannon Harris and Jamie Bratton will be making victim impact statements prior to the sentencing.

"We were all just holding each other waiting for the verdict," Bratton said. "The courtroom was packed and when the verdict was announced, everybody was sobbing."

Harris' body was discovered Jan. 6, 1982, by her mother and a family friend in her Lompa Lane apartment, just five days after the 1981 Douglas High School graduate moved to Carson City.

She had been beaten, strangled and raped.

Mitchell was employed as a maintenance man at the apartment complex.

Mitchell, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, was arrested Aug. 18, 2006, after DNA comparison in 2000 allegedly resulted in a match between evidence found on Harris' body and clothing and samples of saliva and blood obtained from Mitchell by warrant in the 1980s.

"I don't know what words to say other than that I am relieved and grateful that the right decisions were made and justice is finally being served," Bratton said. "Sheila finally had her day in court."

Bratton said she was grateful to the Carson City District Attorney Neil Rombardo and assistant district attorney Gerald Gardner.

"They inherited a cold case that they tried with all the passion and dignity that Sheila deserved," she said.