Napa Valley hit man learns his fate for killing CHP lover’s husband

A Napa Valley man convicted in a chilling murder-for-hire scheme with his lover has been sentenced to life behind bars.

A Kentucky judge on Wednesday slapped Thomas O’Donnell with a life sentence for the 2022 killing of Michael Harding, whose estranged wife — former California Highway Patrol captain Julie Harding — was accused of recruiting O’Donnell to carry out the murder.

The sentence comes weeks after a Cumberland County jury found O’Donnell guilty of murder after he lured Harding to a vacant home in Burkesville, Kentucky, under the guise of an HVAC service call before fatally shooting him.

During the sentencing hearing, Cumberland County Circuit Judge David Williams made clear he viewed the crime as one of the worst he had encountered in decades on the bench.

“I practiced law for 45 years. This is one of the most cold-blooded, heinous acts I’ve ever seen anybody commit,” Williams said.

The judge said he was particularly moved by statements from Harding’s relatives describing the devastating impact of the killing.

According to prosecutors, the murder was the culmination of a plot hatched amid the Hardings’ contentious divorce proceedings. Investigators alleged that Julie Harding, who was romantically involved with O’Donnell, arranged for him to kill her estranged husband in September 2022.

Evidence presented during trial included cellphone records, DNA evidence and text messages that prosecutors said showed how Michael Harding was lured to an isolated property on Glasgow Road in Burkesville.

As previously reported, jurors heard testimony that Harding exchanged messages with a prepaid phone shortly before arriving at the property.

“At 4:10 p.m., Michael Harding texts the prepaid phone, ‘35 minutes out,’” FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Wheeler testified during the trial.

The reply read: “No worries.”

When Harding asked, “Is that good for you?” the response was, “Yes.”

“See ya soon,” Harding texted moments later.

“Perfect,” came the final response.

Prosecutors argued the prepaid phone traveled alongside O’Donnell’s personal cellphone on multiple trips between California and Tennessee and ultimately placed him near the Kentucky crime scene on the day of the killing.

Defense attorneys maintained there was no direct proof O’Donnell was the shooter and suggested another unidentified individual may have carried out the slaying. Jurors rejected that argument after deliberating for roughly two hours before convicting him.

Judge Williams also criticized O’Donnell for refusing to acknowledge responsibility.

“Maybe you’ll have time to accept your actions,” Judge Williams said. “I’m gonna sentence you to life in prison, and I’ll just tell you that I think that is most deserved.”

The judge went even further, saying he would not have been surprised if O’Donnell had received a death sentence had the case been eligible for capital punishment.

Julie Harding never faced trial. She was arrested in December 2022, but died by suicide two days later as the investigation unfolded.

O’Donnell, 64, is expected to appeal both his conviction and sentence, according to court proceedings.

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