Father Makes Court Appearance in Toddler's Death

By Tom Jackman

Originally published at 9:16 a.m., July 21, 2008
Updated at 2:47 p.m., July 22, 2008

A Loudoun County man who left his 21-month-old son inside a hot sport-utility vehicle in Herndon earlier this month made his first court appearance this morning after a Fairfax County grand jury indicted him for manslaughter. He was then taken into custody.

The lawyer for Miles Harrison, 49, of Purcellville said Harrison had come directly from a psychiatric hospital to the Fairfax courthouse. Harrison discovered his newly adopted son, Chase, dead inside his GMC Yukon on July 8, more than nine hours after he had arrived at his office on Herndon Parkway.

Fairfax authorities obtained a manslaughter warrant for Harrison, but never served it because he was almost immediately hospitalized for psychiatric observation. The Fairfax grand jury met yesterday and handed up the indictment. The day after the grand jury meets is called "term day" in Fairfax, when the indictments are unsealed and defendants appear to hear the charges and set a trial date.

Harrison waited in the audience with his family until his case was called. Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Ian M. Rodway asked Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Marcus D. Williams to set a $10,000 bond for Harrison.

Peter D. Greenspun, Harrison's lawyer, asked that Harrison be released on a pledge to reappear in court. Williams noted the charge was manslaughter. "The issue is: Was it an accident?" Greenspun said.

"Mr. Harrison literally came from the hospital here today," Greenspun continued. "He's doing okay, but he's still pretty fragile."

Williams set a bond at $5,000, and Harrison was handcuffed and taken out of the courtroom by sheriff's deputies. Harrison did not speak during the brief arraignment. Greenspun declined comment afterward.

Tagged: children, police, Purcellville

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