By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch For taking a life, a Graham man could spend 20-plus years of his own in prison. Jonathan Daniel Harris pleaded guilty last week in the murder of Nicole Elizabeth White, who he admitted to beating to death a year ago. As part of a plea agreement that was entered July 28 in Pierce County Superior Court, Harris, 30, confessed to charges of second-degree murder, second-degree assault and third-degree assault. His sentencing is expected in September. Officials said he could be ordered to spend more than 26 years in prison. On June 6, 2015, White, a 28-year-old mother from Enumclaw, picked Harris up at his home and they drove to a bar in Spanaway. Several hours later, witnesses saw the two leave the bar together in White's car, authorities said. That was the last time she was seen alive, and she was reported missing on June 7. After an investigation by Sheriff Department detectives, Harris was arrested and accused of killing White after they drove back to his house, wrapping her body in a tarp and using her car to drive to a wooded areain the Kapowsin area and roll her body into a ravine. He walked home after driving her car off the side of a road in the area of 70th Avenue East and East 260th Street, where it was found by a passerby. Authorities based their case againt Harris on cell phone records and data from an the ignition interlock device in his own car. They said the latter showed that Harris drove his car back to the site where he dumped White's body. During a search of Harris' residence, detectives found the sweatshirt witnesses said he was wearing at the bar when he was seen there the night White disappeared. DNA from blood on the sweatshirt was a match to White. Her body was subsequently found by searchers. Harris is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs more than 250 pounds. White was 4-11 and weighed 110 pounds, according to officials. The two met online, authorities said. Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist praised the work of Sheriff Department investigators, led by detective John Delgado, in solving the murder. The FBI also was involved. "Justice in this caseGÇ¥ was the result of "a multi-agency, interjurisdictional effort,GÇ¥ Lindquist said.
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