Man Held in Pipe Bombing Also Suspected in Slaying, Prosecutor Says

A Del Mar Heights real estate investor being held in connection with a pipe bombing last year is also a suspect in the slaying last month of his ex-wife, a federal prosecutor said in court Friday.

The suspect, David Scott Harrison, 31, was also involved in a “pattern of harassment” against his ex-wife, Ann Marie Jenkins, her husband and her family, Assistant U.S. Atty. Larry A. Burns charged before a U.S. magistrate.

“Mr. Harrison was hell-bent on making life miserable for the Jenkinses,” Burns told the court.

A few days before his ex-wife’s slaying, Burns charged, Harrison hinted to a friend that he would be involved in something that would make the television news.

After a lengthy hearing, U.S. Magistrate Barry Moscowitz ordered that Harrison continue to be held without bail. Although Harrison has been formally charged only in the pipe bombing, Moscowitz called him a “prime suspect” in his ex-wife’s slaying and ruled he was a risk to flee and posed a threat to prospective witnesses against him.

During the hearing, Burns painted a picture of Harrison as a dangerous man and a cunning criminal seemingly obsessed with revenge against his ex-wife; her father, Harry Wanket, of Escondido; and against Gary Jenkins, who married Ann Marie after she and Harrison were divorced in 1982.

The prosecutor did not explain specifically what caused Harrison’s anger, but did allude to the “acrimonious” legal battles in the past two and a half years involving custody, visitation rights and support payments for the couple’s two children, ages 8 and 9.

“I think Mr. Harrison is a person (who) is sophisticated, is familiar with criminal means, who is schooled in committing the perfect crime and getting away with it,” Burns said.

Harrison--a wiry man with dirty-blonde hair who was dressed in a prison-issue orange jumpsuit, sandals and white socks--sat mostly emotionless through the hearing, which lasted more than two hours.

Among the items found to have been in Harrison’s possession, Burns said, were four pipe bombs; a .357 magnum revolver; false identifications; and books with titles such as “The Joy of Cold Revenge,” “The Revenge Book,” and “The Perfect Crime and How To Commit It.”

No motive has been suggested for the slaying of Ann Marie Jenkins, but Burns said authorities have ruled out robbery and sexual aggression.

On the Sunday before his ex-wife’s death, Burns said, Harrison transported three gym bags containing the books, pipe bombs and other potentially incriminating material to a friend’s house in Escondido, explaining that he feared his home might be searched by police. When asked why he would have such a suspicion, Burns said, Harrison allegedly advised his friend: “Watch the TV. Something big is going to happen Wednesday or Thursday, and it’ll become clear to you then.”

The following Thursday, Feb. 18, Jenkins, 30, was found slain in her San Marcos home, the victim of strangulation and a slashed throat. She and her husband had recently won $727,000 in the state lottery.

Investigators apparently soon focused on Harrison as a suspect, according to testimony Friday, but authorities have yet to bring a formal charge in state court. Testimony indicated he was able to explain his whereabouts on the day of the slaying when interviewed by authorities.

Harrison’s lawyer, Barton C. Sheela, said he had seen no evidence linking his client to the slaying.

Harrison is being held on federal charges of manufacturing and possessing pipe bombs and setting off a pipe bomb in Vista in June. The bomb was placed in a van parked in the driveway of a home where Pamela Jenkins, the ex-wife of Gary Jenkins, was asleep with her children.

Ten days after that bombing, Burns said Friday, Harrison threatened to harm Pamela Jenkins’ children.