The Washington Post - USA (2022-03-07)

MONDAY, MARCH 7 , 2022. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ RE B5

eventually called 911 and sum-

moned police to the McLean resi-

dence.

Police found Helen Hargan

slain in an upstairs bedroom with

a gun, according to a search war-

rant. They found Pamela Har-

gan’s body downstairs in a laun-

dry room with shell casings scat-

tered around it.

In the days that followed, po-

lice announced the killings were a

murder-suicide. O ’Carroll indi-

cated that police knew early on

the scene was allegedly staged b ut

did not publicly change their ac-

count of what happened because

they didn’t want to tip off Megan

Hargan.

Tamara North, Pamela Har-

gan’s sister, declined to comment

before the trial b ut said in previ-

ous Facebook messages to The

Washington Post that it was hard

for t he family to have Helen Har-

gan p ublicly and falsely accused

of killing her mother for over a

year.

“She deserves to be remem-

bered fondly,” North said of Helen

in one message. “She would have

done great things with her life.”

In the months before her

death, North said Helen Hargan

had graduated from Southern

Methodist University in Texas

with a double major and had

moved back home with her moth-

er. North said she loved horses

and traveling. Helen Hargan had

spent six weeks in the Australian

Outback with a host family when

she was 16.

Pamela Hargan was a vice pres-

ident of human relations at gov-

ernment contractor SAIC and

had spent two decades previously

at Lockheed Martin in a similar

role.

Fairfax County prosecutors

convened a multi-jurisdictional

grand jury to probe the case. In

November 2018, it issued murder

and weapons indictments against

Megan Hargan, then 35, who was

arrested in West Virginia.

After her arrest, Megan Har-

gan allegedly told detectives that

she wanted to take blame for the

killings, according to a prosecu-

tion filing.

“I can confess to whatever,” she

is quoted as telling detectives. “I

just want my family to move on. ...

It’s been awful living in purgato-

ry.”

Megan Hargan’s trial has been

delayed a number of times be-

cause of the coronavirus pandem-

ic and the Public Defender Of-

fice’s accusations that prosecu-

tors failed to turn over evidence

in the case in a timely fashion.

Fairfax County Common-

wealth’s Attorney Steve Descano

declined to comment on the case

because it was pending, but he

said in a statement that “my heart

goes out” to the Hargan family.

“We are eager to present the

evidence to a jury and pursue

accountability for this tragic

crime,” Descano said.

police account of what happened.
Police say the time stamp on the
video is incorrect, but the defense
plans to contest that during the
trial, according to the public de-
fender’s filing.
The Fairfax County Public De-
fender Office said its attorneys
only learned of the video and the
defendant’s written statements
shortly before the original trial
date in 2019 and unsuccessfully
argued the failure to turn over the
evidence was grounds for dis-
missing the case.
The incident played out in 2017
on July 13 and 14, with part of it
captured in a series of chilling
phone calls between Helen Har-
gan and her boyfriend.
Evidence indicates Megan Har-
gan called one of her mother’s
banks impersonating her and re-
quested nearly $420,000 be
transferred from her mother’s ac-
count to a title company handling
the closing of Megan’s new home
on July 13, according to a prosecu-
tion filing in the case.
The bank alerted Pamela Har-
gan, who put a freeze on the
transfer, the filing states.
About 11:30 a.m. the next day,
Helen Hargan’s boyfriend told
authorities, s he called him sob-
bing hysterically, prosecutors
wrote.
Helen told her boyfriend that
Megan had come into her room
and told her “she just shot her
mother,” according to the filing.
“Megan is downstairs somewhere
on the computer transferring
funds,” Helen told her boyfriend,
the filing states.
Helen’s boyfriend then asked
her why Megan shot the sisters’
mother. Helen replied that Me-
gan told her “she got caught doing
an escort service deal” and Pam-
ela Hargan was going to take
away Megan’s then 8-year-old
daughter who also lived with
them, according to the prosecu-
tion filing.
The boyfriend urged Helen to
get Megan’s daughter out of the
home and call police, but Helen
kept stammering, “I can’t believe
this,” prosecutors wrote.
A short time later, Megan Har-
gan transferred nearly $420,000
from another bank account of her
mother’s to the title company
handling the closing for her
home, prosecutors said in the
filing.
The frantic phone calls be-
tween Helen and her boyfriend
continued over the next hour.
The video evidence highlight-
ed by the defense shows Megan
Hargan’s car leaving the home at
12:58 p.m., according to a defense
filing. The boyfriend received
texts from Helen’s phone after
that, but prosecutors wrote in
their filing that t hey believe Me-
gan Hargan sent the messages.
The defense disputes that.
Helen Hargan’s boyfriend

TRIAL FROM B1

Woman denies killing her mother, sister inside their McLean home in 2017

COURTESY OF FAIRFAX COUNTY POLICE

Megan Hargan i s questioned after her arrest in 2018 in the slaying of h er mother a nd younger sister.

“This is a tragedy —

domestic violence at

i ts worst.”

Maj. Ed O’Carroll,

Fairfax County police

Washington Post newsletters

deliver more of what you’re looking for.

Discover and subscribe for free at

washingtonpost.com/newsletters

S0114 2X3.25

P

litics

?

The CaseStudy®

Since our first renovation over 60 years ago we’ve

been a team of visionaries, but we recognize

that some things should be consistent every

time. Our unique approach to the remodeling

process is tried and true. It’s so effective that we

had to give it a name: The CaseStudy®. We guide

you through every step, using 3D renderings to

bring new possibilities to light. At every phase of

our work, we’ll maintain strict attention to time

and budget. Don’t forget our 5-year warranty.

Because you are our highest priority.

Visit our website to set a virtual appointment

or to learn more.

CaseDesign.com I 844.831.5 966

MD MHIC #1176 | VA # 2701039723 | DC # 2 242

Our commitment to providing a safe, healthy,

and respectful worksite and experience.

®

Balance. Harmony. Beauty.

Are our ultimate pursuits.

Whether you’re considering an

outdoor oasis, food lover’s kitchen,

or owner’s suite. Because during these

times, home is more important than ever.

Jacuzzi Bathand satisfactor Remodel Midy completion of-Atlantic is finance documenneither a brts. Jacuzzi Bath Roker nor a lender. Financinemodel Mid-Atlantic does g is provided by Greenskynot assist with, counsel o, LLC under terms and conditions arr negotiate financing. *Subject to credit approranged directly between the cval. Minimum monthlustomer and Grey payments required duensky, LLC, all subject to ring the promcredit requirementsotional

full before the expirperiod. Making minimation of the promoum monthly payments durtional pering the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumeriod will not pay off the entire pr loan programs is proincipal balancevided by federally insured. Interest is billed during the promotio, federal and state charnal period, but all interest is waivtered financial institutions without regared if the pud to agerchase amount is paid in, race, color, religion,^

national orExcludes previous orderigin, gender, or familial stats and installations.us. Discount app All products include prolied at time of contrfessional insact execution. All purchase prtallation. Offer is not valid wices to beith any other adv calculated prertised or ior to apunadvertised discouplication of discount. All purchase prnts or promotionices to be cals. Limit of one discount per purcculated prior to applicahase contrtion of discount.act. Void where (^)
prohibited by law or regulation. Offer expires 03/31/22. Offer may be cancelled without prior notice. Offer has no cash value and is open to new customers only. MHIC #146907
(240) 222-606 7
CALL TODAY FOR FREE QUOTE
FREE INSTALLATION
NO INTEREST FOR 18 MONTHS
Plus Additional Savings for
Military, Seniors, First Responders,
and Teachers
Remodel Your Bathtub & Shower IN JUST ONE DAY!