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Home > Blogs > Greene County News > Archives > 2009 > July > 13 > Entry
Yellow Springs killer agrees to plea deal
XENIA — The Yellow Springs man set to go to trial today, July 13, for the alleged bludgeoning death of his childhood friend agreed to a last minute plea deal with prosecutors.
Phillip K. Cordell, 48, will spend five years in prison for the 2004 killing of Timothy Harris, 45, who was struck in the head with an ashtray. Cordell was scheduled to go to trial for murder and involuntary manslaughter today, but agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and five years in prison.
Yellow Springs police investigated the case for four years and Cordell was always a suspect. During the inquiry he was serving a prison sentence for an unrelated burglary and was charged with Harris death shortly before leaving prison.
“Police never gave up,” said Suzanne Schmidt, first assistant county prosecutor. “It was a long investigation and we ended it with him taking responsibility.”
Cordell apologized to the victim’s family members present in the court room Monday saying he wanted to “pay respect” to Harris family and two daughters and he was “sorry for their loss.”
Sgt. Thomas Jones, Yellow Springs police, said the plea will bring some closure to his small community. “It doesn’t bring this young man back,” Jones said. “He was loved in the community.”
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Yellow Springs
Comments
By Bob540
July 13, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
Personally, I’m tired of offenders’ apologies. The time for a change of heart is BEFORE the crime, not after.By larry
July 13, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this
Justice certainly has been served here. This was a tragedy for everyone.By jan
July 13, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
Sounds like it started out as a fight, not a crime. Like the guy in Cincinnati who pushed someone in a bar during some dumbass macho drunk incident, and the second guy fell down, hit his head just the wrong way and died. The person isn’t any deader for it being an accident, but there was no malice or intent there. The guy has had this on his conscience for years, I hope now everyone can have some peace. Just a tragic mess all around.By jan
July 13, 2009 1:48 PM | Link to this
Oops, I meant “the person isn’t any LESS dead,” of course.By denise
July 13, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this
This is truly a tragedy. Its is truly sad that people do not want to the truth. We as people always accept what the news paper and police tell them. But tp truly know the truth we seem to put blinders on. Greene County has always been unfair in their dealing with “some than others “. But on thing for sure is that is done in the dark will surly come to light.By denise
July 13, 2009 2:15 PM | Link to this
This is truly a tragedy. Its is truly sad that people do not want to know the truth. We as people always accept what the news paper and police tell them. But to truly know the truth we seem to put blinders on. Greene County has always been unfair in their dealing with “some than others “. But on thing for sure is that what is done in the dark will surly come to light.By cat
July 13, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this
Know justice has not been served. I wish that everyone truly knew what was involved with this man taking the plea. This truly sad for both families. I hope that Yellow Springs Police department are truly happy with this insane outcome. That they just don’t want the truth to be known. I hope that the Harris family and as well as the Cordell family can get together and really try and find the real killer. We all have some kind of past but that does not make us a killer. May God Bless Both Families.By Jim 5
July 13, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
Why does there seem to be a childish theme to this story? “Childhood friend” and “young man”? Why can’t the News just report this as a man (48) murdering another man (45) by landing blows to his head using an ashtray? This is a simple murder and the death penalty should have been available. The sergeant was way out of line by declaring “closure”. No one in his family was killed.By Walt
July 13, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this
TO: “Cat” — If you want ‘…the truth to be known’, then state the facts as you know them so we can all ‘…find the real killer.’ From where I sit, guilty people take ‘plea deals’ not innocent people.By confused
July 13, 2009 3:35 PM | Link to this
I don’t know the details of this crime, just the scant information in the article presented here, but 5 years for taking a man’s life by bashing his head with a heavy object doesn’t seem like justice to me.By Julie
July 13, 2009 5:51 PM | Link to this
I knew both of them, not well, but saw them in someones home often. Tim was a mild man, Phil could get very angry. Once, in a fight in the home I mentioned earlier-where police were called. I do believe he did it & that Tim had to defend himself since his wrists were broken. The ash tray was a large, heavy floor model, not a little ash tray. I don’t think justice was served at all, 5 years is no where near long enough.By tbill
July 13, 2009 7:32 PM | Link to this
Compare this sentence to that of the woman who prostituted her daughter: life in prison. This guy admits guilt for killing a man and gets 5 years. Justice? No.By NotConfused
July 13, 2009 7:34 PM | Link to this
Confused, This was a tough case for the prosecution. No witnesses. Forensics hindered by the body not being found for a while. Timmy was a good guy but had a serious alcohol issue. Proving intent to kill wasn’t going to be easy. The defendant may have gotten away with one here but I can’t blame the system here.By cat
July 13, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this
To Julie: Where you there when this happen? Are an expert or even for that matter Have A degree in the medical field? You say that you knew both of them”a little”. But do you truly know all the facts? Everyone in entitled to there own opinion. But its like you are saying that you seen Phil hurt this guys? But if you truly do not know this person as well then how can you state that he is a killer?By cat
July 13, 2009 8:59 PM | Link to this
You know, This may good reading, or even just something to for everyone by responding to this. But the true tragedy for both families. They both have to pick up all the pieces to this puzzle and try to make their lives somewhat normal. Both families knew each other. They both are from Yellow Springs, How do you think that these people are to come together in a small town of Yellow Springs? I think that we all need to send prayers out to both families.By T, Moore
July 13, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this
The real crime here is the 5 year sentence for murder! What a joke! People get more time for much lesser crimes. The signal is clear. Kill someone and get am easy sentence at the taxpayers expense, then we will let you out of jail to do it all over again. The family of the victim has no justice at all. It’s a mere slap on the wrist. What are you thinking?By Julie
July 14, 2009 12:07 AM | Link to this
Cat, I did’nt have an intimate relationship with either of these men, but I live in Yellow Springs. I don’t have a medical degree. I don’t want to say whose house they were both in or how I know so much, but I am in the middle of this. I’ve known many of the the details of this from the beginning. I have to admit I’m afraid to say too much, because he will be out in a few years. He is getting the time he’s spent in jail off from the 5 years. He will get maximum of 4 years and three months. Tim did drink a lot, but he was never mean or violent, just kind of silly & funny. I may move when he gets out. His own dad died myteriously & his girlfriend (who was with the father & him when the father died has commited suicide.) There was a girl in the 70’s who died & he was the person with her when she died. There are a lot of people afraid of him getting out. He didn’t get enough time for anyone in Yellow Springs I’ve talked to today. His own family put him in jail soon after the murder, for robbing them. If you know more Cat, you should say so.By Cat
July 14, 2009 1:17 AM | Link to this
To Julie: I want you to know that this will cost my relationship with the family. I have known this family for some 50 years. I’m in touch with on almost a daily basis. I know that they all have concerns about their father. The thing that gets them the most is that when one of the girls that was with Phil had came to the funeral home when their dad died and made a statement to the family about his death. They took it to the yellow springs police and nothing was done. They belive that if yellow springs police had done something at that time and if their brother had done that to timmy maybe he would have still been alive. I wish that everyone could see the pain this family is going through not knowing or maybe in their hearts they do know. But they hurt for the family of the HArris every much. You know they where not in touch with Phil during any of this. One of his sister is so upset about their dad and tim that today she had seek medical treatment. So yes they are afarid as you are. And has justice been done for them NO. I will relate your feeling as well as the imformation that you have posted.By C
July 14, 2009 1:33 AM | Link to this
To Julie: If you know more about his father or anything that you can help them uncover more information to help them solve the death of their father, I’m begging you to get in touch with them. They need to put him to rest right. They do not live in Ohio. I wish that I could post my phone but I don’t want the phone calls from everyone else. I know that they would love anything that anyone can give them to help them solve this case with their dad. Julie I’m truly sorry that you had to go through this. But please put them in your prayers as well as the HArris. If you are in touch with the Harris family please let them know that they are in their corner.By Julie
July 14, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this
I really don’t know more then I said. I’m more on the edge of this whole thing, with someone I love dearly very effected by this. The things I know are through this person who did have a close relationship with Tim & Phil did work in this person’s home. That’s how I was in the same house with them at different times. I live with this person & I fear more for this person then for me, but I’m there all the time. It is very sad for both families, I agree. I really liked Phil’s father, Victor & uncle Corky, both very sweet men. I didn’t go to the funeral for Victor, but went to the grave side & also the viewing. I wish I did know more.By jlm
July 14, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this
Timmy was a wonderful thoughtful human being who was kind to all who he crossed paths with. Many a night we would get flowers from him that he picked on his walks downtown. Phil is an angry mean person that should have gotten ALOT more than 5 yrs. If they think justice has been served they are dead wrong. Timmy will never be brought back but Philip should have been put away for life or better yet put on death row. My thoughts are with Cindy and Tim’s daughters. I know that nothing can bring Timmy back but remember all the GREAT and WONDERFUL times that were had. May god bless you all and help you to find peace.By Mary
July 15, 2009 12:10 AM | Link to this
I have known Phillip all my life and I knew Timmy. This sentence is really something. I don’t think Phillip should die for his crime because I don’t belive in the death penalty but somehow 5 years just doesn’t seem like long enough. Yellow Springs is a small town and residents have known who did this for a long time. What can be said? Timmy you’re missed. To the Cordell family stay strong. To Timmy’s family I’m sorry.By annonymous
July 16, 2009 12:57 AM | Link to this
what freind committed suicide?