Father of slain 6-year-old: 'I've got to deal with it'
Updated Apr 02, 2019; Posted Dec 24, 2007
By Jim Six
jimsix@sjnewsco.com
DEPTFORD TWP., N.J. -- Jarod Harding's father will meet with a funeral director Wednesday morning, then appear in court, hoping to get his 9-year-old daughter back.
Photo provided by Harding family
Christina Harding
Martina Harding, 42, allegedly cut her 6-year-old son's throat with a 13-inch kitchen knife Saturday morning in the living room of the family's home on Dartmouth Drive. Christian Harding says his son screamed with his last breath for his sister, Christina, to get away.
Mrs. Harding turned the knife on herself, causing wounds that required surgery at Cooper Medical Center in Camden. Jarod was pronounced dead at Underwood-Memorial Hospital in Woodbury.
Mrs. Harding remains under guard, charged with murder, aggravated assault, child endangerment and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. Her bail is $500,000 cash.
The state Division of Youth and Family Services took Christina and put her into a foster home for her own safety on Saturday.
Harding, an unemployed computer consultant and programmer, had no word about his daughter until late Monday afternoon.
DYFS gave permission for Christina to talk to her father on the phone, but the little girl is still overwhelmed by what has transpired and her "foster mother" called instead, Harding said.
"Maybe she'll call me later tonight," said a sniffling Harding.
Harding said he's been out of work only a short time and was in the midst of bankruptcy porceedings.
"I program. I'm a good programmer," Harding said. He appreciated offers he's received of help, but said, "Give me a job so I can pay the bills."
Although Harding wouldn't talk directly about his wife being charged with his son's murder, he said, "As far as the kids, no," he had not seen any signs that Martina would turn violent.
The woman in whose home his daughter is staying told him Christi was "playing with the other girl and was happy," although she also had been speaking with counselors.
"I'm grateful for that," Harding said. "Up until this evening, I didn't know where she was. I wanted to give her a hug goodbye, but they wouldn't let me. I don't want her to think I'm mad at her."
His daughter, Harding said, "is going to want a real honest explanation one day" of what happened, and he wants to be the one to give that explanation.
He said he'd also gotten his first "we want you out" call from a neighbor, who'd told him he didn't think Harding and his daughter would want to be moving back to the neighborhood.
"I've got to deal with it," he said.In a statement, posted on a Web site set up by brother, Rolf Harding, the distraught father wrote that he wanted his daughter to know that her brother was a hero and saved her life.
Jarod's young cousins also posted notes on the site.
"I am sorry he died, I will miss playing video games with him," said 6-year-old Giovanni.
Ten-year-old Amanda said she was "sad that Jarod died and happy that Christi is alive."
Max, Jarod's 13-year-old cousin, was "at a loss for words."
Sources said there were no holiday decorations and no Christmas tree in the Harding home on Saturday.
Deptford police, with the cooperation of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Policemen's Benevolent Association, bought Christmas presents for Christina and gave them to her Monday at the foster home where she's staying.
"We saw a little smile on her face," said one Deptford officer who helped to deliver the gifts. "It was good for her. It was good for our officers."
Deptford police officers -- on their own initiative -- also went to the Harding house on Sunday and "cleaned it up, did what we could to straighten it up" so Harding would be able to return without facing remaining signs of the gruesome crime committed there.
Deptford police officers are also considering setting up a trust fund for Christina Harding.
Harding on Monday signed papers with the state to provide funding for his son's funeral.
Bernie Weisenfeld, spokesman for the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, said victims may seek compensation from the state Victims of Crime Compensation Agency. The department covers up to $5,000 of funeral costs.
-- Staff writer Trish G. Graber contributed to this report.