In a shocking case on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri, the father of an alleged rape victim was murdered after refusing a bribe to drop the charges against the man accused of sexually assaulting his daughter.
Prosecutors allege that Lavor Harmon, 39, statutorily raped a girl under the age of 17 in March and later attempted to bribe the victim’s father to stay silent about the crime.
The Case Unfolds
Harmon was arrested and charged with statutory rape and three counts of statutory sodomy. The victim’s father made a report to Ferguson Police after Harmon’s sister, Lavonda Harmon, 44, and another unidentified man allegedly visited the father’s home in late May and offered $12,000 to convince him to stop participating in the prosecution.
The victim’s father rejected the bribe, and Lavonda Harmon was later charged with tampering with a witness. However, this was just the beginning of the tragedy.
The Father’s Murder
On July 8, 2025, the father of the alleged victim was shot and killed at his home in Ferguson, Missouri, while his daughter and another minor were present. Authorities say a white Kia was seen leaving the scene, and later that day, the suspect who shot the father was found murdered in St. Louis City, with the same Kia found burned nearby.
While the shooter has not been publicly identified, prosecutors say there is a strong connection to Lavor Harmon and his family. Investigations suggest that Harmon and his family were aware of the charges against him and attempted to influence the victim’s family to stop the prosecution.
Legal Action
Following the murder of the alleged rape victim’s father, prosecutors moved to increase Lavor Harmon’s bond from $150,000 to $2 million due to the danger he posed to the community and the victim’s family. They also emphasized his criminal history and his potential to flee, given his connection to organized crime.
The investigation into Lavonda Harmon and her involvement in the bribe and witness tampering continues, and she was arrested on July 11 but released on a $100,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on August 4, while Lavor Harmon’s next court date is set for July 31.
Community Reaction
Residents in Ferguson were left stunned by the tragic events. Local resident Latoya Carey called the murder “shocking”, and Patricia Washington from the Ferguson Police Department noted that all individuals involved in the case were known to each other, making this incident even more unsettling for the community.
