ROGERSVILLE — One of the two Hawkins County fugitives wanted in the March 20 shooting death of 36-year-old Christopher Varalli was captured Thursday afternoon by the U.S. Marshal’s Service office in Gainsville, Fla.
The Marshal’s office told the Times-News that Randy Edwin Harr, 49, previously of Kingsport, was located living in a tent in a wooded area in Gainesville around 4 p.m. Thursday.
Harr was indicted Monday by a Hawkins County grand jury on charges including first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary and felony murder.
Harr is accused of shooting Varalli and then setting Varalli’s mobile home in the Stanley Valley community on fire to destroy evidence. A passing fireman saw smoke and put out the fire before evidence including hair found in Varalli’s hand was destroyed.
Harr’s wife, Lisa Marie Harr, 40 also of Kingsport, is still wanted on charges related to covering up the murder and tampering with evidence. Authorities believe she is hiding out in New York.
A third suspect accused of aiding in the cover up, James Anthony Hall, 52, of Kingsport, was already locked up in Sullivan County on unrelated probation violation charges when the indictments were handed down Monday.
The motive for the murder is believed to be related to an altercation that occurred the morning of the killing between Varalli, and the 16-year-old stepson he was raising. That stepson, who is Mrs. Harr’s biological son, was arrested the morning of the murder.
