[3] The first victim was 42-year-old Denise Marie Harris (no relation), whom DeWayne met on First Avenue in downtown Seattle.
[2] Along with an unnamed accomplice, they strangled Denise with a belt, removing some of her clothing and then binding her hands and ankles with shoelaces.
After picking her up from an apartment building at Airport Way South, Harris and Smith engaged in a violent argument about exchanging drugs for sex, after which DeWayne took out a knife and stabbed her numerous times and slashed her throat.
[4] At his trial, Harris, strapped in a restraining chair because of his unruly behavior, was described as a cunning and manipulative predator who preyed on vulnerable women.
[6] According to his attorney, John Hicks, his only reason for confessing was that he "wanted Seattle to recognize there was a serial killer."
Dewayne Lee Harris murders and related investigation were adapted in the first episode of "Real Detective", a Canadian produced docudrama.