BOISE, Idaho — The Boise man accused of killing 25-year-old Jordan Harbst along the Greenbelt earlier this week will be held without bond after making his first court appearance on Friday.
Ross Allen Wardlaw, 41, of Boise, appeared in Ada County Court for his arraignment on a charge of first-degree murder. A judge ordered Wardlaw be held without bond; he is scheduled to return to court on July 20 for a preliminary hearing.
During the hearing, prosecutors revealed new details about the investigation, alleging Wardlaw told police he killed Harbst after his arrest. Additionally, they say that blood found at the crime scene matched the defendant.
READ MORE | Family remembers Jordan Harbst as ‘one of Boise’s brightest lights’ after Greenbelt killing
According to prosecutors, Harbst was riding an electric scooter along the Boise River Greenbelt shortly after midnight Monday when Wardlaw stepped in front of him and pushed him off the bike. Prosecutors said Wardlaw had generalized paranoia that people on scooters were after him.
WATCH: The suspect in the Greenbelt homicide appears in court. Why prosecutors say this was a random attack and the new evidence revealed Friday.
Prosecutors said Wardlaw then stabbed Harbst multiple times, adding that Harbst died from stab wounds to the heart and had few, if any, defensive wounds.
Watch Wardlaw's full arraignment where prosecutors revealed new details in the case —
Investigators also said the knife believed to have been used in the killing was found inside Wardlaw's bag when he was arrested on Thursday.
Police have said Wardlaw and Harbst were not known to each other and investigators have found no evidence of any prior interaction or altercation between the two men.
Watch: Police arrest man in connection with Greenbelt homicide
Idaho News 6 previously interviewed Wardlaw
Idaho News 6 previously interviewed Wardlaw less than two weeks before his arrest as part of a story about cooling resources available to Boise’s unhoused population.
Wardlaw spoke with Idaho News 6 downtown neighborhood reporter Sahana Patel about Corpus Commons, a resource center that provides services to people experiencing homelessness near the Greenbelt. During that interview, Wardlaw said the organization had helped him through some of his hardest days.
"Everybody kind of like takes care of each other and stuff like that," Wardlaw said at the time. "Sometimes I volunteer here and do the cleaning and stuff like that, just to try to pay it back — but I can never really pay it back, you know what I mean."
READ MORE | Boise cooling spaces expand to protect unhoused residents from summer heat dangers
Boise police confirmed to Idaho News 6 that the man arrested in connection with Harbst’s death is the same individual who was interviewed for the previous story.
About the victim
Harbst was 25 years old. His family and friends described him as someone who brought light to those around him.
A verified GoFundMe has been created to support Harbst’s family with funeral expenses and other costs following his death.
Idaho News 6 will continue following this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
This story has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
