Edward Harper Jr. pleads guilty to attempted murder, rape and five other crimes

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A Bismarck man pleaded guilty to attempted murder, rape and five other felonies in connection with a December 2023 incident. Edward Harper Jr. admitted to following a woman to her home and attacking her on the evening of Dec. 22.

Harper admitted breaking into the victim's home, raping and beating her while demanding money and making racist comments. Police said they found Harper covered in blood in the apartment the next morning after the victim said she ran away and called 911.

“Mr. Harper, do you agree that this happened that evening?” said Judge Daniel Borgen of the South Central District.

“Yes. I agree,” Harper said.

The state says it has reached an agreement with Harper. Terms of the agreement were not immediately available.

In addition to attempted murder and attempted rape, Harper is also charged with attempted rape, terrorism, burglary, robbery and criminal oppression.

“He brutally beat her during that encounter and throughout the course of that encounter. She was not allowed to call 911. She wasn't allowed to have her phone. “She was not allowed to leave the apartment,” said Burleigh County Prosecutor Julie Lawyer.

Harper is scheduled to be sentenced in February. He is being held at the Burleigh Morton Detention Center on $1 million bail.

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