Boise police have arrested a local man in connection with the killing of a 25-year-old man whose body was found along the Boise River Greenbelt earlier this week.
Ross Wardlaw, 41, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. and booked into the Ada County Jail on a first-degree murder charge. Police say Wardlaw is accused of stabbing Jordan Harbst multiple times in an attack that happened shortly after midnight on Monday as Harbst was walking along the Greenbelt near 11th Street.
According to investigators, Wardlaw and Harbst had no prior relationship, and there was no known argument or conflict between them before the attack took place. Detectives with the Boise Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit worked to identify Wardlaw as a suspect following days of investigation.
What Happened the Morning Harbst Was Found
Officers were first called to the scene around 7:30 a.m. on July 6 after someone reported an unresponsive man along the Greenbelt between Pioneer Pathway and 11th Street. When officers got there, they found Harbst dead and closed off the area while detectives began working the case.
At the time, investigators believed Harbst had died sometime between midnight and 7:30 that morning. The Ada County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his identity and said he was pronounced dead behind West River Street on the Greenbelt.
Officials did not release a cause of death right away, saying they wanted to protect the investigation, but Thursday’s announcement confirmed Harbst died from stab wounds.
Police Chief Speaks on Rare Violent Crime
Boise Police Chief Chris Dennison addressed the case publicly, saying his department’s detectives, officers, and staff had been working nonstop since Harbst was found to track down whoever was responsible. He noted that a crime like this is uncommon for Boise and acknowledged that a violent incident along a public greenway can shake the community’s sense of safety.
Dennison said the department remains focused on both solving the case and reassuring residents, and he thanked the public for their patience as the investigation continues.
Detectives are still asking anyone who had contact with Wardlaw in the days before or after the stabbing to reach out to Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Harbst’s family is planning a candlelight vigil in his memory this Friday, July 10, just before midnight, at the same stretch of Greenbelt between 11th Street and Pioneer Street where he died. A GoFundMe has also been set up to help the family cover funeral costs and living expenses during this difficult time.
The Ada County prosecutor’s office has not yet released details on when Wardlaw is expected to appear in court.
