Harley Feldman: Father of Allison Feldman dies after daughter's murderer was found guilty

PHOENIX - Just weeks after Ian Mitcham was found guilty of killing Allison Feldman, we have learned that the murder victim's father, Harley Feldman, has died.

The backstory:

Harley was originally from Minnesota, but he had lived in the Phoenix area for nearly a decade, after Allison was found murdered inside her home back in 2015.

Mitcham was arrested in 2018 in connection with Allison's murder. Mitcham was identified as the suspect via familial DNA. That later became the subject of a legal battle, as the DNA profile of Mitcham was created using a vial of blood that was collected as part of a separate and unrelated case that also involved Mitcham. The state's Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the DNA evidence can be used.

Mitcham was found guilty of murdering Allison on April 9, 2026.

"It's been a long haul," Harley said after Mitcham was found guilty of murdering Allison. "I've done this for Allison all the way, and we won today."

At the time, Harley said that with the guilty verdict, Allison's death has now been avenged in the best way possible. He had also said that while Mitcham's sentencing will bring justice, it will never bring full closure.

"The problem is we have the life sentence," said Harley at the time. "We'll never have her back, and that's the really hard part."

Harley's Legacy:

Over the past 11 years, Harley went above and beyond to get answers and justice for Allison, becoming an inspiration for countless people. 

"He was just amazing. He was an amazing human being," Harley's daughter, Kelly Feldman Weinblatt said.

Weinblatt said her late father was front and center in his daughters’ lives from the start.

"Super involved, always willing to help me with my chemistry and calculus homework in high school. My sister Allison was a competitive dancer, and he’d be there helping with the makeup and the bun and all the things," Weinblatt said. 

Big picture view:

After Allison's murder, she said the passion Harley had to get justice led him to lawmakers, like former State Senator Maria Syms. Syms worked with him to get familial DNA testing ruled admissible in court— a breakthrough that led to an arrest three years into Allison’s case.

"Not only did he get justice for Allison, hard-fought, hard-won justice for Allison, but he also managed to get justice for 24 other families and became a crucial voice in the victims’ rights movement in getting familial DNA testing in other states," Syms said. 

Syms says she considered Harley a friend and a hero.

"There are some people when you serve in public service that are memorable, and harley feldman and his family are some of those people," Syms said. 'He really shines as an example of resilience and courage."

Dig deeper:

"We’re so grateful that he was able to hear that guilty verdict," Weinblatt said. 

Following the verdict in April, Harley had shared his message for families to keep their faith, something his own loved ones are doing now.

"I do like to think that they are back together, I try to think of it that way. I think I’m still kind of in shock and numb right now, but I do lean on my faith," Weinblatt said. "You know your dad is amazing but then to really just read the impact that he’s had on other people, I mean I cried while reading them and in a good way."

What we don't know:

A cause of death for Harley has not been released.

What He Said:

We recently interviewed Harley on Newsmaker, in what would turn out to be his final interview with us.

"Have you come to some type of, I don't want to say forgiveness, that's a strong word…" FOX 10's John Hook asked Harley.

"I have not forgiven him," Harley replied. "I don't want to have feelings against him the rest of my life. I got what I set out to do, which is a guilty verdict in the court system. Now. we'll let the legal system do what it's destined to do."

What's next:

Mitcham is awaiting sentencing.

PhoenixCrime and Public SafetyNews