He told police he was smoking a cigarette at 6:30 am when he noticed a car in the parking lot he had never seen before. Home Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He ruled out accidental causes for the reason for the fire and concluded that the fire was set on purpose. She was taken to the station for questioning. It had its lights off as it left the parking space in front of Ashleas apartment. Police asked Alexis if she knew who drove a black Infiniti G35. The Autopsy revealed that Ashleahad numerous injuries on her body including but not limited to, Dr Fries testified that the injuries on Ashlea's face were caused by multiple blows. out-of-date, incorrect offense/sentence details, record expunged, etc), please send an email to: Violent Offenders: Evidence and Treatment, Prison Suicide: Methods, Risk, and Prevention, Executions and Execution Rates (by State), Childhood Psychopathy Scale (CPS) (41-Item Version), Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Jung Self-Rating Scale for Depression (SDS), Borderline Personality Disorder Self-Report, California Psychological Inventory (Socialization), Correctional Mental Health Screening for Men, Black Guerilla Family: Prison Gang Profile, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-COG), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form) (GDS-SF), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD or HAM-D), Ohio Risk Assessment System - Pretrial (ORAS-PAT), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), University of Rhode Island Change Assessment(URICA), Christina Melton Crain Unit Prison, Texas Inmates & Offenders, https://offender.tdcj.texas.gov/OffenderSearch/offenderDetail.action?sid=50612977, Search is on for inmate accidentally released from Colorado jail, Search for Escaped Inmate in Ellis County, Search underway after inmate escapes in Sabine Parish, Three inmates escape Athens County correctional facility, one apprehended, Man Accused of Helping Callahan County Inmate Escape Self-Surrenders, Oklahoma DOC unveils new inmate search feature, Search continues for Inmate who escaped from Lawrence County work release, Correctional Facility or Supervision Authority, Department of Corrections Inmate / Offender Record. However, the police arrested David in the mall parking area after finding he carried no license, and officers went to their apartment and brought Carter in for questioning. Steven W. Conder. Ashlea Harris Murder: How Did She Die? He heard the door of Ashlea's apartment close and when he looked out his window, he saw a, black Infiniti G35 driving away. Cervantez claimed that the grave was not for Ashlea Harris, but for her. Carter Carol Cervantez, 27, testified that she was asleep at the time of the murder of Ashlea Harris and was forced into the robbery by her boyfriend, 21-year-old Clarence David Mallory, the Fort. She raises three points on appeal: (1) the trial court erred by denying her counsel's motion to withdraw based on the State's failure to comply with the Michael Morton Act; (2) the trial court erred by admitting recorded statements of her . Another neighbor also told police something disturbing. They founda plastic tub that contained bungee cords and arope. After missing several shifts, he was fired and barred from working at other American Eagle stores. I became interested in this case after listening to Dateline Podcast from November 29, 2019 episode entitled Black Friday. I had some questions that werent answered on the show and thought Id see what I could find. Cedillo went to the American Eagle store where Harris' boss was waiting for the owners to open up. One neighbor, Steven Lee, told police that he had a cigarette on his balcony at around 6.30am that morning and saw a car parked outside. Law Project, a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit. Keith Morrison. They discovered that Ashlea's missing keys had the store keys on them too. Ashlea had been murdered and her body and apartment had been set on fire. She claimed that when Ashlea was murdered that she was in bed asleep and she didn't know where Clarence was. They were not able to open the gate and promptly left. This manager did not close the store that night and did not appear to have the same build as the person in the video. Detective Cedillo went back to Cervantez apartment and found her in the laundry room this time wearing pink scrubs. Text messages obtained from Cervantes and Mallorys phones showed them plotting Harris murder as part of a planned Black Friday heist. It was the proceeds from the sales during the recently concludedTexas Sales Tax Holiday Weekend in August. His name was Clarence David Mallory. Police believed they were used for practice as theywerelabeled lock picking practice lock.. Ashlea identified Clarence as the person who took the money from the safe from the surveillance footage. Chris Cravey later found out that the key that was used to unlock the safe had been left unattended on a table in an area that Cervantez was folding clothes the day before. At the apartment, detectives found a box containing a taser in the trash, strands of duct tape, and a damaged deadbolt lock. He took photos of the various items found in the car. Ashlea immediately contacted loss prevention, Chris Cravey, and the district manager. They raped her for not following through with the robbery. He called 911 when his carbon monoxide detector wentoff and he realized there was a fire. Police observed that she hadsuperficial scratches on her arms. She claims that Mallory drove her to the Hulen Mall not once, but twice. They were caught within days after several witnesses identified their vehicle to be present at the crime scene and supplied the police with a strong motive for them to commit the homicide. Cervantez was the first to go to trial in May 2016. Cedillo went to the American Eagle store where Harris' boss was waiting for the owners to open up. The fire had been extinguished by then. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. He testified that at around 7.30am on the 28th of November, he woke when heheard a loud scream. That was a term the brand used toindicate that the person should not be hired at any location. However, their jobs did not last long when they were allegedly found suspects of a robbery that took place in the store on August 24, 2014. She was wearing a grey sweatshirt and a black hat. They both pleaded not guilty. It showed Cervantez buying two shovels, a rope, bungee cords, gloves, and a tarp. At the police station, police observed that he was wearing a ski mask. Police searched the black Infiniti G35 and found a plastic bag inside a black trash bag, a sharpening stone for a knife, a nine-millimeter cartridge, a cellphone, a walkie talkie and a Buck knife with a sheath. When he went to see why the smoke detector had not gone off he noticed it had been removed and placed under the mattress. Ashlea was found lying face down on the floor of her bedroom. Many retailers have special markdowns and people lose their minds trying to snatch up the bargains. Chicwanda Forbes has worked hard to make a life for herself in New Orleans, until an older man offers her the attention she craves in exchange for her loyalty. Her feet and hands were bound with duct tape and she was covered in blood, according to Texas Amarillo Globe-News newspaper. She was sentenced / adjudicated in Runnels County, Winters. . Dr Friesexplained that cricoid fractures are seen mostly in motor vehicle accidents or something involving a significant amount of force. A break came when one of Harris neighbors told police that on the morning of the murder, he noticed a black, two-door Infiniti parked in the apartment complexs parking lot which didnt belong to any of the residents. When he left for work around 7:30 am the car was still there. Another video from Texas Appliances on the north side of the mall captures Cervantez walking away from the mall towards her apartment. Her throat had been cut and she had been set on fire. The neighbor attempted several times to get into Ashleas apartment but was forced out each time due to the heavy smoke. They told authorities Harris usually left her keys on the kitchen counter, and that her home and car keys were on the same keychain as the keys to the American Eagle store where she worked. Harris hands and feet were bound with duct tape, police said. Steven Lee was an ex-cop who lived downstairs and diagonally across from Ashlea Harris. Jeff, Wallace E. Hood Jr., an arson investigator, told the Court that, multiple origins of the fire, including in the bed, on Ashleas body, and in the closet. And in Fort Worth, Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. Carter Cervantez, 27, who was an assistant manager at the Hulen Mall store, is on trial this week, accused of killing Ashlea Ann Harris, 31, on the day after Thanksgiving 2014. Ashleas friend Alexis, who was the last to see her at close to 5 am, told police that Ashlea usually left her keys and wallet on her kitchen counter. When she tried to call her back Ashlea didnt pick up. This was different. The apartment belonged to 31-year-old Ashlea Harris who resided there with her dog, Nala. Her friend left around 4:40 am with Ashlea locking the door behind her. It didn't last long. Jason Kidd hopes Mavs star stays patient in preseason play, Spring training cuts are incoming, but these Rangers prospects have impressed in camp. Next, he heard what sounded like heavy labored breathing. Dr Fries testified that the injuries on Ashlea's face were caused by multiple blows. ", Sign up to get the latest true crime stories, new product releases and more, Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more . One of Harris friends had stopped by after Ashlea got off work on Thanksgiving night and stayed until around 5 a.m. Police discovered that thirty one year old Ashlea Ann Harris lived in the apartment that was on fire. According to local news reports,the opening manager discovered $17,850.32 had been stolen from the safe. While Cervantes moved six hours away to Fort Worth, Mallory stayed in Amarillo. She admitted to not locking the back door the night of the theft. Police set up surveillance outside Carter's home and the next morning, the Saturday morning, at 8 am they saw her leave her apartment and getinto her Infiniti G35 with a man. Cervantes also received a sentence of life without parole at a. One week later Cravey called Cervantez. Court: Court of Appeals Second Appellate District of Texas at Fort Worth, Defendant's Attorney: William H. "Bill" Ray On the 24th of August 2014, at 1.14am, $18000 was stolen from the safe in the American Eagle store. 02-16-00224-CR. No charges were filed against the two. | Advertising Ashlea went through the surveillance footage and alleged Carter and David to be the burglars, as Carter was seen leaving the back door of the store unlocked when she took the garbage out the night before. Her feet and hands were bound with duct tape and she was covered in blood, according to Texas. During a break in questioning, Cervantes was given a bottle of water and left alone in the interrogation room. There are predators everywhere. It was a direct violation of the company policy, and she started facing flak for her relationship with a subordinate. Police retraced Ashlea's movements. Malloy is being held in a Potter County Jail and will be. According to the show, Carter was recorded being very careful about leaving forensic evidence, even wiping a water bottle after drinking to remove her fingerprints. Carter's case was heard first. Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. While Cervantes moved six hours away to Fort Worth, Mallory stayed in Amarillo. Cervantes helped Mallory falsify documents so she could hire him at the Hulen Mall location where she worked with Harris. A few minutes later, Patrick's. August 20, 2021, "Evil people always support each other; that is their chief strength.". Following Harris murder, the locks had been changed and the Black Friday proceeds were still inside. Wallace also determined that the ignition source was an open flame. What did they all have in common on Black Friday 2014? The Court heard that when police searched Clarence's car, which was a Cadillac, they found two shovels, a box of plastic sheeting, and a box of Craftsman sockets. Investigators believe the fire was an abrupt change in plan. So he laid back down to try to fall back asleep, but thats when the carbon monoxide detector went off. There was a scrape and lacerations of her lip, a scrape on her chin and a star-shaped laceration with a surrounding bruise behind her left earwhich the medical examiner was caused by being struck by the pistol. He heard the door of Ashlea's apartment close and when he looked out his window, he saw ablack Infiniti G35 driving away. Both Mallory and Cervantez are questioned and released despite both being caught lying and contradicting each other. The Prosecution believed that the original plan was to kidnap Ashlea using a pistol to threaten her and kill her at a different location but she put up a fight when they entered her apartment and they killed her there instead. On May 26, 2016, twenty-seven-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was found guilty of capital murder. Harris friends told investigators that she had been working around the clock in anticipation of the Black Friday sales event which started that morning. Under the drivers seat was a 9mm Glock with a round still in the chamber. Video surveillance of the mall showed that at 2 am on Saturday morning someone tried to open the security gate at American Eagle. , updated This was two weeks before Ashleas murder. She told Chris police were asking about an Infiniti G35. Carter's phone:Well, damn. Like Harris, Cervantez was an assistant manager. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.". When she was unable to get in the store the first time she walked back to the car. Police say Harris worked a late night Black Friday shift at the American Eagle store in a mall in Fort Worth and arrived home around 3:15 a.m. A neighbor below Harris told police that he heard a thump, screaming and heavy breathing around 7:30 a.m. His carbon monoxide detector then went off, and water from the sprinklers in Harris' apartment came through his ceiling. Take out all the trash andleave that. Cervantes had worked at American Eagle Outfitters for several years and managed a store in Amarillo, Texas. He was also fired per store policy. Water was spraying from the overhead sprinkling system, but Ashlea did not answer when he called out to her. He called 911 as he realized there must be a fire. Fort Worth is located in north-central Texas. Clarence David Mallory, 22, was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars in the death of Ashlea Ann Harris, 31, in a Fort Worth, Texas, courtroom on Thursday. She and her. They were there to get the keys, said Cedillo. It matched Ashlea Harris' DNA. So why did they kill Ashlea? After he missed three scheduled shifts after the burglary, he and her lover were terminated, and Carters managers keys were confiscated. The key opened the dressing room and storage closet at Hulen Mall American Eagle. On December 4, 2014, arrest warrants were issued for Carter Carol Cervantez and Clarence David Mallory Jr. And Ashlea discovered that Carter was the person due to lock up the night it was stolen and had left the back door open. Ashlea Ann Harris was murdered Nov. 28, 2014, by Clarence David Mallory, 22, and his co-defendant, Carter Carol Cervantes, 28. Cervantez asked to speak to the regional manager about her firing, but in the end, handed over her store keys. Chris looked at Clarence'spersonnel fileanddiscovered thatwhen Carterhired him, she changed his Social Security number and his name in the system so that it would not be detected or show up any red flags. All were missing. Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com. Due to that, they wanted to speak to the owner of the Infiniti G35. This was torture, prosecutor Kevin Rousseau told Snapped.. It was approximately 6 ft. long, 2 ft wide and 3 feet deep. Police could not find Cervantez inside the mall but found her later in the laundry room at her apartment; surveillance video confirmed she had walked the two miles home. She told the Court that she left Ashlea's apartment after 4am the morning of the 28th of November and that when she left, Ashlea locked the door. She said that he held the gun up to her and told her to do it and that he also claimed there was somebody waiting outside her parent's home and they would be killed also if she didn't steal the money. Police believed that Ashlea was killed between 4.15am and 7.30am. The day after Thanksgiving Day. a plastic tub that contained bungee cords and arope. Christopher Chris Cravey, Ashlea's boss, heard that police were asking about that vehicle and he told them he knew someone who drove one. Chris told police that a former employee at American Eagle, Carter Carol Cervantez, drove a similar car. Their cases were heard separately but the Prosecution case was almost the same for both with the exception that they believed Carter was the mastermind behind the crime. In reviewing the malls video surveillance Detective Cedillo saw Cervantez enter the mall wearing the same clothing he had seen her leave her apartment in. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that 27-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was convicted of capital murder Thursday and sentenced to life in prison. Ashlea was appointed to run the store while Cravey was out on medical leave. After missing several shifts, he was fired and barred from working at other American Eagle stores. He was unable to find a pulse. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. It didn't last long. I mean, my knees gave out. The district manager decided to give Cervantez a fresh start. Ashlea was the mom of the store. He opened a window in the bedroom to air it out. He then radioed for police and a crime scene unit to come to the scene. The Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. 2018) Court of Appeals of Texas Add Note Filed: November 8th, 2018 Precedential Status: Precedential Citations: None known Docket Number: 02-16-00224-CR | Editor Hetestified that it looked like a human grave. An older man offers Chicwanda Forbes the attention she craves in exchange for her loyalty. BestsellerThe Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. Mallory and Cervantez reportedly also stole $18,000 from the same store in August of 2014. He asked if she would be willing to go downtown to be interviewed and she agreed. He observedthat the smoke detector had been removed and was underneath the mattress. January 25, 2022, "The effects of abuse are devastating and far reaching. Ashlea Ann Harris loved working in retail where she could meet new people every day. He was also found found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to the, For more on this case and others like it, watch. But surveillance video confirmed she was not being truthful and it showed her leaving the mall and walking towards her home. They soon determined that Ashlea Harris had suffered blunt force trauma to her face and head, her throat had been cut, and her body partially burned. At that point, the firefighters had arrived. He tried again a second and a third time but the smoke made it an impossible task. They went directly to the safe where the night deposits were kept, unlocked it, and took the cash inside. The Ashlea Harris murder. By this time, Mallory had failed to show up for work on three consecutive days when he was scheduled. s asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The Court heard testimony fromAlexis Torres Bunch. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He noticed it because he never saw it parked there before. Authorities discovered Harris' body face down on her scorched bed with her ankles and wrists bound on Nov. 28, 2014, the. Dr. Richard Fries, deputy M.E. The Court heard that police believed that over the course of a few weeks, Carter and Clarence planned to kidnap Ashlea and steal the keys. The scream was followed by a loud thud and he, could hear labored breathing. Police have said they believe that Cervantez, 27, and Clarence David Mallory, 21, beat and bound Harris and then set her body on fire to steal her keys . Chris was in the parking lot and had been talking to Alexis Torres, who was the last person to talk to Ashlea Harris. The video showed what looked to be a male wearing a hoodie entering the back door. She was the youngest of three girls. Ashlea suspended Carter and one week later, Chris called Carter and told herthat she had beenterminated for leaving the store unsecured. Her bond was set at $500,000. Carter's testimony also included an account of a time that she claimed she was raped by two men. She claimed she spent Thanksgiving cooking dinner for her and Mallory and they watched movies afterward. The keys seemed to be the only thing missing from her apartment. Her name was Carter Carol Cervantez. Cravey and Ashlea watched the store surveillance video. A friend of hers, Alexis Torres came over. Filed: Once there, she re-hired Mallory. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. A key belonging to another assistant store manager was left in the night deposit box. Cervantez is arrested in Lubbock and Mallory is taken into custody in Amarillo. The Court heard testimony from Steven Lee. There are a lot of people at her apartment complex, which says a lot about the defendants in this case.'. Various documents were found. Shes the one that coordinated everything and came up with the plan.As per official court records, she, 34, is serving her sentence at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Clarence David Mallory took the 5th when he was brought in to testify. One of the investigators alleged, It was evident to us that Carter was the mastermind behind this and I think David was the muscle. Read More: Ashlea Harris Murder: How Did She Die? Another apartment in the complex was on fire. Police have charged Carter Cervantez, 25, and her boyfriend Clarence "David" Mallory, 19, with capital murder in the death of Ashlea Harris, 31. February 04, 2022, "The criminal justice system will take a hard look at what happened to Matthew Eappen. Patrick Sweet lived in the apartmentbelow Ashlea's apartment and hetold police that he heard a thump, screaming and heavy breathing. These included the bed, the closet, and Ashleas body. In the parking lot was a black two-door infiniti like the one seen at the crime scene. It is up to the rest of us to take an even harder look at who is minding our children. Cervantezs 21 year-old boyfriend Clarence David Mallory has also been charged. Chris went over to Detective Cedillo to tell him what he knew. It included her mother, Monica Cassity, stepfather Daddy Chuck, her father Tommy Harris Sr. and her stepmom Mary Reddy. The manner of Ashlea's death was ruled as a homicide. Upon searching Mallorys cell phone there were text messages that contained latitude and longitude coordinates. At 6:56 am Alexis noticed a missed call from Ashlea. In addition, he did not call in to request off. However, things went awry after she hired a teen employee named Clarence David Mallory Jr., then 19, and started dating him, as per local reports. Carter Carol Cervantez appeals from her jury conviction for capital murder and automatic life sentence. At that location, Detective Cedillo found what he describes as a human grave. Cervantez received life in prison without the possibility of parole. The only thing missing from Ashlea's apartment were her keys. Investigators believed Cervantes and Mallory were planning to rob the American Eagle store. Police believed she saw them talking with Clarence in the car park and walked the two miles home. 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After more evidence is gathered they are arrested on December 4, 2014. He told the Court that he lived in an apartment justbelow Ashleas apartment. Ashlea Harris looked to have severe head trauma. The Jury heard that a. t 6.56am,Alexishad a missed call from Ashlea and when she noticed it, Another neighbor, Patrick Sweet, also testified. When Detective Cedillo entered the coordinates it came up to a specific location near Lueders, Texas. The Prosecution called Jeff Kayser to testify. Ashlea's ankles were also bound with duct tape. When Ashlea arrived for work she discovered that a theft had occurred sometime overnight. Police also saw what appeared to be a fresh injury to his lower lip and his lower lip was swollen. Police spoke to him. On December 4, arrest warrants were executed, and David was arrested at a private residence in Amarillo on December 5. It turns out that Clarence was also a former employee of American Eagle. below Ashlea's apartment and hetold police that he heard a thump, screaming and heavy breathing. Her truck was still in the apartment complexs parking lot. Police asked Mallory to see his drivers license which he told them he did not have on him. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.'. Dr Richard Fries, a deputy medical examiner at the Tarrant County Medical. But Tarrant County prosecutor Kevin Rousseau told the jury that Cervantez was the one who tried to control Mallory, whose trial is pending. The couple bound Harris, brutally beat her and burned her body and apartment building in order to take the woman's store keys and steal $50,000. In May 2016, 27-year-old Carter Carol Cervantes was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to The Dallas Morning News.

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