23:46 GMT 24 Aug 2017 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. Chris was in the parking lot and had been talking to Alexis Torres, who was the last person to talk to Ashlea Harris. Her feet and hands were bound with duct tape and she was covered in blood, according to Texas. These included a black trash bag, a sharpening stone for a knife, a 9mm cartridge, a cell phone, a walkie-talkie, a buck knife sheath, a plastic tub, mens boots that had a cell phone in them, clothing, a toboggan with a hole cut in it, a tarp still inside the package and a kitchen knife. He was arrested for not having his driver's license on him. Saturday Tarrant County Sheriffs arrested 25-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez. The couple lived only two miles from Ashleas apartment. Sign up to receive the Free Law Project newsletter with tips and announcements. He asked if she would be willing to go downtown to be interviewed and she agreed. She told the Jury that he controlled her and even told her when she could eat or drink. So he laid back down to try to fall back asleep, but thats when the carbon monoxide detector went off. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! rely on donations for our financial security. When Detective Cedillo entered the coordinates it came up to a specific location near Lueders, Texas. Cervantez alleges that she did not commit the murder and was asleep in her apartment when Harris was robbed and killed. Patrick thought that perhaps someone had come to pick Ashlea Harris up for work as her pick-up truck remained in its parking space. When he realized it was Ashlea's apartment and when he observed her car was still parked outside, he ran upstairs and kicked her door down. He was also fired per store policy. She admitted that she tried to access the American Eagle store but claimed she only did so because Clarence threatened to kill her if she didn't . The Court heard testimony from Steven Lee. A mysterious fire, missing keys, and a black sports car. He was also found found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to the Dallas Voice newspaper. The Court heard that inJune 2014, Ashleawas appointed to run the store while Chris was on medical leave. When he went to see why the smoke detector had not gone off he noticed it had been removed and placed under the mattress. All were missing. It was the proceeds from the sales during the recently concludedTexas Sales Tax Holiday Weekend in August. Due to that, they wanted to speak to the owner of the Infiniti G35. He testified that the presence of. It is the13th largest city in the US. Ashlea had been murdered and her body and apartment had been set on fire. Officers found Mallory waiting in Cervantes car in the Hulen Mall parking lot and took him into custody. The Autopsy revealed that Ashleahad numerous injuries on her body including but not limited toa laceration on the right side of her scalp, on her cheek and the left side of her face and a patterned bruise on the right side of her face, a bruise between her eyes and around her left eye. They both pleaded not guilty. , updated At 6:56 am Alexis noticed a missed call from Ashlea. Police believed they were used for practice as theywerelabeled lock picking practice lock.. It turns out that Clarence was also a former employee of American Eagle. Police conducted a second search of the apartment on December 4th and found a key in the kitchen trash can. Communication between Mallory and Cervantez led police to a shallow hole in a town more than a hundred miles away. Woman Convicted in Death of Former Co-Worker in Fort Worth | Link Errors They founda plastic tub that contained bungee cords and arope. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. An older man offers Chicwanda Forbes the attention she craves in exchange for her loyalty. I said, Thats Ashleas tattoo,' said Naylor. If you believe this Record is in error (i.e. NBCs Black Friday chronicles how Ashlea Harris was murdered by two spiteful former co-workers, Carter Cervantez and David Mallory, in Fort Worth, Texas, in November 2014. Mallory drove the car to another mall exit. Lets find out. The Prosecutor,Kevin Rousseau,told the Jury: "There are no good murders. Mallory and Cervantez reportedly also stole $18,000 from the same store in August of 2014. Cervantez claimed that the grave was not for Ashlea Harris, but for her. Jason Kidd hopes Mavs star stays patient in preseason play, Spring training cuts are incoming, but these Rangers prospects have impressed in camp. Dr Richard Fries, a deputy medical examiner at the Tarrant County MedicalExaminers Officer, performed the Autopsy on Ashleas body. 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. But surveillance video confirmed she was not being truthful and it showed her leaving the mall and walking towards her home. Harris was born in 1983 and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. He requested that they stop the black Infinity if they witnessed any type of traffic violation. Shes the one that coordinated everything and came up with the plan, said Cedillo. Cervantes was allowed to go home. She transferred to the Hulen Mall location and held an assistant store manager position. 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. On Tax Free Weekend and Black Friday, those were our highest deposit days, said Groen. In addition, we got Ashleas DNA on this gun that was in Carter Cervantes car, said Kevin Rousseau. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Carter's case was heard first. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.'. After work, Ashlea returned to herapartment around 3.15am and Alexis called over for a few minutes. The fire had been extinguished by then. . The manner of Ashlea's death was ruled as a homicide. It looked new as there was notany noticeable wear and the plastic price tag fastener was still attached. Cervantes also received a sentence of life without parole at a. Harris' hands and feet were bound in duct tape, reports CBS affiliate KHOU, which cites court documents filed by Fort Worth police. Police could not find Carter inside the mall even though they saw Clarence drop her off at the door. That was a term the brand used toindicate that the person should not be hired at any location. Jeff Kayser to testify. Prosecutors also showed evidence that Cervantez and Mallory were planning to rob the American Eagle in Abilene (where they had previously worked). 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. She was taken to the station for questioning. They had been dating which was a violation of store policy. It didn't last long. When he realized it was Ashlea's apartment and when he observed her car was still parked outside, he ran upstairs and kicked her door down. Carter Carol Cervantez is a 33 year-old who was listed as being under the supervision of the department of corrections in Christina Melton Crain Unit Prison, Texas. Helived downstairs and diagonally across from Ashlea. It was a latenight due to Black Friday sales and Alexis looked after Ashlea's dog Nala while Ashlea was working. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - A woman charged in connection to the death of a former co-worker who was beaten, bound, strangled and set afire has been found guilty. Steven W. Conder. The Court also heardpolicefoundlatitude and longitude coordinates on the cell phones. Police argue that the couple beat Harris and then set her body on fire, taking the keys to the Hulen Mall American Eagle Outfitters store in order to steal up to $50,000 in profits from a Black Friday sale. Prosecutors for the case showed surveillance video of Cervantez buying shovels and other gear on November 21st, with the intention of digging a grave for Harris. At Carter's Trial, her Defense was that she was not involved in Ashlea's death. 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. Ashlea immediately contacted loss prevention, Chris Cravey, and the district manager. 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. 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. He also described seeing the dark-colored vehicle driving away shortly after hearing Ashleas front door close. Carter Carol Cervantes worked as a store manager of an American Eagle Outfitters outlet in Amarillo, Texas. It was the 28th of November 2014. 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. Police have charged Carter Cervantez, 25, and her boyfriend Clarence "David" Mallory, 19, with capital murder in the death of Ashlea Harris, 31. Around 8 am Ft. Worth Fire Department Lt. Jarrod Pavlechko arrived on the scene. Before fire and rescue workers arrived a neighbor, Jeff Kayser, kicked in her door calling out for her and Nala. Alexis Torres Bunch. 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. Documents: Hulen Mall employee strangled by former co-workers
For that reason, the fire seemed like an afterthought to me, Fort Worth Police Detective Ernie Pate told Snapped.. Defendant in American Eagle murder trial testifies | Fort Worth Star Her truck was still in the apartment complexs parking lot. He met his girlfriend Carter Cervantez there. | Articles Clarence David Mallory, 22, would meet a similar fate in August 2017. Clarence David Mallory took the 5th when he was brought in to testify. Cervantez was the assistant store manager who was to lock up the night of the theft. This was most likely a lighter and the accelerant was rubbing alcohol. As a result of his incompetency, he was fired, and American Eagle put him on the Do Not Hire Again list. Her throat had been cut and she had been set on fire. A bottle of it found near the body. From Free Law Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. 1 Comment, "My family and myself are good, decent and very honest people. Cervantes also received a sentence of life without parole at a. Firefighters put out the blaze and found 31-year-old Harris dead on her bedroom floor. Fort Worth police, who had been staking out Cervantez s residence, followed the pair to the mall and arrested Mallory in his car outside after 3 Cervantez went inside. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He told police that Carter had gone into the mall to collect some papers but when police searched the mall, she wasn't there. ", 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 . previously worked at an American Eagle store in Amarillo and was listed in the American Eagle system as, Ashlea suspended Carter and one week later, Chris called Carter and told her. She and her. They also found another lock labeled lock picking practice lock. 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. It is up to the rest of us to take an even harder look at who is minding our children. In her testimony, Cervantez describes abusive behavior from Mallory, who she says threatened to kill her family if she didnt comply with his orders. During a break in questioning, Cervantes was given a bottle of water and left alone in the interrogation room. One suspect in 2014 Black Friday slaying gets life in prison, Clarence David Mallory, Jr. v. The State of Texas Appeal from 297th District Court of Tarrant County (memorandum opinion), Woman gets life for beating, binding, burning co-worker at Fort Worth mall in robbery plot, Police: Couple beat, strangled, burned woman News, Ashlea Harris Obituary Fort Worth, TX | Star-Telegram, Benbrook man gets life for killing Hulen Mall manager, Carter Carol Cervantez v. State CourtListener.com, Defendant in American Eagle murder trial testifies, Belle Gunness The Mistress of the Murder Farm, Kendall Francois The Poughkeepsie Killer, Dateline Podcast Black Friday November 29, 2019. This was two weeks before Ashleas murder. 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. The couple were arrested this weekend Cervantez in Fort Worth and Mallory in Amarillo on warrants accusing them of capital murder for Harris's slaying and theft $1,500 to $20,000 for the. Carter was a former employee at the American Eagle store where Ashlea worked but she was fired in August. CourtListener is sponsored by the non-profit Free Law Project. Ashlea Harris was outgoing and personable while the other assistant store manager, Carter was more straight-laced and reserved. When he looked out the window he witnessed a dark-colored vehicle driving away. Carter Carol Cervantez, 26, and Clarence David Mallory, 19, are both being held on $600,000 bond. It was only at that point that Chris discovered that it was Carter who had hired Clarence and he found out that Clarence hadpreviously worked at an American Eagle store in Amarillo and was listed in the American Eagle system as non-rehireable." David, 27, is incarcerated at the Jim Ferguson Unit in Midway, Texas. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The Court heard testimony fromAlexis Torres Bunch. App. She is described by the store manager, Chris Cravey, as being a phenomenal employee who was loved by everyone.. But at least there are some you can understand. Carter Carol Cervantez faces capital murder charges in connection with the death of Ashlea Harris. Ashlea worked on November 27th from 5:30 pm until 3:12 am to prep the store for Black Friday. Police also saw what appeared to be a fresh injury to his lower lip and his lower lip was swollen. Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock,two other locks that had been used for practice. Both Mallory and Cervantez are questioned and released despite both being caught lying and contradicting each other. The apartment belonged to 31-year-old Ashlea Harris who resided there with her dog, Nala. 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 . She told the Court she did not kill Ashlea and played no part in her death. Clarence Mallory Jr. and Carter Cervantez are accused of murdering Ashlea Harris after she left her job late at night at a mall in Fort Worth. By this time, Mallory had failed to show up for work on three consecutive days when he was scheduled. The keyring also had the front gate key and store key on them. the Court. Combined Opinion from Surveillance cameras caught her wiping down the bottle after drinking from it in order to remove any traces of DNA. Inside he found 2 shovels and a box of plastic sheeting. He was able to determine that the fire had multiple points of origin. This case has not yet been cited in our system. And Ashlea discovered that Carter was the person due to lock up the night it was stolen and had left the back door open. In August 2016, Clarence David Mallory was found guilty of murder one after one hour of jury deliberation. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Chris went over to Detective Cedillo to tell him what he knew. They were scheduled to make a deposit that morning of the proceeds from the Black Friday sales. There were extensive text messages between the two as they watched the store. . She told police that she didnot leave the apartment complex at all that day. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She said that she did not. CBS DFW - Fort Worth Police arrested two suspects in the | Facebook Many retailers have special markdowns and people lose their minds trying to snatch up the bargains. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.". Detective Cedillo decided to stake out Cervantez and Mallorys apartment arriving around 3:45 am on Saturday, November 29, 2014. In looking at a police department database, Cedillo found that Cervantez and her boyfriend, Clarence Mallory had been suspects in an August 24, 2014 theft at America Eagle. And in Fort Worth, Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. Then he heard a loud thump right above him as Ashleas bedroom was directly above his. He observed. What did they all have in common on Black Friday 2014? Cedillo went to the American Eagle store where Harris' boss was waiting for the owners to open up. Cedillo went to the American Eagle store where Harris' boss was waiting for the owners to open up. Mallory and his girlfriend Carter Carol Cervantez, 28, plotted to kill Harris Harris, 31, was the store manager of an American Eagle store in Fort Worth, TX Mallory and Cervantez bound Harris . Benbrook man gets life for killing Hulen Mall manager | Fort Worth Star December 10, 2014 / 11:07 AM He forced her to enter and rob American Eagle at gunpoint and threatened to kill her family if she didnt do what he asked. On November 29th search warrants were obtained for Cervantez and Mallorys apartment, the black Infinity, and Mallorys Cadillac. 27-year-old old Carter Carol Cervantez is on trial for capital murder in the killing of Ashlea Ann Harris, whose body was found on November 28, 2014. The keys seemed to be the only thing missing from her apartment. Wallace E. Hood Jr., an arson investigator, told the Court thathe locatedmultiple origins of the fire, including in the bed, on Ashleas body, and in the closet. Ashlea Ann Harris was murdered Nov. 28, 2014, by Clarence David Mallory, 22, and his co-defendant, Carter Carol Cervantes, 28. Nobody knew for certain whether Ashlea was inside or not. When he left for work around 7:30 am the car was still there. This was somebody who killed her out of anger. Cervantez was recently found guilty of her involvement and sentenced to life in prison without parole in May 2016, reported the Star-Telegram. Police believed that Ashlea was killed between 4.15am and 7.30am. But on the morning of November 28, 2014, a call came into the Fort Worth Fire Department from the River Ranch Apartments, where Harris lived. 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. A few minutes later, Patrick'scarbon monoxide detector went offand he sawwater dripping from the ceiling in his bathroom. Carter's phone:Well, damn. Two arrests made in Fort Worth murder case | wfaa.com Powered by Shopify. Ashlea Ann Harris was murdered Nov. 28, 2014, by Clarence David Mallory, 22, and his co-defendant, Carter Carol Cervantes, 28. There are predators everywhere. reunited in Fort Worth and moved in together. Prosecutors showed video surveillance from Home Depot a week before Ashlea Harris was murdered. Woman Convicted in Death of Former Co-Worker in Fort Worth Ashley Harris - Murdered By American Eagle Co-Workers - CDP He testified that he wokethat morning when he heardthe sound of the fire alarms. Chris told police that a former employee at American Eagle, Carter Carol Cervantez, drove a similar car. There was a cut on the right side of Ashlea's neck which was caused by a knife and bruises and abrasions on her neck, chest and right arm. A neighbor told police that he had heard a thump and screaming from the apartment, the police affidavit said. 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. The police also analyzed their mobile phones to find they had exchanged texts planning the murder and methods of disposing of the corpse. | Recent Lawyer Listings After Ashlea Harris pointed to David Mallory and Carter Cervantes as the most likely culprits to have robbed an American Eagle store, the couple was furious. The Prosecution called Jeff Kayser to testify. The Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. 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 get into her Infiniti G35 with a man. It was a black Infiniti G35. 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. He saw Cervantez exit the vehicle wearing and enter the mall. Cervantes helped Mallory falsify documents so she could hire him at the Hulen Mall location where she worked with Harris. While Cervantes moved six hours away to Fort Worth, Mallory stayed in Amarillo. Police observed that she hadsuperficial scratches on her arms. He asked him why he was in the parking lot so early in the morning. He called 911 as he realized there must be a fire. Harris hands and feet were bound with duct tape, police said. 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. arrived on the scene. This manager did not close the store that night and did not appear to have the same build as the person in the video. ", by Chilling Crimes Woman gets life for beating, binding, burning co-worker at Fort Worth He determined the source of all the smoke was coming from the bedroom and specifically the bed. She testified at her own Trial and told the Court that she was afraid of Clarence. Detective Cedillo testified that one of the text messages on Clarence's cell phone contained latitude and longitude coordinates and when he entered them into Google Earth, it revealed a locationnear Lueders, Texas. 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.