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Ashlea's ankles were also bound with duct tape. Police could not find Carter inside the mall even though they saw Clarence drop her off at the door. He determined that Ashlea'scause of death was asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head and neck. He also described seeing the dark-colored vehicle driving away shortly after hearing Ashleas front door close. 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. 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. He moved to Ft. Worth and reunited with Carter, who allegedly falsified his social security number to cheat the system and get him employment at the Ft. Worth store. Carter Carol Cervantez. Next, he heard what sounded like heavy labored breathing. Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock,two other locks that had been used for practice. He observed. Harris hands and feet were bound with duct tape, police said. He took photos of the various items found in the car. 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. Jeff was a neighbor and friend of Ashlea's. However, her loyalty to the store where she was employed would tragically lead to her death. Cervantes was later located at her apartment and agreed to meet with detectives. 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. He thought that somebody had collected Ashlea for work. She and her. 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. He called 911 as he realized there must be a fire. 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. Chris told police that a former employee at American Eagle, Carter Carol Cervantez, drove a similar car. Carter's case was heard first. . Police found burn marks on her body and she had been strangled and her throat wasslit. A 911 call was made by a resident at an apartment complex in Fort Worth, Texas, United States to ask for help. Police observed that she hadsuperficial scratches on her arms. The 31-year-old was an assistant manager at the American Eagle Outfitters store in the Abilene mall in Texas. It showed Cervantez buying two shovels, a rope, bungee cords, gloves, and a tarp. Firefighters managed to control the fire and it was only then they discovered that Ashlea was inside. Another neighbor, Patrick Sweet, also testified. The neighbor attempted several times to get into Ashleas apartment but was forced out each time due to the heavy smoke. Her lover, David, continued working at the Amarillo store but began to miss shifts regularly. She was the one that you wanted to like you because if you got on her bad side there was no coming back from it. She was tentatively identified by her tattoos. When Ashlea arrived for work she discovered that a theft had occurred sometime overnight. The apartment belonged to 31-year-old Ashlea Harris who resided there with her dog, Nala. But Carter never forgave Ashlea, with Leticia saying, She was the one that you wanted to like you because if you got on her bad side, there was no coming back from it. Harris friends told investigators that she had been working around the clock in anticipation of the Black Friday sales event which started that morning. David, 27, is incarcerated at the Jim Ferguson Unit in Midway, Texas. Joyce Marshall jlmarshall@star-telegram.com FORT WORTH. She stole Ashleas keys to commit another theft with an even bigger payoff. (Fort Worth PD) Harris, who was a manager at the store, had. Ashlea Harris was outgoing and personable while the other assistant store manager, Carter was more straight-laced and reserved. I said, Thats Ashleas tattoo,' said Naylor. The Jury heard that at 6.56am,Alexishad a missed call from Ashlea and when she noticed it, just a few minutes later, she called her back but there was no answer. Wallace also determined that the ignition source was an open flame. He testified that he wokethat morning when he heardthe sound of the fire alarms. The keys seemed to be the only thing missing from her apartment. He observedthat the smoke detector had been removed and was underneath the mattress. The couple had been fired from the American Eagle store at the Hulen Mall after being suspected of stealing nearly $18,000 from the store's safe in August 2014. 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I said, Can you tell me anything? He said, Ill ask you a question, does Jeremiah 29:11 mean anything to you? And I just fell down. He was arrested for not having his driver's license on him. A mysterious fire, missing keys, and a black sports car. No charges were filed against the two. Police began talking to neighbors including Patrick Sweet, who told them about the unusual sounds he heard coming from Ashleas apartment that morning. This manager did not close the store that night and did not appear to have the same build as the person in the video. It had its lights off as it left the parking space in front of Ashleas apartment. Carter Carol Cervantez, 26, and Clarence David Mallory, 19, are both being held on $600,000 bond. Prosecutors showed video surveillance from Home Depot a week before Ashlea Harris was murdered. They later found her at her apartment complex doing laundry. So what was the motive for such a savage attack? At that point is where it all becomes apparent why they killed Ashlea Harris. Harris boss told investigators the car was similar to a vehicle owned by former American Eagle Outfitters employee Carter Cervantes. A woman was found guilty of capital murder Thursday for helping to beat, bind and set fire to another woman as part of a Black Friday robbery scheme in 2014. A coworker was slapped with life in prison for beating and burning to death a store manager on Black Friday so that he could take her store keys and steal $50,000. She claims that Mallory drove her to the Hulen Mall not once, but twice. It was a latenight due to Black Friday sales and Alexis looked after Ashlea's dog Nala while Ashlea was working. our Backup, Combined Opinion from s asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head and neck. Cervantez also testified that Mallory raped her when she didn't do what he wanted. She told the Court she did not kill Ashlea and played no part in her death. Jason Kidd hopes Mavs star stays patient in preseason play, Spring training cuts are incoming, but these Rangers prospects have impressed in camp. Cervantez claimed that the grave was not for Ashlea Harris, but for her. He testified that the presence ofpetechiae in Ashleas eyes reflected asphyxia or strangulation and that afractured cricoid is: the least common place wesee fractures in asphyxia or strangulation-type deaths because it consists of cartilagethat is pliable.". The scream was followed by a loud thud and he, could hear labored breathing. Harris and other workers helped identify them as suspects, KHOU reports. January 25, 2022, "The effects of abuse are devastating and far reaching. Police believed she saw them talking with Clarence in the car park and walked the two miles home. He called 911 when his carbon monoxide detector wentoff and he realized there was a fire. 27-year-old old Carter Carol Cervantez is on trial for capital murder in the. Cervantez received life in prison without the possibility of parole. Police searched their apartment. He testified that at around 7.30am on the 28th of November, he woke when heheard a loud scream. | Editor 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. For that reason, the fire seemed like an afterthought to me, Fort Worth Police Detective Ernie Pate told Snapped.. One of her former co-workers, Leticia Groen, explained, They werent supposed to be dating because she controlled his pay, she controlled how much he worked, and she would just give him more preferential treatment. Under the drivers seat was a 9mm Glock with a round still in the chamber. By The only thing missing from Ashlea's apartment were her keys. Carter Carol Cervantez faces capital murder charges in connection with the death of Ashlea Harris. 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. Chris went over to Detective Cedillo to tell him what he knew. 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. Police had to establish if they were involved in Ashlea's death what the motive was. Carter was a former employee at the American Eagle store where Ashlea worked but she was fired in August. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Fort Worth Police arrested two suspects in the November 28 murder of Ashlea Harris. 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. | Store Video surveillance of the mall showed that at 2 am on Saturday morning someone tried to open the security gate at American Eagle. He told the Court that he lived in an apartment justbelow Ashleas apartment. Chicwanda Forbes; Carter Cervantez: With Iyana A. Campbell, Jordan Clifford, Herbert Lee Frazier III, Reginald Garner. Who Killed Her. All were missing. 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 . The next day, Mallory drove her back to try again. The trial for the horrific murder of an American Eagle employee on Black Friday began this week in Fort Worth, TX. 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. Clarence David Mallory, 22, would meet a similar fate in August 2017. 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. While they were let go initially, the investigators had search warrants for their apartment and car. Precedential, Citations: Documents say the only thing missing from Harris' apartment were her keys, which contained the keys to the American Eagle store as well as the safe. Unsure of her career path, Harris began working in retail in her early 20s. Once there, she re-hired Mallory. He was eventually labeled as non-rehirable in the American Eagle system. This was most likely a lighter and the accelerant was rubbing alcohol. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.'. At that point, the firefighters had arrived. There are predators everywhere. He noticed it because he never saw it parked there before. 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. Rousseau added: 'Imagine the horror, someone is probably sitting on you while someone else is taping up your hands and then your ankles. November 8th, 2018, Precedential Status: 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. He called 911 as he realized there must be a fire. | Recent Lawyer Listings Her bond was set at $500,000. Fort Worth Police Detective Jerry Cedillo was staking out the apartment on the morning of November 29 when he saw Cervantes and Mallory get in her car and drive to the Hulen Mall. Inside he found 2 shovels and a box of plastic sheeting. The manner of Ashlea's death was ruled as a homicide. And in Fort Worth, career-driven Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. The key opened the dressing room and storage closet at Hulen Mall American Eagle. And in Fort Worth, Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. It took them just two hours to find her guilty and she was sentenced tolife in prison without parole. Carter Carol Cervantez appeals from her jury conviction for capital murder and automatic life sentence. 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. Does Alan Cumming Really Live in a Scottish Castle? The perpetrators had stolen Ashleas store keys and were allegedly planning to break into the store again and steal more money. He heard a scream at around 7.30am. Her throat had been cut and she had been set on fire. One week later Cravey called Cervantez. Clarence's phone-We left it. In August 2016, Clarence David Mallory was found guilty of murder one after one hour of jury deliberation. SHARE NEXT UP Young Woman in the Center of a Murder | For My Man S6/EP27 | Airdate: Nov 29, 2021 <span>Runtime: 00:01:30</span> Though Mallory was arrested for driving without a license, he was also released from custody. In the parking lot was a black two-door infiniti like the one seen at the crime scene. 1 Comment, "My family and myself are good, decent and very honest people. The locks at American Eagle were for precautionary reasons, Cedillo told Snapped.. The Court heard that the car was still there when Steven left for work after 7.30am. She was sentenced / adjudicated in Runnels County, Winters. Carter Carol Cervantez, 27, enters court Tuesday, May 17, 2016, with defense attorneys Steve Gordon, right, and Bill Ray, not pictured. 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 . On the 24th of August 2014, at 1.14am, $18000 was stolen from the safe in the American Eagle store. It is up to the rest of us to take an even harder look at who is minding our children. Law Project, a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit. Police conducted a second search of the apartment on December 4th and found a key in the kitchen trash can. The State waived their right to seekthe death penalty and instead looked forlife in prison without parole. Detective Cedillo spoke to Chris Cravey, who was Ashleas boss at American Eagle, and asked if he knew anyone who drove a black Infinity. The Jury heard that Clarence was arrested in the car park at the mall . After Carters two-door black Infiniti G35 was identified to be on the scene by witnesses and officers followed the couple to the mall the next morning. 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. Carter Carol Cervantez v. State - CourtListener.com Carter Carol Cervantez v. State, 02-16-00224-CR (Tex. At Clarence's Trial, he claimed that he was not involved in Ashlea's murder but the Jury also did not believe him and he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Cervantes also received a sentence of life without parole at a. Surveillance footage from the Hulen Mall captured Cervantes trying to break into the American Eagle store on the morning of November 29 with Harris stolen keys, unaware that the locks had been changed. Dr Friesexplained that cricoid fractures are seen mostly in motor vehicle accidents or something involving a significant amount of force. Take out all the trash andleave that. Lets find out. Video from American Eagle picks her up approaching the gate. 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. She was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole on May 26, 2016. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. After that, she went to work. Whoever was the last person to leave had locked the door behind them. Assuming that there may be a fire in Ashleas apartment he dialed 911. Somehow they avoided looking up at the camera. December 10, 2014 / 11:07 AM Cervantes also received a sentence of life without parole at a. Protect yourself and those you love. She would always find a way at work to make it harder on you.. Combined Opinion from Police also saw what appeared to be a fresh injury to his lower lip and his lower lip was swollen. Ashlea Harris looked to have severe head trauma. Who Killed Her? She told police that she didnot leave the apartment complex at all that day. They were not able to open the gate and promptly left. 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. On their cell phones, they had images of Ashlea's apartment, her apartment door and her vehicle. Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about. When police looked at mall surveillance the video showed a person wearing a grey sweatshirt and black hat arrive at the security gate at American Eagle. A few minutes later, Patrick's. He forced her to enter and rob American Eagle at gunpoint and threatened to kill her family if she didnt do what he asked. He was also fired per store policy. Since this was a violation they took him into custody. Clarence David Mallory took the 5th when he was brought in to testify. Cheyenne Roundtree For Dailymail.com Jeans with FWPD Crime Scene Unit. App. She purchased what Im going to describe as a murder kit, said Rousseau. 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. Cervantez was the assistant store manager who was to lock up the night of the theft. A neighbor told police that he had heard a thump and screaming from the apartment, the police affidavit said. Knives and a loaded gun were found inside Cervantes Infiniti while the shovels and other items were in the trunk of Mallorys vehicle. There was a significant amount of blood around her body which indicated she had been beaten and her hands were bound with duct tape behind her back. She is described by the store manager, Chris Cravey, as being a phenomenal employee who was loved by everyone.. On December 4, 2014, arrest warrants were issued for Carter Carol Cervantez and Clarence David Mallory Jr. 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. 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. 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. 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 . The couple lived only two miles from Ashleas apartment. David received the same sentence on August 24, 2017. Detective Cedillo went back to Cervantez apartment and found her in the laundry room this time wearing pink scrubs. Due to that, they wanted to speak to the owner of the Infiniti G35. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! In the meantime, Detective Pate, Cedillos partner, made contact with Mallory. He had looked at his alarm clock and saw the time was 7:30 am. He was also a former employee at the same American Eagle store where Ashlea worked and he was Carter's boyfriend. Like Harris, Cervantez was an assistant manager. The Court heard that inJune 2014, Ashleawas appointed to run the store while Chris was on medical leave. They raped her for not following through with the robbery. 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. Patrick testified that he thought about what he should do. The manner of Ashlea's death was ruled as a homicide. . 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. Both suspects were booked . judgment. Domestic violence speaks many languages, has many colors and lives in many different communities. Harris friends told investigators that she had been working around the clock in anticipation of the Black Friday sales event which started that morning. Ashlea suspended Carter and one week later, Chris called Carter and told herthat she had beenterminated for leaving the store unsecured. He is 22 years old. The prosecution alleged Carter to be the mastermind behind the homicide. Outcome: Having overruled all three of Cervantezs points, we affirm the trial courts The following opinions cover similar topics: CourtListener is a project of Free Carter Carol Cervantez was arrested Dec. 6, 2014. I need to take care ofthat. The Court heard testimony fromAlexis Torres Bunch. Via the Star-Telegram: Cervantez testified that she and Mallory went to Cleburne and rented a motel room on Nov. 28, but later that day Mallory had her drive to Hulen Mall while he toyed with a 9 mm Glock handgun he held in his lap. Cravey indicated that he did. The two men, who were strangers to her, were invited into the apartment by Clarence and she was raped by both of them. 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. by Chilling Crimes The Court heard testimony from Steven Lee. They were arrested and charged with capital murder, according to the, 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, Clarence David Mallory, 22, would meet a similar fate in August 2017. Ashlea Ann Harris loved working in retail where she could meet new people every day. Both Mallory and Cervantez are questioned and released despite both being caught lying and contradicting each other. Upon searching Mallorys cell phone there were text messages that contained latitude and longitude coordinates. It was a direct violation of the company policy, and she started facing flak for her relationship with a subordinate.