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. As a result of his incompetency, he was fired, and American Eagle put him on the Do Not Hire Again list. It was evident to us that Carter was the mastermind behind this and I think David was the muscle. 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. On their cell phones, they had images of Ashlea's apartment, her apartment door and her vehicle. He ruled out accidental causes for the reason for the fire and concluded that the fire was set on purpose. Powered by Shopify. 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. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Cervantes and Mallorys apartment and found a shopping receipt from November 21 for shovels, gloves, duct tape, rope, and a tarp. Since this was a violation they took him into custody. This Record may not reflect actual, complete, or up-to-date data. I think theres a fire upstairs in the apartment above me, the caller said in his 911 call, which was obtained by Snapped.. The scream was followed by a loud thud and he, could hear labored breathing. 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. 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. In August 2014, a hooded burglar had stolen $18,000 from the American Eagle Hulen Mall store following Texas Sales Tax Holiday Weekend. It turns out that Clarence was also a former employee of American Eagle. It looked new as there was notany noticeable wear and the plastic price tag fastener was still attached. Cervantez also testified that Mallory raped her when she didn't do what he wanted. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Each is charged with one count of capital murder. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Hetestified that it looked like a human grave. Police have charged Carter Cervantez, 25, and her boyfriend Clarence "David" Mallory, 19, with capital murder in the death of Ashlea Harris, 31. She denied being at the Hulen Mall that morning. arrived on the scene. The prosecution alleged Carter to be the mastermind behind the homicide. Under the drivers seat was a 9mm Glock with a round still in the chamber. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She recalls being raped multiple times by friends of Mallorys and being coerced into the robbery. judgment. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts. He was also found found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to the Dallas Voice newspaper. This was two weeks before Ashleas murder. He heard the door of Ashlea's apartment close and when he looked out his window, he saw a, black Infiniti G35 driving away. It had its lights off as it left the parking space in front of Ashleas apartment. Firefighters found her strangled and burned body early in the morning on Nov. 28. I didnt touch it. One of the investigators alleged, It was evident to us that Carter was the mastermind behind this and I think David was the muscle. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.". There are a lot of people at her apartment complex, which says a lot about the defendants in this case.'. 1 Comment, "My family and myself are good, decent and very honest people. Police believed she saw them talking with Clarence in the car park and walked the two miles home. They went directly to the safe where the night deposits were kept, unlocked it, and took the cash inside. | Store She was the really cute, fun, outgoing person and so a lot of people were attracted to her, regardless of whether they were a boy or a girl, Ashleas best friend Stephanie Naylor told Snapped," airing Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen. Investigators determined the fire started in Harris bedroom and that rubbing alcohol had been used as an accelerant, despite its low flammability. She was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole on May 26, 2016. 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. 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. 2018) Court of Appeals of Texas Add Note Filed: November 8th, 2018 Precedential Status: Precedential Citations: None known Docket Number: 02-16-00224-CR Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. Filed: Harris boss told investigators the car was similar to a vehicle owned by former American Eagle Outfitters employee Carter Cervantes. He thought that somebody had collected Ashlea for work. 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. Police tracked Cervantes and Mallory to an apartment near the Hulen Mall. Then he gathered up some belongings, moved his car away from the building, and waited for the fire department to arrive. Cervantes had worked at American Eagle Outfitters for several years and managed a store in Amarillo, Texas. Mark Sedwick, a special agent with the FBI and a member of the Cellular Analysis Survey Team, testified as to the content of texts that had been sent at 11.52amon the 28th of November between Clarence's phoneandCarter's phone: Carter's phone-Hey, remember that thing you said I didnt clean well?Did you clean it? Who Killed Her? Carter Carol Cervantes worked as a store manager of an American Eagle Outfitters outlet in Amarillo, Texas. | Editor carbon monoxide detector went offand he sawwater dripping from the ceiling in his bathroom. They later found her at her apartment complex doing laundry. Close to $18,000 was missing from the safe. He observed. He continued to lie in bed wondering what was going on in his upstairs neighbors apartment (Ashleas apartment). 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. Nobody knew for certain whether Ashlea was inside or not. He testified that when he entered the apartment, itwas full of smoke and water was spraying from the sprinkler system. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Though the theft remained an open case with the Fort Worth Police Department, American Eagle believed it had enough evidence to fire Cervantes and Mallory. He forced her to enter and rob American Eagle at gunpoint and threatened to kill her family if she didnt do what he asked. While Cervantes moved six hours away to Fort Worth, Mallory stayed in Amarillo. He told police that Carter had gone into the mall to collect some papers but when police searched the mall, she wasn't there. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Cheyenne Roundtree For Dailymail.com, 'Multiple' US Army drill sergeants at Fort Benning suspended after sexual assault allegations surface, 'It's tough to watch him struggle': Hugh Hefner's son opens up about his dad's health struggles as reclusive Playboy founder hasn't been seen in public in over a year, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, TN residents say Jack Daniel's distillery spews black mold, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' The State waived their right to seekthe death penalty and instead looked forlife in prison without parole. A Friday. Before fire and rescue workers arrived a neighbor, Jeff Kayser, kicked in her door calling out for her and Nala. Investigators believe the fire was an abrupt change in plan. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The Black Infiniti G35 was searched by Officer J.J. First published on December 10, 2014 / 11:07 AM. / CBS News/AP. Police have charged Carter Carol Cervantez, 25, and her boyfriend Clarence "David" Mallory, 19, with capital murder in the death of their former co-worker, Ashlea Harris, 31. Detective Cedillo entered the mall looking for Cervantez but was unable to find her. Police also saw what appeared to be a fresh injury to his lower lip and his lower lip was swollen. Our district manager basically gave her the option to quit or to get transferred. Carter chose to get a transfer and was shifted to a store in the Hulen Mall in Fort Worth, Texas. A. loaded Glock 19 with a bullet in the chamber was found under the driver's seat. She told Chris police were asking about an Infiniti G35. It took them just two hours to find her guilty and she was sentenced tolife in prison without parole. He testified that at around 7.30am on the 28th of November, he woke when heheard a loud scream. Harris friends told investigators that she had been working around the clock in anticipation of the Black Friday sales event which started that morning. And in Fort Worth, career-driven Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. The day after Thanksgiving Day. Her name was Carter Carol Cervantez. Prosecutors say Cervantez and her. After work, Ashlea returned to herapartment around 3.15am and Alexis called over for a few minutes. Cervantez is arrested in Lubbock and Mallory is taken into custody in Amarillo. He was arrested for not having his driver's license on him. Police found burn marks on her body and she had been strangled and her throat wasslit. When she tried to call her back Ashlea didnt pick up. Im so sorry I forgot. the Court. Carter was a former employee at the American Eagle store where Ashlea worked but she was fired in August. The two disappeared after the theft and were not arrested until police tracked them down on Dec. 6. Patrick testified that he thought about what he should do. Unsure of her career path, Harris began working in retail in her early 20s. Chicwanda Forbes gets the attention she craves from an older man in exchange for her loyalty; Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. Carter's testimony also included an account of a time that she claimed she was raped by two men. The couple lived only two miles from Ashleas apartment. Harris' hands and feet were bound in duct tape,. 27-year-old old Carter Carol Cervantez is on trial for capital murder in the. Upon searching Mallorys cell phone there were text messages that contained latitude and longitude coordinates. 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. s asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head and neck. None known, Docket Number: Kevin Rousseau, Tarrant County prosecutor, said of their crime: 'At a minimum this took at least a month of planning. 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. He testified that the presence of. On December 4, 2014, arrest warrants were issued for Carter Carol Cervantez and Clarence David Mallory Jr. Fired One week later Cravey called Cervantez. Christopher Chris Cravey, Ashlea's boss, heard that police were asking about that vehicle and he told them he knew someone who drove one. Carter's case was heard first. At that point, the firefighters had arrived. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. February 04, 2022, "The criminal justice system will take a hard look at what happened to Matthew Eappen. When he went to see why the smoke detector had not gone off he noticed it had been removed and placed under the mattress. Firefighters put out the blaze and found 31-year-old Harris dead on her bedroom floor. (Fort Worth PD) Harris, who was a manager at the store, had. 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. 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. ", 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 . The Court heard that inJune 2014, Ashleawas appointed to run the store while Chris was on medical leave. 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. Precedential, Citations: Ashlea felt that the perpetrator was Mallory. Ashlea immediately contacted loss prevention, Chris Cravey, and the district manager. 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. Read More: Ashlea Harris Murder: How Did She Die? A downstairs neighbor, Patrick Sweet, was lying in bed when he heard a loud scream. The 31-year-old was an assistant manager at the American Eagle Outfitters store in the Abilene mall in Texas. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. They went to the store as planned on the Saturday morning with the keys but the lockshad already been changed. Cerevantez and Mallory had previously worked with Harris at the American Eagle store, but this summer were suspected of stealing $18,000 dollars from it. . He heard a scream at around 7.30am. However, they were never charged or arrested for allegedly committing the robbery. The only thing missing from Ashlea's apartment were her keys. Clarence David Mallory, 22, would meet a similar fate in August 2017. She would always find a way at work to make it harder on you, former co-worker Leticia Groen told Snapped.. Patrick testified that he thought about what he should do. Police arrested him as he could not produce his driver's license when asked. Police believed they were used for practice as theywerelabeled lock picking practice lock.. Carter Carol Cervantez is on trial this week on a capital murder charge in the slaying of Ashlea Ann Harris, 31, on Nov. 28, 2014, the day after Thanksgiving, known commercially as Black Friday. Harris reported Cervantes and Mallory as the likely suspects after Carter was seen leaving a door in the back of the store unlocked, according to the Amarillo Globe-News. The district manager decided to give Cervantez a fresh start. | Advertising It showed Cervantez buying two shovels, a rope, bungee cords, gloves, and a tarp. Blood was found on the floor mats of Cervantes car. They found ample evidence in both places, including a gun used to pistolwhip Ashlea, receipts for a murder kit, including the duct tape used to bind her, and her blood on the floor mat of their vehicle. But Tarrant County prosecutor Kevin Rousseau told the jury that Cervantez was the one who tried to control Mallory, whose trial is pending. 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. 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. After missing several shifts, he was fired and barred from working at other American Eagle stores. 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 most likely thing that caused that was being pistol whipped.. They originally planned to bury Harris at a grave site detectives found north of Abilene, Texas. Alexis usually watched Ashleas dog Nala when she worked. The term Black Friday originated in Philadelphia to describe heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the day after Thanksgiving. Surveillance cameras caught her wiping down the bottle after drinking from it in order to remove any traces of DNA. Cervantez was the assistant store manager who was to lock up the night of the theft. Steven W. Conder. And in Fort Worth, Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. Harris boss told investigators the car was similar to a vehicle owned by former American Eagle Outfitters employee Carter Cervantes. These included a receipt for a cutaway practice lock that had been mailed to Cervantez & Mallorys apartment and a lock picking instruction manual. Her throat had been cut and she had been set on fire. She was inside getting some paperwork she needed to complete. Who Killed Her. There were also no signs that a taser had been used on her. Jeans with FWPD Crime Scene Unit. He was unable to find a pulse. He had looked at his alarm clock and saw the time was 7:30 am. But surveillance video confirmed she was not being truthful and it showed her leaving the mall and walking towards her home. 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. Her lover, David, continued working at the Amarillo store but began to miss shifts regularly. Jeff Kayser to testify. Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock,two other locks that had been used for practice. 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. Police asked Mallory to see his drivers license which he told them he did not have on him. Harris friends told investigators that she had been working around the clock in anticipation of the Black Friday sales event which started that morning. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! They had been dating which was a violation of store policy. The perpetrators had stolen Ashleas store keys and were allegedly planning to break into the store again and steal more money. Law enforcement officials arrested 19-year-old Clarence Malloy and 25-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez in the murder of Ashlea Harris, the victim of an early morning fire. Police began talking to neighbors including Patrick Sweet, who told them about the unusual sounds he heard coming from Ashleas apartment that morning. Joyce Marshall jlmarshall@star-telegram.com FORT WORTH. Fire investigator, Wallace Hood, with the Ft. Worth Fire Department arrived on the scene around 8:45 am. Both Mallory and Cervantez are questioned and released despite both being caught lying and contradicting each other. She was wearing a grey sweatshirt and a black hat. The two men, who were strangers to her, were invited into the apartment by Clarence and she was raped by both of them. CourtListener is sponsored by the non-profit Free Law Project.
It was a black Infiniti G35 with a faded toll sticker on its roof. 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. He was also a former employee at the same American Eagle store where Ashlea worked and he was Carter's boyfriend. below Ashlea's apartment and hetold police that he heard a thump, screaming and heavy breathing. Ashlea's ankles were also bound with duct tape. Her bond was set at $500,000. Detective Cedillo went back to Cervantez apartment and found her in the laundry room this time wearing pink scrubs. Get Driving Directions to Christina Melton Crain Unit Prison, Texas. It is the13th largest city in the US. The investigators hypothesized setting the residence on fire had been an abrupt change of plans. While they were let go initially, the investigators had search warrants for their apartment and car. 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. 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. . On Tax Free Weekend and Black Friday, those were our highest deposit days, said Groen. There was no smoke in her lungs indicating she was not alive when the fire was set. Ashlea suspended Carter and one week later, Chris called Carter and told herthat she had beenterminated for leaving the store unsecured. 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. On May 26, 2016, twenty-seven-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was found guilty of capital murder. She testified at her own Trial and told the Court that she was afraid of Clarence. Then they turned their sights on Harris, who held the store keys, for their plot to make off with tens of thousands of dollars. David received the same sentence on August 24, 2017. 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. 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. Carter was arrested the following day by Tarrant County deputies. He called 911 as he realized there must be a fire. 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. After missing several shifts, he was fired and barred from working at other American Eagle stores. Outcome: Having overruled all three of Cervantezs points, we affirm the trial courts Cravey fired Cervantez because she had left the store unsecured. The apartment belonged to 31-year-old Ashlea Harris who resided there with her dog, Nala. Police retraced Ashlea's movements. The neighbor attempted several times to get into Ashleas apartment but was forced out each time due to the heavy smoke.