While they were let go initially, the investigators had search warrants for their apartment and car. Precedential, Citations: 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. By It was the 28th of November 2014. Harris boss told investigators the car was similar to a vehicle owned by former American Eagle Outfitters employee Carter Cervantes. He noticed it because he never saw it parked there before. Cervantezs 21 year-old boyfriend Clarence David Mallory has also been charged. He forced her to enter and rob American Eagle at gunpoint and threatened to kill her family if she didnt do what he asked. 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 stole Ashleas keys to commit another theft with an even bigger payoff. Harris friends told investigators that she had been working around the clock in anticipation of the Black Friday sales event which started that morning. She was tentatively identified by her tattoos. For My Man - TV One Cravey fired Cervantez because she had left the store unsecured. 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. She would always find a way at work to make it harder on you.. Fort Worth homicide has ties to Amarillo - NewsChannel 10 This case has not yet been cited in our system. Carter was arrested the following day by Tarrant County deputies. 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. He heard the door of Ashlea's apartment close and when he looked out his window, he saw ablack Infiniti G35 driving away. Home At that point, no one other than law enforcement knew that there was any keys missing. Dr Fries testified that the injuries on Ashlea's face were caused by multiple blows. Like Harris, Cervantez was an assistant manager. Upon searching Mallorys cell phone there were text messages that contained latitude and longitude coordinates. He told the Court thathe sawa black Infiniti G35 with a faded Toll tag sticker on its roof parked outside. However, her loyalty to the store where she was employed would tragically lead to her death. He observedthat the smoke detector had been removed and was underneath the mattress. Another store employee watched the video and agreed with Ashlea based on the suspects physical appearance. A downstairs neighbor, Patrick Sweet, was lying in bed when he heard a loud scream. He was also fired per store policy. When he looked out the window he witnessed a dark-colored vehicle driving away. Fire investigator, Wallace Hood, with the Ft. Worth Fire Department arrived on the scene around 8:45 am. And in Fort Worth, career-driven Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. Ashlea Harris Killed By Former Hulen Mall Employees | Crime News The apartment belonged to 31-year-old Ashlea Harris who resided there with her dog, Nala. Malloy is being held in a Potter County Jail and will be. He also described seeing the dark-colored vehicle driving away shortly after hearing Ashleas front door close. Another video from Texas Appliances on the north side of the mall captures Cervantez walking away from the mall towards her apartment. Ashlea Harris - Chilling Crimes Then he gathered up some belongings, moved his car away from the building, and waited for the fire department to arrive. That was a term the brand used toindicate that the person should not be hired at any location. Ashlea Harris killer Clarence Mallory gets life in prison Ashlea worked on November 27th from 5:30 pm until 3:12 am to prep the store for Black Friday. 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. The keys seemed to be the only thing missing from her apartment. Cravey fired Cervantez because she had left the store unsecured. The prosecution alleged Carter to be the mastermind behind the homicide. Cervantez was the assistant store manager who was to lock up the night of the theft. So what was the motive for such a savage attack? 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. For that reason, the fire seemed like an afterthought to me, Fort Worth Police Detective Ernie Pate told Snapped.. February 04, 2022, "The criminal justice system will take a hard look at what happened to Matthew Eappen. Ashlea immediately contacted loss prevention, Chris Cravey, and the district manager. Jeff Kayser to testify. They went directly to the safe where the night deposits were kept, unlocked it, and took the cash inside. 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. One of Harris friends had stopped by after Ashlea got off work on Thanksgiving night and stayed until around 5 a.m. None known, Docket Number: A neighbor told police that he had heard a thump and screaming from the apartment, the police affidavit said. Cedillo went to the American Eagle store where Harris' boss was waiting for the owners to open up. She purchased what Im going to describe as a murder kit, said Rousseau. She admitted to not locking the back door the night of the theft. They had been dating which was a violation of store policy. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock,two other locks that had been used for practice. While Cervantes moved six hours away to Fort Worth, Mallory stayed in Amarillo. (Fort Worth PD) Harris, who was a manager at the store, had. 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 . Carter was a former employee at the American Eagle store where Ashlea worked but she was fired in August. He saw Cervantez exit the vehicle wearing and enter the mall. Ashlea Ann Harris was murdered Nov. 28, 2014, by Clarence David Mallory, 22, and his co-defendant, Carter Carol Cervantes, 28. Mallory drove her back to their apartment and friends of Mallory were waiting inside. Ashlea identified Clarence as the person who took the money from the safe from the surveillance footage. The apartment was filled with smoke. Police retraced Ashlea's movements. While the homicide took place nearly 6 hours. In her testimony, Cervantez describes abusive behavior from Mallory, who she says threatened to kill her family if she didnt comply with his orders. He heard a scream at around 7.30am. 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. After missing several shifts, he was fired and barred from working at other American Eagle stores. | Sign In, Verdict Corrections And when she did not do what she was told, they returned to their apartment, where Mallorys friends raped her repeatedly, Cervantez testified. Video surveillance of the mall showed that at 2 am on Saturday morning someone tried to open the security gate at American Eagle. At that location, Detective Cedillo found what he describes as a human grave. She came from a blended family. Ashlea's ankles were also bound with duct tape. Harris and other workers helped identify them as suspects, KHOU reports. Defendant in American Eagle Murder Says She Was Coerced By - Jezebel 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. Both are held on a $100,000 bond. Police spoke to all of Ashlea'sneighbors. It included her mother, Monica Cassity, stepfather Daddy Chuck, her father Tommy Harris Sr. and her stepmom Mary Reddy. 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. The investigation revealed that the fire was not accidental and that rubbing alcohol had been poured in different areasthroughout the apartment including on Ashlea's bed. Harris was an assistant manager at the store. This Record may not reflect actual, complete, or up-to-date data. She said that she did not. He thought that somebody had collected Ashlea for work. 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. Documents: Hulen Mall employee strangled by former co-workers FORT WORTH, Texas -- A woman whose burned body was found in her Fort Worth apartment Thanksgiving weekend had been strangled and beaten, allegedly by former co-workers, according to court documents. She testified at her own Trial and told the Court that she was afraid of Clarence. 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. 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. Ashlea had been murdered and her body and apartment had been set on fire. Carter's testimony also included an account of a time that she claimed she was raped by two men. Clarence David Mallory (age 19) had previously worked for American Eagle at their Amarillo location. 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. Kevin Rousseau, Tarrant County prosecutor, said of their crime: 'At a minimum this took at least a month of planning. She was sentenced / adjudicated in Runnels County, Winters. Cervantes was allowed to go home. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Get Driving Directions to Christina Melton Crain Unit Prison, Texas. The two. She was strangled, her throat cut, and ultimately asphyxiated. They were not able to open the gate and promptly left. Cervantez is being held in the Fort Worth Jail. Detective Cedillo wanted to search Ashleas pick-up truck. They were arrested and charged with capital murder, according to the Reuters news service. Before fire and rescue workers arrived a neighbor, Jeff Kayser, kicked in her door calling out for her and Nala. Close to $18,000 was missing from the safe. BestsellerThe Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. Jeffcrawled midway to the kitchen before he was forced to get out for some air. 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. He spotted the black Infinity in the apartment parking lot. I mean, my knees gave out. Carter Carol Cervantez v. State - CourtListener.com The manner of Ashlea's death was ruled as a homicide. A few minutes later, Patrick'scarbon monoxide detector went offand he sawwater dripping from the ceiling in his bathroom. 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 surveillance video from the front of the American Eagle store showed that at around 2amonthe 29th of November, someone with a covered face knelt down next to the lock on the gate and attempted to unlock and raise the gate.They were unsuccessful as the locks had been changed. They found a lock in a kitchen drawer and a TASER box and some strands of duct tape in the trash. 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. Keith Morrison. Mallory claimed that he was waiting for his girlfriend, who worked at Aeropostale. Patrick was thinking about trying to find out what was going on when he heard Ashleas front door open and then close. Re: Carter Carol Cervantez v. The State of Texas - MoreLaw Combined Opinion from Cervantez v. State, No. 02-16-00224-CR - Texas - Case Law - VLEX 888293893 Cervantez alleges that she did not commit the murder and was asleep in her apartment when Harris was robbed and killed. Carter worked thereas an assistant manager and she hired her boyfriend Clarence to work at the same store. Our district manager basically gave her the option to quit or to get transferred, said Groen. For more on this case and others like it, watch "Snapped," airing Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen, or stream episodes here. He determined the source of all the smoke was coming from the bedroom and specifically the bed. Around 8 am Ft. Worth Fire Department Lt. Jarrod Pavlechko arrived on the scene. By On their cell phones, they had images of Ashlea's apartment, her apartment door and her vehicle. She told police that she didnot leave the apartment complex at all that day. He requested that they stop the black Infinity if they witnessed any type of traffic violation. Under the drivers seat was a 9mm Glock with a round still in the chamber. The deposit was somewhere between $40,000 to $50,000. Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock, phone, a walkie talkie and a Buck knife with a, a toboggan with a hole cut in it, a tarp still, inside the package and a kitchen knife. A key belonging to another assistant store manager was left in the night deposit box. The trial for the horrific murder of an American Eagle employee on Black Friday began this week in Fort Worth, TX. He met his girlfriend Carter Cervantez there. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Christopher Chris Cravey, Ashlea's boss, heard that police were asking about that vehicle and he told them he knew someone who drove one. 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. Ashlea felt that the perpetrator was Mallory. Clarence and Carter wereboth charged with capital murder. He was unable to find a pulse. Ashlea Ann Harris loved working in retail where she could meet new people every day. Various documents were found. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 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. 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. 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 Cravey had gotten all the locks changed upon hearing about Ashleas murder. In addition, he did not call in to request off. She was raised in a large and loving family and made friends wherever she went. Cops say Texas woman killed by former co-workers in sick Black Friday Prosecutors charged Cervantez with murder one and did not seek the death penalty. Cervantes was later located at her apartment and agreed to meet with detectives. 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. As a result of his incompetency, he was fired, and American Eagle put him on the Do Not Hire Again list. Ashley Harris - Murdered By American Eagle Co-Workers - CDP Jeans with FWPD Crime Scene Unit. Police searched their apartment. Police observed that she hadsuperficial scratches on her arms. Police tracked Cervantes and Mallory to an apartment near the Hulen Mall. He is 22 years old. Police have charged Carter Cervantez, 25, and her boyfriend Clarence "David" Mallory, 19, with capital murder in the death of Ashlea Harris, 31. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! There was no smoke in her lungs indicating she was not alive when the fire was set. 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. Police had to establish if they were involved in Ashlea's death what the motive was. 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. Chicwanda Forbes; Carter Cervantez: With Iyana A. Campbell, Jordan Clifford, Herbert Lee Frazier III, Reginald Garner. They went to the store as planned on the Saturday morning with the keys but the lockshad already been changed. These included the bed, the closet, and Ashleas body. From what he could make out it was a female lying face down on the floor in front of the bed. Chris was in the parking lot and had been talking to Alexis Torres, who was the last person to talk to Ashlea Harris. Knives and a loaded gun were found inside Cervantes Infiniti while the shovels and other items were in the trunk of Mallorys vehicle. Many retailers have special markdowns and people lose their minds trying to snatch up the bargains. The Prosecution claimed that person was Carter. 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!'