The police also analyzed their mobile phones to find they had exchanged texts planning the murder and methods of disposing of the corpse. 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. . Benbrook man gets life for killing Hulen Mall manager | Miami Herald On December 4, 2014, arrest warrants were issued for Carter Carol Cervantez and Clarence David Mallory Jr. CBS DFW - Fort Worth Police arrested two suspects in the | Facebook Water was spraying from the overhead sprinkling system, but Ashlea did not answer when he called out to her. Next, he heard what sounded like heavy labored breathing. Our district manager basically gave her the option to quit or to get transferred, said Groen. Police began talking to neighbors including Patrick Sweet, who told them about the unusual sounds he heard coming from Ashleas apartment that morning. None known, Docket Number: 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. 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. While they were let go initially, the investigators had search warrants for their apartment and car. Thats not good. He testified that he wokethat morning when he heardthe sound of the fire alarms. 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. Examiners Officer, performed the Autopsy on Ashleas body. 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. Today, Ft. Worth is a thriving city of approximately 800,000 residents. 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. Does Alan Cumming Really Live in a Scottish Castle? 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. David, 27, is incarcerated at the Jim Ferguson Unit in Midway, Texas. It was a latenight due to Black Friday sales and Alexis looked after Ashlea's dog Nala while Ashlea was working. 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 . He observedthat the smoke detector had been removed and was underneath the mattress. Woman Convicted in Death of Former Co-Worker in Fort Worth Communication between Mallory and Cervantez led police to a shallow hole in a town more than a hundred miles away. The only thing missing from Ashlea's apartment were her keys. Filed: The keys seemed to be the only thing missing from her apartment. 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. Nobody knew for certain whether Ashlea was inside or not. The investigators hypothesized setting the residence on fire had been an abrupt change of plans. . 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. Police also saw what appeared to be a fresh injury to his lower lip and his lower lip was swollen. At that point, no one other than law enforcement knew that there was any keys missing. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Aloaded Glock 19 with a bullet in the chamber was found under the driver's seat. Carter Carol Cervantez was arrested Dec. 6, 2014. Police believed they were used for practice as theywerelabeled lock picking practice lock.. Police searched their apartment. He thought that somebody had collected Ashlea for work. The trial for the horrific murder of an American Eagle employee on Black Friday began this week in Fort Worth, TX. A. loaded Glock 19 with a bullet in the chamber was found under the driver's seat. Whoever was the last person to leave had locked the door behind them. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. He observed. Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock,two other locks that had been used for practice. For that reason, the fire seemed like an afterthought to me, Fort Worth Police Detective Ernie Pate told Snapped.. It was a black Infiniti G35. However, they were never charged or arrested for allegedly committing the robbery. Mallory is awaiting his trial on the same charges. She bends down to unlock it but is unable to. Ashlea was found lying face down on the floor of her bedroom. She admitted to not locking the back door the night of the theft. . | Articles In addition, he did not call in to request off. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He was arrested for not having his driver's license on him. Assuming that there may be a fire in Ashleas apartment he dialed 911. He told the Court thathe sawa black Infiniti G35 with a faded Toll tag sticker on its roof parked outside. Police: Suspects arrested in Fort Worth fire, murder Carter was a former employee at the American Eagle store where Ashlea worked but she was fired in August. The Court heard testimony fromAlexis Torres Bunch. It was the proceeds from the sales during the recently concludedTexas Sales Tax Holiday Weekend in August. Carter's phone:Well, damn. 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. The term Black Friday originated in Philadelphia to describe heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the day after Thanksgiving. They found a lock in a kitchen drawer and a TASER box and some strands of duct tape in the trash. They were arrested and charged with capital murder, according to the Reuters news service. rely on donations for our financial security. This was two weeks before Ashleas murder. 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By 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. Harris hands and feet were bound with duct tape, police said. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that 27-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was convicted of capital murder Thursday and sentenced to life in prison . Prosecutors laid out a case that Cervantez wanted revenge and payback for getting fired. They went to the store as planned on the Saturday morning with the keys but the lockshad already been changed. Harris was an assistant manager at the store. Ashlea has suffered numerous injuries to her face and head indicating that there were multiple blows. Ashlea's ankles were also bound with duct tape. The Court heard testimony from Steven Lee. Fired One week later Cravey called Cervantez. He was eventually labeled as non-rehirable in the American Eagle system. 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. 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. The next day, Mallory drove her back to try again. In August 2016, Clarence David Mallory was found guilty of murder one after one hour of jury deliberation. The neighbor attempted several times to get into Ashleas apartment but was forced out each time due to the heavy smoke. This manager did not close the store that night and did not appear to have the same build as the person in the video. Today it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. She said that she did not. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The two reunited in Fort Worth and moved in together. Carter Carol Cervantez, 26, and Clarence David Mallory, 19, are both being held on $600,000 bond. And in Fort Worth, career-driven Carter Carol Cervantez begins to rethink her priorities when she finds love at the workplace. Her friend left around 4:40 am with Ashlea locking the door behind her. Protect yourself and those you love. She was taken to the station for questioning. 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. Zach Shallcross Struggles to Watch Himself Dancing Terribly on The Bachelor, Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Alison Brie on Sex Scenes: 'We Are Actors, This Is Our Job'. Another neighbor, Patrick Sweet, also testified. One of Harris friends had stopped by after Ashlea got off work on Thanksgiving night and stayed until around 5 a.m. His name was Clarence David Mallory. Her feet and hands were bound with duct tape and she was covered in blood, according to Texas Amarillo Globe-News newspaper. She then walks to American Eagle and goes out of view. 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. He testified that the presence of. 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. Then he heard a loud thump right above him as Ashleas bedroom was directly above his. At a minimum, this took at least a month of planning. A 911 call was made by a resident at an apartment complex in Fort Worth, Texas, United States to ask for help. She would always find a way at work to make it harder on you, former co-worker Leticia Groen told Snapped.. It is the13th largest city in the US. Arrest Made In Fort Worth Fire Murder - CBS DFW - CBS News BestsellerThe Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. The Black Infiniti G35 was searched by Officer J.J. I said, Thats Ashleas tattoo,' said Naylor. The Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. I didnt touch it. The detectives talked to two American Eagle employees who had been locked out due to the locks being changed. For more on this case and others like it, watch "Snapped," airing Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen, or stream episodes here. They also found a toboggan with a hole cut in it, a tarp stillinside the package and a kitchen knife. At Carter's Trial, her Defense was that she was not involved in Ashlea's death. He identified it as a black Infiniti G35. Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. Cervantez is arrested in Lubbock and Mallory is taken into custody in Amarillo. 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. Ashlea was appointed to run the store while Cravey was out on medical leave. Law Project, a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit. The Court heard the two of them returned to the mall at 8am and at that point, were being followed by the police, unbeknownst to them. Patrick testified that he thought about what he should do. 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. Each is charged with one count of capital murder. It included her mother, Monica Cassity, stepfather Daddy Chuck, her father Tommy Harris Sr. and her stepmom Mary Reddy. Mallory claimed that he was waiting for his girlfriend, who worked at Aeropostale.