02-16-00224-CR. They found a lock in a kitchen drawer and a TASER box and some strands of duct tape in the trash. Police also found a damaged deadbolt lock,two other locks that had been used for practice. This was most likely a lighter and the accelerant was rubbing alcohol. This was different. Due to that, they wanted to speak to the owner of the Infiniti G35. That was a term the brand used toindicate that the person should not be hired at any location. 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. Detective Cedillo radioed dispatch and asked them to send a marked patrol call to the mall. 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. 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. Cervantes had hired 19-year-old David Mallory and soon began dating him, in violation of company policy. The perpetrators had stolen Ashleas store keys and were allegedly planning to break into the store again and steal more money. | Articles He asked if she would be willing to go downtown to be interviewed and she agreed. Authorities discovered Harris' body face down on her scorched bed with her ankles and wrists bound on Nov. 28, 2014, the. Powered by Shopify. 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. At that point, no one other than law enforcement knew that there was any keys missing. 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 . It took them just two hours to find her guilty and she was sentenced tolife in prison without parole. It matched Ashlea Harris' DNA. Police had to establish if they were involved in Ashlea's death what the motive was. A Friday. At that point, the firefighters had arrived. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 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." 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 . 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 had looked at his alarm clock and saw the time was 7:30 am. She switched his first name with his middle name and changed two digits of his social security number. There was no smoke in her lungs indicating she was not alive when the fire was set. Ashlea Ann Harris loved working in retail where she could meet new people every day. Saturday Tarrant County Sheriffs arrested 25-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez. According to news reports, Carter was an assistant store manager at the time, along with 31-year-oldAshlea Ann Harris. Detective Cedillo entered the mall looking for Cervantez but was unable to find her. Shes the one that coordinated everything and came up with the plan, said Cedillo. On May 26, 2016, twenty-seven-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was found guilty of capital murder. Today it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Our district manager basically gave her the option to quit or to get transferred, said Groen. The key opened the dressing room and storage closet at Hulen Mall American Eagle. 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. Around 7:30 am several residents of the River Ranch Apartments located at 4701 King Ranch Road called 911 to report smoke coming from apartment #1505. January 25, 2022, "The effects of abuse are devastating and far reaching. He testified that the presence of. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.'. Each is charged with one count of capital murder. | Recent Lawyer Listings She would always find a way at work to make it harder on you, former co-worker Leticia Groen told Snapped.. Update: A correction was. 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. One of Harris friends had stopped by after Ashlea got off work on Thanksgiving night and stayed until around 5 a.m. Cervantez alleges that she did not commit the murder and was asleep in her apartment when Harris was robbed and killed. 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. 23:46 GMT 24 Aug 2017 He called 911 as he realized there must be a fire. Dr Fries testified that the injuries on Ashlea's face were caused by multiple blows. 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. 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. Harris and other workers helped identify them as suspects, KHOU reports. Ashlea has suffered numerous injuries to her face and head indicating that there were multiple blows. Under the drivers seat was a 9mm Glock with a round still in the chamber. Carter Carol Cervantez v. The State of Texas Case Number: 02-16-00224-CR Judge: Mark T. Pittman Court: Court of Appeals Second Appellate District of Texas at Fort Worth Plaintiff's Attorney: Joseph W. Spence Defendant's Attorney: William H. "Bill" Ray Steven W. Conder Description: Does Alan Cumming Really Live in a Scottish Castle? He ruled out accidental causes for the reason for the fire and concluded that the fire was set on purpose. According to local news reports,the opening manager discovered $17,850.32 had been stolen from the safe. Cervantes helped Mallory falsify documents so she could hire him at the Hulen Mall location where she worked with Harris. Carter did hold this against Ashlea, because Ashlea was the one that turned them in, said Groen. The Prosecution called Jeff Kayser to testify. / CBS News/AP. Ashlea suspended Carter and one week later, Chris called Carter and told herthat she had beenterminated for leaving the store unsecured. Ashlea Harris was outgoing and personable while the other assistant store manager, Carter was more straight-laced and reserved. The two reunited in Fort Worth and moved in together. Detective Cedillo went back to Cervantez apartment and found her in the laundry room this time wearing pink scrubs. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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 M.E. They stalked Ashlea Harris like people stalk a deer.". ", by Chilling Crimes Another video from Texas Appliances on the north side of the mall captures Cervantez walking away from the mall towards her apartment. Chris Cravey had gotten all the locks changed upon hearing about Ashleas murder. Harris was found dead in her apartment several hours later when firefighters responded to a fire alarm. The jury did not believe her. Investigators believed Cervantes and Mallory were planning to rob the American Eagle store. with the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office testified to Ashlea Harriss cause of death. Prosecutors also showed evidence that Cervantez and Mallory were planning to rob the American Eagle in Abilene (where they had previously worked). 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. A woman suspected of helping kill a former co-worker on the shopping day known as Black Friday in 2014 was found guilty of capital murder Thursday and will spend the rest of her life in prison.. An older man offers Chicwanda Forbes the attention she craves in exchange for her loyalty. She was sentenced / adjudicated in Runnels County, Winters. When she was unable to get in the store the first time she walked back to the car. At the apartment, detectives found a box containing a taser in the trash, strands of duct tape, and a damaged deadbolt lock. 04:27 GMT 25 Aug 2017. This was somebody who killed her out of anger. 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. The 31-year-old was an assistant manager at the American Eagle Outfitters store in the Abilene mall in Texas. Prosecutors showed video surveillance from Home Depot a week before Ashlea Harris was murdered. Ashlea Harris arrived home to her apartment around 3:25 am. Her lover, David, continued working at the Amarillo store but began to miss shifts regularly. He testified that when he entered the apartment, it, was full of smoke and water was spraying from the sprinkler system. There were extensive text messages between the two as they watched the store. By 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. He was also fired per store policy. Carter's testimony also included an account of a time that she claimed she was raped by two men. Mallory threatened to hurt her parents and relatives if she did not do what she was told, Cervantez said. Mallory and Cervantez reportedly also stole $18,000 from the same store in August of 2014. Bill Ray, one of the attorneys who represented Cervantez, said none of the more than 400 exhibits prosecutors filed placed her in Harris' apartment at the time she was killed, the paper reports. She told the Jury that he controlled her and even told her when she could eat or drink. 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. Clarence David Mallory took the 5th when he was brought in to testify. Then he gathered up some belongings, moved his car away from the building, and waited for the fire department to arrive. There are predators everywhere. 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. Once there, she re-hired Mallory. 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. He was also found found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to the Dallas Voice newspaper. rely on donations for our financial security. Patrick testified that he thought about what he should do. All were missing. a plastic tub that contained bungee cords and arope. 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. Her bond was set at $500,000. Hetestified that it looked like a human grave. 'They slash her throat and then, when she is finally dead, they set her place on fire. We Detective Cedillo wanted to search Ashleas pick-up truck. He testified that he wokethat morning when he heardthe sound of the fire alarms. She was later found in her apartment complex.