Mallory and Cervantez reportedly also stole $18,000 from the same store in August of 2014. The Court also heardpolicefoundlatitude and longitude coordinates on the cell phones. The perpetrators had stolen Ashleas store keys and were allegedly planning to break into the store again and steal more money. 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. 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. I said, Thats Ashleas tattoo,' said Naylor. Steven W. Conder. This was torture, prosecutor Kevin Rousseau told Snapped.. A key belonging to another assistant store manager was left in the night deposit box. 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 . He was unable to find a pulse. Outcome: Having overruled all three of Cervantezs points, we affirm the trial courts She claims that Mallory drove her to the Hulen Mall not once, but twice. Video from American Eagle picks her up approaching the gate. Carter's testimony also included an account of a time that she claimed she was raped by two men. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He also described seeing the dark-colored vehicle driving away shortly after hearing Ashleas front door close. He tried again a second and a third time but the smoke made it an impossible task. Ashlea Harris looked to have severe head trauma. The most likely thing that caused that was being pistol whipped.. He was able to determine that the fire had multiple points of origin. It included her mother, Monica Cassity, stepfather Daddy Chuck, her father Tommy Harris Sr. and her stepmom Mary Reddy. Authorities discovered Harris' body face down on her scorched bed with her ankles and wrists bound on Nov. 28, 2014, the. Cervantez was the assistant store manager who was to lock up the night of the theft. Harris was an assistant manager at the store. That was a term the brand used toindicate that the person should not be hired at any location. Christopher Chris Cravey, Ashlea's boss, heard that police were asking about that vehicle and he told them he knew someone who drove one. There was a cut on the right side of Ashlea's neck which was caused by a knife and bruises and abrasions on her neck, chest and right arm. 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. 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. In August 2014, a hooded burglar had stolen $18,000 from the American Eagle Hulen Mall store following Texas Sales Tax Holiday Weekend. Ashlea was found lying face down on the floor of her bedroom. He took photos of the various items found in the car. Police had to establish if they were involved in Ashlea's death what the motive was. 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. Next, he heard what sounded like heavy labored breathing. Prosecutors showed video surveillance from Home Depot a week before Ashlea Harris was murdered. He testified that at around 7.30am on the 28th of November, he woke when heheard a loud scream. Police discovered that thirty one year old Ashlea Ann Harris lived in the apartment that was on fire. Her name was Carter Carol Cervantez. 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. She switched his first name with his middle name and changed two digits of his social security number. Jeans with FWPD Crime Scene Unit. The apartment was filled with smoke. Investigators believe the fire was an abrupt change in plan. The day after Harris' murder, Cervantez was caught by surveillance cameras trying to open the doors to the store, but they had already changed the locks. Her feet and hands were bound with duct tape and she was covered in blood, according to Texas. I didnt touch it. Detective Cedillo testified that one of the text messages on Clarence's cell phone contained latitude and longitude coordinates and when he entered them into Google Earth, it revealed a locationnear Lueders, Texas. Fired One week later Cravey called Cervantez. They went directly to the safe where the night deposits were kept, unlocked it, and took the cash inside. At the apartment, detectives found a box containing a taser in the trash, strands of duct tape, and a damaged deadbolt lock. Fort Worth Police arrested two suspects in the November 28 murder of Ashlea Harris. They founda plastic tub that contained bungee cords and arope. 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. According to news reports, Carter was an assistant store manager at the time, along with 31-year-oldAshlea Ann Harris. 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. Cheyenne Roundtree For Dailymail.com He determined that Ashlea'scause of death was asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head and neck. It was a black Infiniti G35. 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. The Jury heard that Clarence was arrested in the car park at the mall . 2018) Court of Appeals of Texas Add Note Filed: November 8th, 2018 Precedential Status: Precedential Citations: None known Docket Number: 02-16-00224-CR Cravey indicated that he did. 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. This manager did not close the store that night and did not appear to have the same build as the person in the video. He heard a scream at around 7.30am. Police spoke to him. Under the drivers seat was a 9mm Glock with a round still in the chamber. A bottle of it found near the body. Both Mallory and Cervantez are questioned and released despite both being caught lying and contradicting each other. At 7:45 am he witnessed Cervantez and Mallory exit their apartment and get into the black Infinity. Prosecutors laid out a case that Cervantez wanted revenge and payback for getting fired. The neighbor attempted several times to get into Ashleas apartment but was forced out each time due to the heavy smoke. Cervantez alleges that she did not commit the murder and was asleep in her apartment when Harris was robbed and killed. In the meantime, Detective Pate, Cedillos partner, made contact with Mallory. Protect yourself and those you love. Get Driving Directions to Christina Melton Crain Unit Prison, Texas. 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. Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. ", 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 . Text messages obtained from Cervantes and Mallorys phones showed them plotting Harris murder as part of a planned Black Friday heist. So why did they kill Ashlea? Harris' hands and feet were bound in duct tape, reports CBS affiliate KHOU, which cites court documents filed by Fort Worth police. When Detective Cedillo entered the coordinates it came up to a specific location near Lueders, Texas. The two. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Cervantez was the assistant store manager who was to lock up the night of the theft. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The comments below have not been moderated, by Chilling Crimes The key opened the dressing room and storage closet at Hulen Mall American Eagle. 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. . , updated 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: a plastic tub that contained bungee cords and arope. Each is charged with one count of capital murder. Police say Harris worked a late night Black Friday shift at the American Eagle store in a mall in Fort Worth and arrived home around 3:15 a.m. A neighbor below Harris told police that he heard a thump, screaming and heavy breathing around 7:30 a.m. His carbon monoxide detector then went off, and water from the sprinklers in Harris' apartment came through his ceiling. 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 . Does Alan Cumming Really Live in a Scottish Castle? November 8th, 2018, Precedential Status: This was different. At 6:56 am Alexis noticed a missed call from Ashlea. The inside of the apartment and Ashlea's body led police to believe that the fire was not an accidental fire. Police retraced Ashlea's movements. December 10, 2014 / 11:07 AM When he went to touch her, he saw that her wrists and ankles were duct-taped. A few minutes later, Patrick'scarbon monoxide detector went offand he sawwater dripping from the ceiling in his bathroom. ", by Chilling Crimes The Prosecution called Jeff Kayser to testify. The scream was followed by a loud thud and hecould hear labored breathing. Another neighbor also told police something disturbing. She told the Jury that he controlled her and even told her when she could eat or drink. She was blamed as the mastermind behind the murder plot by prosecutors. 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. Police tracked Cervantes and Mallory to an apartment near the Hulen Mall. 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 testified at her own Trial and told the Court that she was afraid of Clarence. Ashlea was appointed to run the store while Cravey was out on medical leave. 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. Did we leave it behind? 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. Carter Carol Cervantez v. State - CourtListener.com Carter Carol Cervantez v. State, 02-16-00224-CR (Tex. She was sentenced / adjudicated in Runnels County, Winters. February 04, 2022, "The criminal justice system will take a hard look at what happened to Matthew Eappen. 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. I mean, my knees gave out. Detective Cedillo went back to Cervantez apartment and found her in the laundry room this time wearing pink scrubs. On the day after Thanksgiving known in the retail world as Black Friday Harris's. 'They slash her throat and then, when she is finally dead, they set her place on fire. Harris boss told investigators the car was similar to a vehicle owned by former American Eagle Outfitters employee Carter Cervantes. Who Killed Her? Both suspects were booked . Water was spraying from the overhead sprinkling system, but Ashlea did not answer when he called out to her. It was evident to us that Carter was the mastermind behind this and I think David was the muscle. She claimed that when Ashlea was murdered that she was in bed asleep and she didn't know where Clarence was. The trial for the horrific murder of an American Eagle employee on Black Friday began this week in Fort Worth, TX. They raped her for not following through with the robbery. A 911 call was made by a resident at an apartment complex in Fort Worth, Texas, United States to ask for help. . 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 was able to unlock the trunk of Mallorys Cadillac using keys found in the black Infiniti. Though Mallory was arrested for driving without a license, he was also released from custody. They originally planned to bury Harris at a grave site detectives found north of Abilene, Texas. One of Harris friends had stopped by after Ashlea got off work on Thanksgiving night and stayed until around 5 a.m. Ashlea suspended Carter and one week later, Chris called Carter and told herthat she had beenterminated for leaving the store unsecured. Chris testified that Carter and Clarence would have known that Ashleaidentified Clarence and informed him of the theft. 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. From Free Law Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. These included a black trash bag, a sharpening stone for a knife, a 9mm cartridge, a cell phone, a walkie-talkie, a buck knife sheath, a plastic tub, mens boots that had a cell phone in them, clothing, a toboggan with a hole cut in it, a tarp still inside the package and a kitchen knife. They later found her at her apartment complex doing laundry. Knives and a loaded gun were found inside Cervantes Infiniti while the shovels and other items were in the trunk of Mallorys vehicle. 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. It didn't last long. Carter Carol Cervantez was arrested Dec. 6, 2014. Carter and David were convicted of beating, strangling, and bounding Ashlea and setting fire to her4701 King Ranch Road apartment onNovember 28, 2014, morning. 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. They were there to get the keys, said Cedillo. Harris' hands and feet were bound in duct tape,. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The scream was followed by a loud thud and he, could hear labored breathing. It was the proceeds from the sales during the recently concludedTexas Sales Tax Holiday Weekend in August. 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'. She was tentatively identified by her tattoos. They are not hiding in shadows. Ashlea Harris worked as an assistant store manager for American Eagle Outfitters located in the Hulen Mall. 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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. She purchased what Im going to describe as a murder kit, said Rousseau. Listen to the story of how Ashlea Harris fought for her life upsetting the plans of two nefarious killers who wanted a big pay off. And when she did not do what she was told, they returned to their apartment, where Mallorys friends raped her repeatedly, Cervantez testified. Sign up to receive the Free Law Project newsletter with tips and announcements. Close to $18,000 was missing from the safe. Chris told police that a former employee at American Eagle, Carter Carol Cervantez, drove a similar car. Police have charged Carter Cervantez, 25, and her boyfriend Clarence "David" Mallory, 19, with capital murder in the death of Ashlea Harris, 31. Shes the one that coordinated everything and came up with the plan, said Cedillo. It was their case that they wanted her keys to steal the money from the store but also that they wanted revenge after they held Ashlea responsible for them losing their jobs. Please enter valid email address to continue. The 31-year-old was an assistant manager at the American Eagle Outfitters store in the Abilene mall in Texas. On May 26, 2016, twenty-seven-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was found guilty of capital murder. He was eventually labeled as non-rehirable in the American Eagle system. They both pleaded not guilty. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that 27-year-old Carter Carol Cervantez was convicted of capital murder Thursday and sentenced to life in prison. CourtListener is sponsored by the non-profit Free Law Project. Both Cervantez and Mallory worked with Harris at the American Eagle store before being fired. He was also fired per store policy. Kevin Rousseau, Tarrant County prosecutor, said of their crime: 'At a minimum this took at least a month of planning.