Dateline: Black Friday - Who was Ashlea Ann Harris and what happened to her? Disturbing details of the 2014 murder, revisited

Dateline: Black Friday – on November 28, 2014, Ashlea Ann Harris did not come home from work. Ashlea was 31 and an assistant manager at an American Eagle Outfitters store in Fort Worth, Texas.

Early the next morning, a neighbor called firefighters to a small apartment complex after seeing smoke. Inside, crews found a fire and Ashlea’s body. The scene suggested the flames were set after she was attacked. Her hands and feet were bound, and medical examiners found signs of blunt force trauma and strangulation.

The case later gained national attention when it was featured on Dateline: Black Friday. Viewers were struck by how a workplace connection, rather than a stranger, led to such violence. The episode explained how investigators followed a trail of evidence to two former employees.

The crime scene showed signs of planning

When firefighters entered the apartment, the crime already looked unusual. Ashlea’s body was discovered in the bedroom, bound with duct tape. Nothing appeared stolen, but her keys were missing.

Investigators suspected the fire was deliberately set using an accelerant to destroy evidence. Dateline: Black Friday later highlighted how the decision to stage a fire became an early clue for detectives. It suggested that whoever killed Ashlea wanted to hide their actions rather than escape with valuables.

Her former coworkers became the focus of police work

Ashlea Ann Harris had reported suspected theft at her store a few months before. About $18,000 had gone missing, and she had identified two employees she believed were involved. Those employees, Carter Cervantez and Clarence “David” Mallory, were fired.

This connection quickly drew investigators’ attention. Dateline: Black Friday emphasized this turning point, explaining how law enforcement often starts with people close to the victim. In this case, workplace conflict provided both motive and opportunity.

Evidence showed the attack was prepared in advance

Searches of the suspects’ homes and cars uncovered items such as rope, duct tape, shovels, and gloves. Officers also found blood in the car that matched Ashlea Ann Harris’ DNA. These discoveries suggested detailed planning.

Dateline: Black Friday included these facts in its coverage, pointing out how ordinary purchases can take on a different meaning when tied to violent intent. The program also explained how investigators connected these supplies to the timeline of events before Black Friday.

Surveillance and digital records supported the case

A neighbor recalled seeing a black Infiniti parked near Ashlea’s apartment the morning of the fire. Security video later showed Carter attempting to use keys at the American Eagle store after the killing, unaware that the locks had been changed.

Text messages between the couple revealed plans to use Ashlea’s access to the store. The show presented these pieces of evidence step by step, showing how technology and witness accounts combined to build a strong case.

Trial and sentencing resulted in life terms, as shown on Dateline

By December 2014, both Carter and Mallory were arrested and charged with capital murder. Carter was convicted in 2016, and Mallory in 2017. Each received life sentences without parole.

When Dateline: Black Friday revisited the trial, the program underlined how the jury relied on physical and digital evidence rather than just motive. The sentences provided legal closure, though the story continued to resonate.

Trending

Almost eleven years have passed since Ashlea Ann Harris was killed, and the case remains well-known in Fort Worth and beyond. Programs like Dateline: Black Friday keep the case in public awareness, showing how everyday conflicts can escalate into serious crimes.

The episode highlighted how workplace trust can be broken, sometimes with serious consequences. Dateline: Black Friday presented the investigation step by step, showing how law enforcement solved this high-profile case.

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