we may never know why scot purk murdered meg, or why he mentioned her to the detective mifflin that night, as the watched his house burn we do know that if he hadn't meg's secret would likely have remained buried with her >> i got into this job to help people, and there's nothin better than making a famil happy with an outcome for case and in this case, it's beyon happy. it's beyond words. everybody -- they can finally rest in peace that this has been resolved th way it should have been. >> that's all for this edition of "dateline". i'm craig melvin thank you for watching >> hello, i'm andrea canning and this is dateline >> actually was a wild and fre

texan, who everyone seemed t love >> caring, wondering compassionate. >> so why did she have the strange permission >> actually always felt like she was gonna die young. >> the call came on blac friday >> they said that ashlea apartment was on fire. >> when the car picked up, i m heart broke. >> and this fire was n accident >> they conducted surveillance at ashlea apartment. >> they're going back to the place where ashlea worked? >> they were going after ten of thousands of dollars. >> but was money they only motive or was there something else? >> there were a lot of rumor going around that ended up being true >> couldn't believe anyone did that to her. it was just pure evil. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> hello and welcome t dateline ashlea harris had no shortag of admirers. family, friends, coworkers even her ex son her praises. so when she was found dead

after a suspicious fir consumed her apartment, police were baffled this was no accident but where the clues to who killed ashlea now up in smoke? it would take a determined detective, and the discovery o a stolen keaton lock thi mystery. here is keith morrison wit black friday >> a hot august night in texas 2014 the lone figure knew where t go know where the story kept th cash grabbed $18,000. and was gone but it was only money. and no one got hurt. not that time, anyway. the story begins here in for worth, texas which turned out to be the perfect growing up plays for a rough and tumble free spirit named ashlea harris. >> i was around ten when she

was born so, perfect age to pretend tha she was my baby. >> melissa hill is ashley' eldest sister. >> she marched to the beat of different drum she would wear things that did not match. her hair was just, it didn't seem combed. >> she was never the littl princess type? >> now now. >> there were three girls in the family ashley was the baby. their mom, monica, remembers how ashlea love sports, an music, an art. and bingo! >> it was our mom and daughter bonding time she would get really excited >> by the time she got a hig school, ashlea had lots of friends. even a boyfriend and she was devoted to her two dads her father, tommy, and her stepfather, chuck. both, required police officers >> didn't she talk at one poin

about getting into yard line o work >> she was interested in policing i think that she took a unique interest in it >> but after high school, sh ended up working for a short time at blockbuster video and that is where she met customer named laura love. >> i walked around the store for a little bit, and just kep looking at her because she is so beautiful. >> laura wanted to meet th girl behind the counter. they became friends. and then, something more >> we hung out for a few months more like eight months, before it ever really got there >> by that, she means that she and ashley fell in love. >> there was a lot of growin up, she had to work through he feelings being gay isn't necessarily an easy thing and it definitely wasn't eas 14 or 15 years ago >> oh no, it wasn't. >> was there a coming ou period >> i believe there is, 2004.

she came over to the house, an she goes, mom i have something to tell you. and chuck. i just want you to know that i was gay. and i say, well, ashlea, i already knew it. but you need to give me some space. i need some time >> so monica took some time, prayed about it. came to this conclusion. >> i cannot imagine god give me this child, and living with her, and raising her that he would want me to sto loving her >> would it make any sense a all. >> yet, for a while, monic wasn't comfortable wit ashley's no relationship though laura said that she and ashlea were very good together >> she was always very giving, very, what else can i do for you to make you happy? >> the romance lasted more tha three years. then it was over but they remained friends.

and laura remembers how happ ashlea was, when she started working at guy american eagl outfitters, in the mall in for worth. >> she loved it. >> she wasn't existent manager and good at, it said her boss. chris. >> just her personality, caring, loving, compassionate. she just loved life. >> and she loved taking videos of her life. lots of them, at work. >> looks really tired, this is not helping. look at my eyes. it's horrible. >> she had this laugh, it wa so infectious. >> they weren't all like that, however. employee, lindsey green, sai another assistant manage carter cervantes, was very different from ashley. >> she taught me how to love myself to a point. carter cervantes just talk m work related things. >> - >> right

>> and actually, polar opposite, and popular. >> this is what it looks like. i'm so heard >> so work was going well. her love life? not so much. and then one night, actually went out with friends. and april was there. >> i was the waitress. and she was having a bad night and i was trying to pull her out of her shell she was not having it. so i just, fine. >> april gave up on her grumpy customer until months later, they connected on social media. they met for a dog walk. ashley brought her dog, natale april brought cooper and everyone clicked >> what was it like when you first started going out with her? >> she has a magnetic forced t her. it is hard to not instantl love her >> so, by the summer of 2014

life was good for ashley her social life, her job though she did hit a bump of sorts in august. when someone stole 18 gran from the store safe. >> it was ashlea, who realized the theft had occurred and reported it to you >> correct >> she even helped i.d. th suspects with her interest in polic work, actually thought she might have a calling here. >> she wanted to go until last prevention, and work for our home office, in american eagle >> she was 31, she had all kinds of plans but on the morning after thanksgiving, black friday, th biggest shopping day of th year chris's phone rang at home >> it was our other assistan manager. saying, ashley's apartment i on fire. we can't get her on the phone. i put clothes on assesses could get, started driving, an follow the for trail, and th

silence. >> coming up no one would guess where tha trail would eventually lead. >> we were asking if we coul talk to ashlea, and where sh was at they were just saying she wa unavailable left right now >> when dateline continues ♪breeze driftin' on by...♪ ♪...you know how i feel.♪ you don't have to take... [coughing] ...copd sitting down. ♪it's a new dawn,...♪ ♪...it's a new day,♪ it's time to make a stand. ♪and i'm feelin' good.♪ start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd... ...medicine has the power to treat copd... ...in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler,... ...trelegy makes breathing easier for a full 24 hours, improves lung function, and helps prevent future flare-ups. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler... ...for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating,...

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black friday laura love had only one thin

on her mind. >> black friday was my favorit day of the year. i love to shop, and save money >> but laura's black friday, was about to turn very dark, indeed >> i got a call from a frien of ours. and she said ashlea apartmen is on fire >> ashley's friends arrived at her parking lot to something like chaos >> there was a lot of police cars the crime scene was there. >> detective jerry, and hi partner ernie, sped over there too. >> there was a crowd startin together next thing you know, we have about 40 to 50 of friends an family, and coworkers. and then we had residents that were just looking from balconies. we had quite a crowd out here. >> by now, firefighters squelc the flames and detectives watch up to ashlea door. >> when you went into that apartment, how was it? >> it was very disturbing. >> a woman's lifeless body was lying face down on the floor

>> we waited until she got turned over, we've got a loo at her face. she was identified by some o the tattoos. >> and then they know, the victim had her name tattooed o her ribcage. ashlea harris. i outside, her friends wer totally in the dark. >> we were asking if we coul talk to ashlea, where she wa at they were just saying she wa unavailable right now. >> ashley's boss, chris, had arrived and was trying to ge some answers >> first a couple of hours, we just assumed that she was bein taken care of. >> and while they waited for information, investigators wer realizing that this was no accident >> it was obviously she ha been beaten, due to the amount of blood that we had found and then we observed her arm were bound behind her back and her ankles were bound. >> it looked like ashlea had been fighting back against a truly vicious attack >> she had been beaten, an possibly tortured. we later discovered that her

neck had been severed. >> not only that, the fire looked suspicious. so, veteran arson investigator wallace heard, was called to the scene. >> there was fire damage on th bed. and also, i notice that ther was some fire damage to th victim and i saw what looked like a bottle of alcohol. >> fire on the victims so someone set a fire to her >> it looked like there wa some burn marks to her >> there were several points o origin, and that's an indicato of some none setting fire. >> rubbing alcohol, supporte there, put it there? >> yes sir >> chris, standing in the crow outside, watched his worst fears in front of ashley's apartment. >> i think it hit me like sack of bricks once i saw them start taping i off for the crime scene. and when the coroner pulled up

my heart broke i lost it. >> and then, the detective looking very stern came outside to as some pointe questions. did someone know something see something? >> at that point, they start the police start shuffling u into the office. and they tell us, even if we tried to leave we could be arrested >> they didn't tell yo something very bad happened in there? >> yeah. >> one person not in the crowd that morning, was ashley's girlfriend, april. about 1 pm, april got a text from one of ashley's neighbors >> hey have you checked on you girl there was a fire in he apartment. and immediately, i thought, of nalah, ashley's dog. >> april assumed that sh wasn't home. and then she got a message fro another friend, saying, quickly, call me. >> i called her and said, wher is ashlea, and where is natale

>> she said nautilus fine. i said wears ashley? she said, ashley is gone and, it didn't register. >> gone? what do you mean gone? >> yeah. i said, well, is ashlea, okay? she said no, april, she is dead and, i was sitting on my bed and i threw my phone on th ground like, that is not real >> when reality settled in april, and all of ashley's friends, and family, and eve the police had to wonder who would do such a thing? to such a good, sweet person ashli harris had no enemies, did she? >> was someone stalking ashlea harris coming up! >> i saw a vehicle parke there. >> but someone had seen it

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go with the general. >> ashley's mother and stepfather - awful jagged with. first, they heard about th fire monica prayed actually was not hurt ashley's father tommy harris

called >> i saw him getting off the phone. i saw him wiping his tears i knew that my prayer wasn't answered >> he couldn't reach ashle sister so he left a message. >> not two minutes later m husband called me. he said, where are you i need to come to you. i said, what is wrong with m mom? what happened to my mom? it's not your mom. it's actually. i mean, it just came like blow >> back in fort worth, polic were still rounding up peopl gathered outside ashley' apartment. not among them was april april had not seen actually fo a few days their romance had hit a bit of a bump >> that night, we talked briefly about me coming over after i got off work

i went home. >> someone else was there. her name was alexis taurus >> alexis torres was the las person to see ashley alive and was the last person to leave her apartment. >> this is certainly someone h would want to talk to. >> yes, sir. >> alexis said she and ashle had gone to an early thanksgiving dinner with friends. >> you had thanksgiving dinner and that was - >> around 12 >> even around for the afternoon. >> yes >> actually had to work that night. >> her shift was supposed to b from 7 pm until 3 am alexis agreed to come over during the time that she was working to take care of ashley 's dog >> alexis told the police that she went back one more tim after ashley got home from work >> a long did you stay >> i stayed for an hour. >> that would make it four a.m. if alexis was telling the truth, the police said the beginnings of a timeline. before they could check he story or anyone else is, for

that matter, a neighbor gave them more to work with, an e cop named steve lee had notice something about 6:30 tha morning. >> you're out here having cigarette. what did you see >> a vehicle parked there that i had never seen before. >> what was the vehicle? >> it was a black infinity >> to the observant ex cop that seemed worth noting >> did it stay there for a lon time >> it was there when i left fo work that about 7:40 >> detectives also talked to a neighbor who lived directl below actually he had heard noises, heavy breathing coming from ashley's apartment just before eigh a.m. >> a few minutes later, th fire alarms started going off. water started coming down into his apartment. >> that is one of the neighbor saw a black infinity g 3 driving away armed with this new information, they went back to alexis torres >> i asked her if she knew

anyone who drove an infinity g 35 i never gave her a color i simply asked her about the car. >> alexis said no. >> everyone asking the questions, i walked outside an sat down on the brick and believe it was chris that wa there. >> that would be ashley's boss at american eagle. alexis told him that polic were asking about the infinity sit in chris made a beeline for detective city oh. >> i know whose call car y'all are asking about >> i want to make you awar that i have a former employe that drove the infinity g35. >> her name was carter that business like assistant manager who worked with ashley >> what color is the g35 tha she drove? he mentions that it's a blac one. >> what was it like to hea

that >> it beats hearing the colo red or white >> by the way, chris tol detective cedillo, carter left american eagle because she was fired. cedillo filed that away an sorted through the crime scene and talk to witnesses. did you get any sleep? >> no, sir, i didn't >> the story about carter an her black infiniti was bugging him. >> where do i go from here >> he tossed and turned on i thinking about that. something inside him said no >> i'm not going to be able to get any sleep. i might as will get back out there and see what i could find >> wouldn't be his first wil goose chase. he had carter's address so h drove over there what do you know >> i saw a black infinit backed in right in front of th apartment. >> he didn't knock on her door >> i was going to go ahead and

sit here and watch the vehicle to see if it moved >> for more than four hours, h sat in his car, cold but patient. at about 8 am saturday, he saw the lights of the infiniti flash as if someone wa unlocking it remotely. >> i see the male entered th driver seat. i then to see a female enter the passenger side of the blac infinity >> they drove off. the detective followed after a few minutes, to be infiniti pulled into, of all places, the human mall >> they're going back to the place where ashley worked were the american eagle was >> yes, sir. >> what would they be doin their? >> that was the million dollar question >> i asked him, what are you doing here at the mall he said he dropped his girlfriend off to pick up some -- >> a routine errand or something else when dateline continues.

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i am katie phang >> hello i'm katie phang here's what's happening. chinese president xi jinping i set to visit russian president vladimir putin in moscow o monday the two leaders will discuss the war in ukraine it comes as the internationa criminal court issued an arres warrant for vladimir putin law enforcement is assessing security in new york city, after a dedmon for donal trump. an assistant - in the case of alleged hus money payments to an alleged porn star. now back to dateline >> welcome back to dateline. i'm andrea canning after celebrating thanksgiving with friends, ashley harri headed to her job at the mal to get ready for jacket friday but nothing could've prepare her for the horror she faced when she returned home ashley was brutally murdered and, her apartment was set o

fire they noticed the car around th time of the killing, a black infinity they later learned it was th same model a former coworker drove. coincidence? detective jerry cedillo wa about to find out. here's keith morrison with black friday >> on the saturday morning after black friday, 2014 homicide detective jerry cedillo, followed up black infinity into the parking lo of them all. he watched as the passenger, a woman dressed in dark-is closed headed inside she fit the description he had been given, of 25 year old carter cervantes, a former coworker of ashlea harris. the male driver stayed in th car. so cedillo called his partner, asked him to check up on the guy. >> when i approach the car, th person identified themselves a david mallory. >> david mallory was carter' live in boyfriend. he too was a former employee o american eagle >> i ask him what you're doing

here at the mall he said that he had dropped hi girlfriend off to pick up some papers where she was a manager. >> so, perhaps it was just that david giving carter a ride t pick up some paperwork at th new job. cedillo decided to go inside the mall was open, but the stories were still closed. >> and i happen to go up t their, and say there was a manager in their working and i was working, and he said carter cervantes, does not wor for him. and he does not know who she is >> so much for that story. >> exactly >> so he turned his attentio to finding carter cervantes. no luck. >> you didn't see her at all i there? >> no sir. >> did anyone see her? >> no sir. >> so, cedillo, had disgruntled employee comin back to the mall where she had been fired her boyfriend was telling lies about the job that she did not have and a car that looked like her had been spotted at the scen of a murder.

detective still had davi mallory out in the parking lot and was looking for a reason t hold him >> he said he had a driver license, but he didn't have hi drivers license with him >> brazen enough, he arreste david mallory and brought hi in for questioning but carter seem to have vanished. wasn't anywhere in the mall. but then police went to he apartment complex, and there she was. >> where was she in th apartment complex? >> she initially was in th laundry room >> come as she plays, sh agreed to answer questions without a lawyer down at the station. >> you go back carter? or carol >> somehow she had switched her dark clothes fo bright pink scrubs >> how did you and up at the mall >> i had a job opportunity a american outfitters. >> oh yes, the american eagl connection detective sedillo had heard thing or two about that. she had worked at the store fo

four months. and was businesslike, bu unlike ashley, she wasn't very friendly assistan manager. she did however, make an impression on some younger clerks like lies. >> carter was very smart, very deep, she was good at readin people and knowing how t converse with them you could tell that she wa well educated. had a lot more to her than mos sales, retail managers do. >> but detectives video knew something else about carter. and law david mallory. something very important remember that burglary a american eagle three month earlier? carter and david mallory, wher the primary suspects and ashley harris was the on who discovered the money missing. >> and when ashley came in t open the store, she found th safe open. >> ashlea harris knew it was carter who closed the nigh before and when she showed her boss the security video view of the

burglary >> she pointed at the monitor, and said, that's david mallory good and i said who is that? and she said it's carter's boyfriend. >> ashley figure that carter set of the burglary, and david mallory, carried it out. carter got fired, davi disappeared. and both heard that it was ashlea who identified them they had not been charged, not yet. but. >> the case was basically, being actively investigate when this happened >> and now, here three month later was carter cervantes talking to the police. with growing suspicion that sh and her boyfriend were connected to ashlea murder the deal started off easy. >> where you - >> know, originally from lubbock. >> is your family still there? >> yeah. >> and the brothers are sisters? >> no brothers and sisters they all live in lubbock >> have you seen them lately >> now, i talk to them every day on text message, snapchat. but i haven't been home.

>> more friendly questions >> where do you go to school >> - university >> so deal asked about thanksgiving, small talk >> what did you? eight >> i had turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, casserole and this cabbage, bacon, salad that my mom really likes but i don't think david like the very much. >> except, this wasn't reall small talk detectives the deal was playin close attention. >> all right, so let's start with this morning. all right? you what time did you get up >> about 7:30. >> and what happened then? >> i talked, and then when i went back to sleep and when i woke up, he wasn' there. >> okay. i know that's a lie. >> no, no it's not >> you know i know it's a lie? because i saw you come out o your apartment, and get into the passenger seat of that car and i saw him drive out of there. that's why i know it is a lie. >> so the o was tough.

but it carter cervantes wasn't giving an inch >> coming up >> there is an actual huma grave that's been dug. >> fresh graves? >> fresh the grave >> when dateline continues what's happening, dad? with delicious taste and 50% more calcium. blue diamond almond breeze. don't just milk it. almond milk it. still living with odors? get back in there and freshen instantly with new febreze air mist. febreze's new, finer mist floats longer in the air to fight even your toughest odors. so long stinky smells and hello amazing freshness. discover the new febreze scents today! i wish that shaq was my real life big brother. what's up, little bro? turns out, some wishes do come true. and it turns out the general is a quality insurance company that's been saving people money for nearly 60 years. for a great low rate, and nearly 60 years of quality coverage- go with the general. >> it was late saturda

morning. the day after black friday 25-year-old carter was talking to detectives. and lying through her teeth. >> i know what i did thi

morning. i know where i was, i know where i went >> detectives videos certainly knew where she went. the hulen mall, but she kept existing that she had been i home all morning >> you're about to make th biggest mistake of your, lif do you understand me >> and she still wouldn' confess to it? >> she would not budge >> i got up, i went and pu their laundry in, and i went and checked my emails. that's all you found me >> then, when the detectiv stepped out of the room. she did something interesting. maybe incriminating? >> she took a drink, puts th bottle down, she picks it up again. and before she can take second trip. she stops, midair, spells wate on herself puts the bottle, downstairs at it for 15 seconds. then she reaches over, grabs a tissue from the table. and start swapping down th bottle and then wipes down th mouthpiece >> what does that say to you >> that she was afraid that we were going to obtain her dna from the bottle. >> after that, police let he

go david mallory to but detectives had a theory. cooking. that carter and david killed ashli. out of revenge of being fire from the burglary. but they also wanted ashli ski to the american eagle. because they were planning t rob the store again. those key is where the onl thing missing from the murde scene. and one store manager, chris looked at the surveillance video from earlier that morning? he told police what they wante to hear. >> describe what you saw on th videotape? >> somebody dressed in dar clothes, with their face wrapped. walked right up to the store and tried to get in with cheese >> that, he said, was carter trying to pull off another bigger burglary. police just knew one day after killing ashlea and taking her case. carter was trying to break int american eagle where this time, tens of thousands of dollars, of black friday profits were in the

safe but the key did not fit. because after ashlea was murdered, chris change the locks. >> i wasn't going to take an chance, whether it be a deposi or them harming someone else i the store. we need to lock them out >> detectives pulled the surveillance video and look at this carter, slipping away from the mall, having already changed from her sweat clothes int pinks grabs. had to be trying to fool potential trackers this is after police saw her talking to dave it in th parking lot. then she walked all the wa home over the next few days, police got a warrant for carter and david's cell phones. that camera app, so useful >> well, we learned that the had conducted surveillance at ashley's apartment week before they had a picture of he apartment. her actual door to her apartment. and they had pictures of her vehicle, the white dodge ram pickup >> in early december, 2014

carter cervantes and david mallory were arrested an charged with the murder of one ashlea harris. cool comfort for ashley sister >> it is just such a law and it is so pointless i just don't understand ho people could do that >> they were tried separately. the cases against them wer virtually identical. assistant da kevin roussea lead the prosecution from the witness stand detectives video helped lay ou the case >> were you able to conduct search of the apartment and th vehicle? >> yes sir >> and were you able to prove receipt to be helpful? >> yes sir >> that sales receipt showed some hot purchases on carter's credit cards >> she had purchased two shelves, she had purchased a

tarp she had purchased gloves >> why was that significant? because of a discovery way out in the texas grab. a discovery, where the of horror movie and the key to finding it wa right there on carter and davi cell phones. >> they would text each othe longitude and latitude coordinates. and it letters to a remote area >> what was there? >> as soon as we got to a spot that says, you're, there w look up. and there is an actual human grave that has been dug. >> fresh graves? >> fresh grave >> prosecutors believed that the original plan was to kidna ashley kill her, and to put her bod in that grave. she was killed in her apartment, but prosecutors thought, because she thought so hard. >> what is that? >> this is a glock 19 semi automatic pistol >> in fact, investigator believed that ashley harris wa

pistol whipped so when this was found prosecutors had it tested. the results were said, and inclusive. >> it came back positive wit ashley's dna on the gun. very significant >> there was blood, adjacent t her bed, and blood splatter on the bed. this was not an easy death >> hearing all of this was s hard on ashley's mother, monica and loved ones like april >> i thought - so i went out, and i went back into the room where monica was and she was consoling me and she shouldn't be consultin me >> the brutality of the murder was never far from the prosecutor's minds >> i just thought how painful, and how awful her the last few moments of her life was. >> terrifying. >> absolutely terrifying >> but even that, they said, even that appeared to be par of the plan. this was not just about robbery,

or even revenge. said prosecutor russo. >> there was discussions tha carter had had with people where she expressed a certain, i guess you can call them. fantasies involving killin people >> - remembers one such discussio at work. >> it was just passed, we were folding clothes, and she mentioned that she had thought about killing someone before and whether or not she could watch them die >> as if the murder was no shocking enough. prosecutors were pretty sure that ruled this murder was a thrill kill. planned by a sadistic youn woman. who thought she was smarte than everyone else but, tiny, mick, carte cervantes had none of that she still had a plan concocted all by herself to explain why she to, was a victim >> coming up a vicious killer >> you wanted her to say the

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i screwed up. at t-mobile, there are no smallmhm.inesses. i got us t-mobile home internet. now cell phone users have priority over us. and your marriage survived that? you can almost feel the drag when people walk by with their phones. oh i can't hear you... you're froze-- ladies, please! you put it on airplane mode when you pass our house. i was trying to work. we're workin' it too. yeah! work it girl! woo! i want to hear you say it out loud. well, i could switch us to xfinity. those smiles. that's why i do what i do. >> when people talk about th that and the paycheck. trial of carter cervantes, thi is what they remember. >> say your name for the recor please >> my name is carter carroll cervantes.

>> against the advice of her attorneys, carter cervante took the stand gone was that criminal mastermind >> she gets up on the stand an it was insane. >> carter said it was all he boyfriend, david mallory controlling every aspect of he life >> i was very afraid of david. >> how afraid of him were you? >> i thought he was going to kill me. >> this is where carter' defense truly began. she told the jury she was woman enslaved by her seat's stick lover. >> he was telling me what to drink, what t to be, and w have sex with him in the movie theater. >> he had the gun, the glock she said he used it like a threat this carried her >> i didn't feel comfortable

with that weapon she told the jury she wa asleep at home when ashlea was being murdered she didn't know where david ha gone he wound up with a set o american eagle keys. >> he gave me some gloves. he told me to put them on. and he handed me a pair, a set of american eagle keys go in and open the gate. bring me that fat aske deposits >> she says he pulled out th glock. >> he just pointed it at me. >> and you >> yes, across his body. i shook my head that i wasn' going to do it he said, you don't understand. there is somebody sittin outside your parents house right now. if you don't go in, i'm goin to kill them and then i'm goin to kill you. >> that is why she tried to ro the store. she said it was that or be killed just a couple of hours befor she showed up on the securit video, she said david made a

very clear to her just how far he would go to make sure absolutely sure that she would do what he demanded. >> someone pushed me down righ when i got into the apartment. >> during the night before the break in attempt, she said david brought strange men into their apartment. she heard an angry voice above her. >> he said, i'll make he follow directions. >> then her story got even mor harrowing. >> he took off my sweatpants and pull them down to my ankle and they raped me. >> raped twice, she said sobbing, by two different men. >> were you in pain? >> yes, i was screaming. >> prosecutors kevin russo and ashley dino were taken aback >> i know what i think

this is not true >> they needed to regroup fast >> this is the biggest lie she's ever told. we know that you never know what the jury i thinking >> carter had an explanation for just about everything, eve that moment during her interrogation when she wiped the bottle she wasn't wiping off her dna. she said the smell from in the bottle reminded her of being raped. >> i was telling myself, it' just water, it's just water, it's not them. i could still smell it >> she said that she certainly was overcome with the smell of semen in the air it is something to do with drinking out of this bottle of water. i said that took some work that is one heck of a lie. >> it was at that point that i put my pin down and said, i am not writing this i'm not going to write thi down >> his voice dripping with sarcasm, prosecutor russo took her story apart.

he showed the jury a picture >> is that the gun that yo were talking about that yo were very uncomfortable with being in your apartment? >> yes >> that's the one that's a lad there beside you while you'r having a morning coffee. >> yes >> he drilled down into th heart of carter's story. just two were those mysterious rapists? >> they all spoke in a way tha i would describe as ghetto >> these were black people black man? >> no, sir i did not say that >> but, said the prosecutor, that's exactly what she wa suggesting >> if she was going to try t play that guard, i was going t make or spell it out >> is it bomb acts a term that is con commonly associated wit african americans in thi country? >> i don't know where ivan x i commonly associated with i associated with a certai type of speech that i woul associate with the word ghetto >> if she was hoping to play t

racial bias, she guessed wrong the jurors did not believe i not for a second they found her guilty in les than two hours as for david mallory, hi attorneys argued he had nothin to do with the murder. he was involved with carter, yes, but not with any killing. the jury did not buy tha either they were entered a guilty verdict in no time at all. the verdicts were some consolation for those who love ashlea harris. >> i still miss her. she saw the best in everybod even when you couldn't see it. she could see it she had such a big heart this world is worse off.

at least mine is >> both david mallory an carter cervantes receive mandatory sentences of life in prison with no possibility o parole it was not enough or ashley' mom and stepdad. >> the death penalty was what wanted it's what monica wanted. it was not to be >> they cling to memories of their actually >> tell us about the last time you saw your daughte physically in person >> it was november >> about a week before she died, ashley had invited monica to play bingo, monica was bus almost said no something told her to stop wha she was doing and go she is glad she did. >> i walked into the bingo hal and, oh my god, there's that little girl of mind. i smiled at her and i walked over to her and i kissed the side of her neck and i told he

how much i loved her >> we remember every syllable, every moment of that day, don' you? >> yes >> 256 >> these days, monica is makin new memories at the bing parlor remember how skittish she wa around ashley's girlfriend and first? no longer! they are family now. >> have a good weekend >> when monica and i go and ge our nails done, they always say, oh, your daughter is so pretty she never corrects them. as far as she is concerned, sh gained several daughters >> when they are altogether, ashlea is there too. >> that's all for this edition of dateline. i am andrea canning. thank you for watching ♪ ♪ ♪ >> happy