Bridges said the horror remains fresh of 44-year-old David Harris' death as his wife ran over him again and again with her silver Mercedes-Benz after discovering him with Bridges at a. She was humiliated," said Ms. Hanson. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Then, she said, she and the defendant went to a salon, where Harris had her hair cut and colored. ", Susan Hanson, a dental clinic executive, noted that "Clara had taken a back seat in his relationship. Abbott, FBI announce rewards for info on Cleveland mass shooter, Massive ranch up for sale near Texas next big state park, 3,800-acre San Antonio-area property to become Texas state park, Texas man catches giant alligator snapping turtle, releases it, Former KPRC 2 anchor Dominique Sachse to launch podcast Monday, Uber ranks Houston among most 'forgetful' U.S. cities, Texas to host national hot air balloon championship this summer, Report: Texas man took break from dinner date to kill man outside, One of Houston's tallest skyscrapers to become apartment complex, J.J. Watt tweets the 2 things he doesn't miss about Houston, You can own your own cave system for a cool $875k, home included, Texas college baseball player hit by stray bullet mid-game, Greg Abbott announces $50k reward for information on Cleveland shooting, Massive Coastal Bend ranch up for sale near Texas next big state park, Property north of San Antonio set to become a new Texas state park, Texas man catches massive alligator snapping turtle, then releases it back into the wild, How former KPRC 2 anchor Dominique Sachse is getting back to reporting, Uber ranks Houston among the most 'forgetful' U.S. cities. The incident sparked nationwide news attention after several startling facts were brought to light about the case. "I don't know how it couldn't be on her mind," Johnson said. In July 2002, the mother of two made headlines when she hit her 44-year-old husband David with her silver Mercedes-Benz and ran over him three times before stopping directly on top of his body. Steve treated her like a princess.". The woman whose affair with her boss prompted his wife to run him down with her Mercedes-Benz fought back tears Tuesday as she testified she believed the marriage was "open" to other sexual partners. Audubon Club. "I couldn't believe he could sleep holding her all night because we had never slept like that, never," Clara Harris said of her 10 years of marriage. "They suspected the husbands might be spreading the rumors, and they also suspected that their husbands might be doing something themselves.". "Gail says she is afraid Mrs. Harris may still pose a threat to her. After their divorces, Bridges and Knight moved to Houston's Clear Lake area. Harris' murder trial is set to begin on Jan. 21, and her testimony should begin that week. In his countersuit, Steve Bridges, an insurance agent, accused his wife of cruel treatment and having an affair with her best friend, Julie Ann Knight. They had twin sons named Brian and Bradley in 1998. Bridges, wearing all black, never appeared to glance in the defendant's direction. She objected that the question was "overly broad and vague.". What was even more interesting, however, was a personnel file of Gail Bridges - a one-time employee of Space Center Orthodontics - had also been stolen. David Harris was run down and killed by his wife, Dr. Clara Harris, in the Nassau Bay Hilton parking lot on July 29, police said. Video requires Real Player), The testimony: Day 1: Hotel employees tell what they saw Day 2: Grainy videotape reveals little Day 3: Clara Harris told private eye husband "a good man" Day 4: Defendant's sobs halt trial twice. Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? Back at Clara Harris' practice, Ms. Sherrill said, she tried to tell her there were problems. It was soon discovered that Harris, who suspected David Harris was having an affair, had hired a private detective service to tail her husband. Diana Sherrill told jurors Monday that she saw a change in David Harris last summer as he got closer to receptionist Gail Bridges. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Gail didn't want it, saying she wanted to avoid conflict for her children's sake. On July 24th, 2002, they found David at a hotel with his mistress, Gail. 2003 The Associated Press. The fatal incident happened July 24 after a violent confrontation in the hotel lobby. } In the other case, Charles Knight has filed a petition with the family court in Galveston asking that he get sole custody of their 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son due to his ex-wife's association with Gail Bridges. "The boys were ecstatic. Plot: Based on the true crime of passion murder of a Houston dentist.The story made headlines when Clara Harris killed her cheating husband by repeatedly running over him with her car. Legal Statement. Clara Harris, the former dentist who was convicted of hitting and killing her husband David with her car, has completed her parole requirement. They were all over her," Johnson said of a visit earlier this week. They just ran to her. Bridges, fighting back tears but calmly fielding questions, said she did not see David Harris struck by his wife's car. If she is convicted, her lawyers are prepared to lodge a "sudden passion" argument that could result in a sentence far lower than the life maximum under Texas law. Legal Statement. Political History, Black Youth Leader Says He Was Mistakenly Detained While Naked, New Jersey Librarian Files Federal Complaint After Being Fired for 'Gay Lifestyle', Transgender Archaeologist Fired From Federal Job After Posing With AR-15, Trans Parole Seekers in California Face Misgendering, Other Barriers, Sara Bareilles Celebrates Her LGBTQ+ Anthem 'Brave' a Decade After Its Release, Anti-Trans 'Bathroom Bill' Becomes Law in North Dakota, Dylan Mulvaney Breaks Silence After Transphobic Backlash Over Bud Light Partnership, Watch Hunter Schafer Make Her Hunger Games Debut in Prequels First Trailer, Brittney Griner Says She Won't Play Overseas Again After Being Jailed in Russia. Bridges took jurors through the time she was hired at David Harris' orthodontic practice in August 2001, to a blossoming romance last April and finally a sexual rendezvous. His ex-wife, Julie Knight, lives in close proximity to Gail Bridges and the two are reportedly very close friends. Get a 42-inch oscillating fan for 15% off with this deal. Chuck Knight was upset that the surveillance didn't catch them in a compromising way, Bacha said. "In the past, he would always run to the phone when she called. HOUSTON - Gail Bridges had been having an affair with Clara Harris' husband, David, for months -- an affair Clara says drove her to kill her husband. GATESVILLE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM)- Clara Harris, the Texas woman who ran over her cheating husband with her Mercedes-Benz after she caught him with his mistress, is now a free woman. She is being held at the Brazoria County Jail while a custody dispute over her 4-year-old twin boys is settled. The burglary of Space Center Orthodontics - which was owned by Harris - occurred sometime between Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, Houston police said. He told her he had a marriage of convenience, and he really got personal with her. Knight, 44, denied saying he was splitting the cost with Steve Bridges. Davenport said Bridges kept to herself and her children for two years after her bitter divorce. Gail Bridges, who acknowledged having an affair with David Harris beginning last May, said she assumed Clara Harris knew she was having a sexual relationship with David Harris based. Her testimony resumed Friday for the first time since her attorney fell ill around lunchtime Wednesday. Officials announced last month that Harris was. "When the husbands weren't home, (Gail and Julie) were always together. She was standing inside her driver's side door when she said she saw Clara Harris churning through the parking lot in the Mercedes. defense attorney Emily Munoz asked. or redistributed. Lived In Athens AL, Huntsville AL, Tanner AL, Toney AL. Gail Alison Bridges, age 29. Market data provided by Factset. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Clara Harris is no longer under the watch of the Texas criminal justice system, for now. "I think this took a real toll on Steve," an acquaintance said. A Sept. 29 custody hearing has been set in Brazoria County. Some who knew her say things changed after Bridges became friends with Knight, who has a daughter, 12, and a son, 8. "She was really, really hurt. The location of the killing was also where Clara and David married on Valentine's Day in 1992. Hey bro, what's goin' on around here? They say the two women saw each other every day, working out together and shopping. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. Just another way to get one's kicks. When will people realize that engaging in high-risk behavior has consequences? Clara Harris said she was stunned by her husband's remark about holding his lover. Among them was the reasoning that could be best described as a crime of passion. "Clara was shattered. He later died of his injuries. Then she twice laughingly patted his chest and fumbled with coins in the vehicle's console. "Without any evidence, there was no reason to pick up anything.". He also denied being upset about the surveillance report, but acknowledged he was disappointed. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14. David began having an affair with his former receptionist, named Gail Bridges. ", "She was no longer No. While near her sons, Johnson said Clara Harris is using the opportunity to spend time with them. First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase The location of the killing was also where. Prosecutors painted a picture of Harris outraged after finding her orthodontist husband with his mistress, Gail Bridges, at the Nassau Bay Hilton hotel. In fact, Clara Harris (32:28), a Columbian woman, was a "wonderful human being" who "lost it" only once and paid with her life Continue reading Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clara harris , david harris , dentist , gail bridges , lindsay , mistress , Murder | 1 Comment Prosecutors say Harris, 45, intentionally killed her 44-year-old husband July 24 in a suburban Houston hotel parking lot following a scuffle in the lobby with Bridges. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "Pay attention to Dr. David, maybe get to counseling. He and his wife, who had a dental practice in Lake Jackson, owned six dental offices in the Houston area and frequently saw each other's patients. She was a cheerleader for three years and a member of the marching band at Crosby High School. Harris is seen left in a 2017 prison photo and right in 2003 during her trial when she was 45 +12 View gallery Harris murdered her orthodontist husband David, 44 By the time she killed him,. ", "You've never seen that side of the defendant?". Clara Harris ran over her husband the night of July 24 after confronting him and Ms. Bridges inside a hotel in suburban Clear Lake. Bridges spoke to News2Houston in an. }, First published on February 5, 2003 / 9:00 PM. "He wasn't in love," she testified. Officials with the medical examiner's office concluded Harris was run over at least twice. Security guards escorted both women from the hotel--the same place the Harrises were married a decade earlier--following a physical confrontation. "He used more force than I would have," Tyler answered. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. Get a 42-inch oscillating fan for 15% off with this deal. The two-story home has an appraised value of $206,580. "Up until that time, the fight had been just two women -- not to minimize that. "She was hit by the car," Davenport said. #inline-recirc-item--id-92ac831c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-92ac831c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { The whole act was captured on camera by a private investigator whom Clara Harris hired to follow her husband. In his custody petition, Steve Bridges says Julie Knight is staying with his ex-wife, that the women's relationship is sometimes violent and that his daughter had to call police to break up a fight. Should we brace ourselves for more scandal? David Harris, 44, spent most of his time at Space Center. Knight seeks unspecified damages and attorney's fees. "The representative who reported to me said it was dark, that they didn't see anything, but that their heads were close together," he said. 1," Hanson said. Whether youre shopping Way Day 2023 or Walmart, theres an al fresco set for you. Dental public relations woman Diana Sherrill testified that the entire staff of David Harris' Space Center Orthodontics was suspicious about their boss' relationship with Gail Bridges. The testimony came at Clara Harris' murder trial. Posted on 02/04/2003 4:03:58 AM PST by MeekOneGOP, HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com|Section: Local & State, Video: Private investigator catches incident on tape(Video courtesy of KHOU, Ch. "You don't know what she's capable of doing when angry? I wanted her to be able to start seeing the things I had seen.". 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I always had planned where to go," Clara Harris said. A Blue Moon surveillance crew captured Davids murder on videotape, which was used as evidence. Her case is best known for grabbing international headlines due to the wild twists and turns that came out during the trial, including the unleashed brutality described when David died. Gail Susan Bridges, age 70. "He said he wished he could clone her and put her in every single office.". In court proceedings, it was revealed that David had admitted to his affair even before Clara received a telephone tip that he and Bridges would be meeting that night at the hotel. When Harris was notified that her husband and his former receptionist, Gail Bridges, were at the Hilton in Nassau Bay, she confronted the woman in the hotel lobby, pulling her hair and biting. The orthodontist who was run over by his Mercedes-driving wife thought she was overweight, too talkative and addicted to her job, she testified Friday. Performance meets portability with Apple's 2023 MacBook Pro. It also appears to have been vandalized. defense attorney Emily Munoz asked. She took the stand against his advice, reports CBS News Correspondent Lee Cowan. Defense attorney George Parnham has said it was an accident when Clara Harris fatally injured her husband. She said he told her that he and Steve Bridges were splitting the cost of having their wives investigated. Another witness, office manager Susan Hanson, testified that Clara Harris also scheduled breast augmentation and liposuction surgery, bought a new wardrobe and began artificially tanning within a day of David Harris admitting his affair on July 17. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Baker is presiding over two custody hearings stemming from the murder, but because of the intense media interest, decided to close the hearings to the public in the best interests of the children. Clara Harris was sentenced to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in 2003 for killing her husband, David Harris, who worked as an orthodontist. She said Julie was reluctant to order surveillance but finally agreed. "My question," Magness said to Davis, "is: You've never seen her angry?". General Mills issues Gold Medal flour recall over salmonella concerns A month later, Knight bought a home a block away in the 15900 block of Manor Square Drive. / CBS. Knight alleges that Out of Control, written by Steven H. Long and published by St. Martin's Press, is "filled with lies, slander, and accusations against" Knight that include the repetition of allegations that she and Bridges are lovers, according to the lawsuit. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Trending News Here's how. At a party last May attended by both Harrises and Bridges, Bridges said she didn't tell Clara Harris about the relationship. The two men accused their wives of having a bisexual relationship, a claim both women denied. Sherrill testified about how Bridges, accompanying Harris and office workers to lunch at a nearby restaurant, bolted to join their boss on the front seat of his truck. Gail Bridges, who acknowledged having an affair with David Harris beginning last May, said she assumed Clara Harris knew she was having a sexual relationship with David Harris based. Her hair pulled back into a ponytail, she smiled broadly as she climbed into a gray Ford SUV. Earlier he had promised to break off his . She said her paycheck grew as her relationship with David Harris grew closer.
