She never would have wanted him to die, Claras lawyer, Kevin Stouwie, told local Texas news outlet KTRK. Bridges' former husband, Steven Bridges, who has been attempting to get custody of their children, said he thinks Harris intended to kill his ex-wife as she drove around the parking lot. }, First published on February 7, 2003 / 8:04 PM. "Unfortunately, I have had to suffer many things," Bridges told the Galveston County Daily News in Thursday's editions. #inline-recirc-item--id-92ac831c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Julie Knight filed for divorce on April 22, 1999. But with Bridges' arrival, the two witnesses told jurors, things quickly went downhill. 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. Disclaimer: The boys are currently cared for by David Harris' parents, Gerald and Mildred Harris. The results of adultery: One dead, one tried for murder, a family (three children's lives) destroyed. Dentist who killed cheating husband in notorious Texas killing to leave Officials announced last month that Harris was. It was a contrast to the businesslike demeanor he once had at the office, she said, as Clara Harris' murder trial began its third week. ", Another acquaintance described the Bridgeses as "a typical yuppie little family. The recent burglary of the dentist office is the latest twist in a story that has all the makings of a cable-television special. It also appears to have been vandalized. After Clara Harris got into her car, she drove toward the back of the parking lot where the vehicle of her husband's mistress was parked. A month later, Knight bought a home a block away in the 15900 block of Manor Square Drive. Bacha said the women browsed at the mall, went to McDonald's and then went home. Periodically, Clara Harris wiped tears or covered her face on the stand, a contrast to her composed demeanor Wednesday. But the faade collapsed in April 1999 when Gail Bridges filed for divorce, citing discord and personality conflicts. 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. The 2023 NFL Draft runs April 2729 live from Kansas City, Missouri. General Mills issues Gold Medal flour recall over salmonella concerns Reward offered as manhunt for Texas shooting suspect reaches "dead end" Mistress: He Said Marriage Was 'Open' - CBS News Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. ", "Some women will do a lot of things to please their husbands, but thank God they didn't," Bacha said. She has denied ever attempting suicide or using illegal drugs during the marriage. Gail Bridges, who acknowledged having an affair with David Harris beginning last May, said she assumed Clara Harris knew about the sexual trysts because of her boss' statements. Trending News Clara Harris and Bridges tussled in the lobby, and then Bridges returned to her sport-utility vehicle in the parking lot, she said. 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,. Harris had earlier broken a windshield wiper on the vehicle and scratched it, testimony showed. Knight seeks unspecified damages and attorney's fees. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. She is a victim.". Clara Harris, the Houston Dentist Who Ran Over Cheating Husband - Yahoo About a year later, Bacha said, the two women came to her. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { He later died of his injuries. "It's sad because they are very good mothers. Jury Gives 20-Year Term In Murder of Husband - New York Times All rights reserved. Here's how. Should we brace ourselves for more scandal? "Pay attention to Dr. David, maybe get to counseling. According to Clara Harris' notes, David Harris seemed fixated on Bridges' breast size, though he gave his wife higher marks for "much prettier hands and feet" and "prettier eyes" as he compared the women in exacting detail. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Clara Harris is no longer under the watch of the Texas criminal justice system, for now. She is currently free on $30,000 bond until the trial. The testimony came at Clara Harris' murder trial. Ms. Sherrill's testimony was peppered by objections, most of them sustained, by prosecutor Mia Magness. The suspicions led Chuck Knight to hire a private investigator. #inline-recirc-item--id-92ac831c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-92ac831c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { She said Julie was reluctant to order surveillance but finally agreed. Clara Harris, a dentist who took the stand Wednesday in her murder trial, was emotional but composed as she recounted the evening of July 24, when she and her stepdaughter caught orthodontist David Harris and lover Gail Bridges at a suburban hotel where they had met for a tryst. He told her he loved her.". He also contends that Gail attempted suicide in 2000 by taking a large number of pills, but made herself throw up. All Rights Reserved. Parnham - who was thrust into the spotlight in 2001 by defending Andrea Yates, the Clear Lake mother who drowned her five children - said he plans to focus on Harris' mental state during the trial, but is not planning an insanity defense. 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Prior to the attack, a confrontation between Bridges and Clara Harris occurred in the hotel lobby, and witnesses said Clara Harris tore Bridges' shirt. 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. Harris already knew about the affair when she hired Blue Moon Investigations, a private detective agency, in July 2002. Clara Harris responded: "She let him do whatever he wanted to do. His ex-wife, Julie Knight, lives in close proximity to Gail Bridges and the two are reportedly very close friends. She reportedly ran him over again after the initial impact, delivering five fatal blows to his upper body, according to reports filed by the coroner. She also served on the student council and yearbook staff and participated in poetry and speech activities, the medical career club and the The Murder: They were at the Hilton Hotel in Nassau Bay, Texas. On July 24, she found him with Bridges at a suburban hotel and ran him down him in the parking lot. } Bridges, wearing all black, never appeared to glance in the defendant's direction. The location of the killing was also where. Those who knew her say that, while growing up in northeast Harris County's Crosby community, Gail Thompson was popular and involved in many activities. "He was just infatuated. They just ran to her. In another strange twist, it was revealed that Steven Bridges and his ex-wife's best friend's husband, Charles Knight, had hired the same private investigator - Blue Moon - during the two women's divorces. Ms. Sherrill had worked exclusively at the Harrises' Lake Jackson dental office before transferring to Space Center Orthodontics in far southeast Houston in June. Clara Harris: Death by Mercedes - The CrimeWire - HubPages John Tyler, a spokesman for the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said that Clara Harris began punching Ms. Bridges and that the women were scuffling on the floor when David Harris and others tried to separate them. Police would not confirm it was Bridges' file that had been stolen; neither would employees of Space Center Orthodontics. Browse 316 gail harris stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. View the profiles of people named Gail Bridges. Hey bro, what's goin' on around here? The families began celebrating holidays together and, at least once, the women vacationed together at Knight's condominium in Colorado. Clara Harris went to the hotel and confronted. Bobbi Bacha was stunned by the whole thing and even more stunned to. Clara noticed that her husband was distant and she became suspicious, so she hired a private investigator to spy on David. Clara Harris, The Dentist Who Killed Her Husband With Her Mercedes Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The fight was a prelude to the incident that cost David Harris his life. Associated persons: Ted Jameson, Beryl A Kinchin, Michael E Nurenberg (214) 803-7114. She suggested that Bridges threatened their job security by usurping their responsibilities and becoming friendly with their boss. To help quell the rumors, the two women appeared on a Sally Jessy Raphael show that aired in April 2001. Obviously, that bothers me," Parnham told KPRC Channel 2 news. The 2023 NFL Draft runs April 2729 live from Kansas City, Missouri. Clara Harris, Friendswood dentist convicted in husband's death - MSN 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. Related To Jacquelyn Sharp, Gina Sharp. Bridges spoke to News2Houston in an. Ok, that's enough. "Steve wore a suit and tie to work every day, and she always dressed to a T.". Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "The one that I have had the most difficulty reckoning with is the fact that a precious life was lost, and in the midst of all the hype everyone seemed to lose sight of that.". "Clara was shattered. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Security guards escorted both women from the hotel--the same place the Harrises were married a decade earlier--following a physical confrontation. A Sept. 29 custody hearing has been set in Brazoria County. They had twin sons named Brian and Bradley in 1998. Where is Clara Harris now? Former Texas dentist completes parole 21 Accused dentist, late husband's lover face off in court LEAGUE CITY -- Among the nicely landscaped homes near the banks of Clear Lake, Gail and Steve Bridges lived the American dream with their three young children. He never picked up the report and the case was closed.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Worker says she warned wife of problems a week before man was run over. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Save on AeroGarden indoor herb growing kits at Amazon, Create a bonsai tree out of bricks with this $40 LEGO set, Dyson's air purifying headphones have finally arrived, Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today, There are a ton of great patio furniture sets on sale right now, Beat the heat with this discounted Lasko tower fan from Amazon, Apple deal: The 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop is under $2,000 on Amazon, New Texas bill would charge electric car drivers $200 annual fee, These 8 Denver-area hikes each offer something unique, Why this museum should be on every Houston kid's must-visit list, Elon Musk describes Starship flight as 'roughly what I expected', Here's how much you have to make to be 'middle class' in Houston. The driver's door on Bridges' 2000 Navigator is badly bent and unable to close, and the side molding was ripped off. Harris had earlier broken a windshield wiper on the vehicle and scratched it, testimony showed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The investigator's camera was rolling as Clara's car made contact with David's body and he was tossed into the air. Office manager Cathey Davis testified that Clara Harris was madly in love with her husband. Records show that Knight, whose home is appraised at $155,560, owes $2,293 in back taxes while Bridges owes $3,045. Prosecutors painted a picture of Harris outraged after finding her orthodontist husband with his mistress, Gail Bridges, at the Nassau Bay Hilton hotel. The two women have been accused of having a lesbian affair but they vehemently deny those claims. The surveillance showed Chuck Knight was seeing a woman, Bacha said. I'd rather have a root canal than. Bridges, wearing all black, never appeared to glance in the defendant's direction. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. She said her paycheck grew as her relationship with David Harris grew closer. #inline-recirc-item--id-92ac3038-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Performance meets portability with Apple's 2023 MacBook Pro. Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? Nassau Bay police originally handled Harris' arrest, but said Thursday they are not investigating the burglary. David Harris' 16-year-old daughter - Clara Harris' stepdaughter - was in the passenger seat of the car at the time. "I told her she needed to protect her marriage, not to ignore anything out of the ordinary," Ms. Sherrill said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. David Harris, 44, spent most of his time at Space Center. The burglary of Space Center Orthodontics - which was owned by Harris - occurred sometime between Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, Houston police said. Mistress: David Harris said he had open marriage Clara Harris said she was stunned by her husband's remark about holding his lover. The couple even had his-and-hers Lincoln Navigators -- his white, hers red. He loved her. Not everyone is going to act like a saint, but we need to have a better understanding of high-risk behavioral impact on individuals and our culture. Gail Bridges, who acknowledged having an affair with David Harris beginning last May, said she assumed Clara Harris knew about the sexual trysts because of her boss' statements. The Knight custody case is still before the court and the custody of the two children is yet to be determined. 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. Trending News (AP), Be sure to follow 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. They didn't say anything for fear of losing their jobs.". On a July night, she was notified that David Harris was at the Hilton hotel in Nassau Bay with his former receptionist, Gail Bridges. "On the outside, you would describe them as the all-American family," said an acquaintance who lived nearby. The fatal incident happened July 24 after a violent confrontation in the hotel lobby. On Friday she came out of hiding, seeking custody of their two sons, ages 12 and 7, and their 10-year-old daughter. Clara Harris was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the 2002 murder of David Harris, whom she ran over after finding him with his mistress at a hotel. Legal Statement. Get a 42-inch oscillating fan for 15% off with this deal. After it concludes, Clara Harris will be returned to prison in Gatesville. Clara Harris, 45, was sentenced in February to 20 years in prison on what would have been her 11th wedding anniversary. He had admitted the affair a day earlier. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. All the other office workers were nice, but they'd be physically ill by the time they left for the day. She did, however, answer, "No" when asked whether she had had sexual intercourse with anyone other than her husband. 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. She testified that she returned on July 16 to Lake Jackson Dental Care, where David Harris only spent a day or two a week, because she couldn't stomach witnessing an obvious affair bloom. Bacha said the women told her they suspected their husbands were trying to entrap them. / CBS. On cross-examination, Mr. Tyler said David Harris appeared to have stepped in because Clara Harris was getting the better of Ms. Bridges. But police say they aren't entertained. Gail Bridges, who acknowledged having an affair with David Harris beginning last May, said she assumed Clara Harris knew about the sexual trysts because of her boss' statements. She says the death was an accident. It ended with David Harris, 44, dead and his wife, a 44-year-old dentist, charged with murder. Woman Seeks Clemency After 1985 Conviction for Killing Husband Did Sexism Put Her Behind Bars? "He wasn't in love," she testified. Prosecutors say Harris meant to kill her husband. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the Parnham said he needs the information to defend Clara Harris and plans on talking with HPD detectives to review the reports. Texas Woman Who Ran Over Cheating Husband Released From Prison Did he have other girlfriends on retainer?