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Murder of David Lynn Harris

34-year-old Clara Suarez married 34-year-old David Lynn Harris on February 14th, 1992, in Houston, Texas. David had a daughter from a previous marriage; the couple had twin sons in 1998.

The couple ran several successful dental offices when they weren’t caring for their children.

At some point during their marriage, David started a relationship with his former secretary, Gail Bridges. Clara became suspicious and hired a private eye to follow her husband.

On July 24th, 2002, the investigator informed her that David was at a nearby hotel with Bridges.

Clara and David’s 16-year-old daughter went to the property. Clara argued with her husband and his mistress and physically attacked them in the hotel lobby.

The hotel employees got involved and escorted Clara to her vehicle, but she didn’t leave. She waited in the parking lot.

As David walked Bridges to her vehicle, Clara rammed him with her Mercedes-Benz, sending him flying 25 feet. She then drove over several medians and ran him over three more times. She finished him off by reversing the car and leaving it parked on top of him.

She did all this as David’s daughter sat helpless in the passenger seat.

Arrest and Prosecution

Clara was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. Her defense argued it was a crime of passion and said she only ran David over once.

However, the private investigator she hired recorded the incident, and the video was played in court.

On February 14th, 2003, which would have been her 11th wedding anniversary, she was convicted of sudden passion murder and sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison.

She was eligible for parole in 2013 and 2016, but she was denied both times. She was released on parole in 2018 after serving 15 years.

She completed her parole in 2023.