Naman Shrestha
In early February 2015, a pregnant crime victims counselor named Samantha Dean met her untimely and sudden demise in an abandoned parking lot in Bastrop, Texas. The news sent shockwaves across the entire community, leading to the authorities launching a homicide investigation. The search for the killer uncovered a deadly murder-for-hire plot that eventually pointed to a fugitive who left the country before the police could get to him. The episode titled ‘The Ultimate Betrayal’ of Oxygen’s ‘Killer Relationship With Faith Jenkins’ chronicles the case and the investigation that ultimately resulted in the capture of the perpetrator/s.
Samantha Dean’s Dream of Becoming a Police Officer Was Marred by a Cancer Diagnosis
Kimberly Anne and Kelvin Dwane Dean joyfully welcomed their daughter, Samantha Elizabeth Dean, into this world on May 12, 1985, in Nurnberg, Germany. In the early 1990s, the family left their homeland and relocated to the US, particularly to Fort Sill Army post in Oklahoma. In 1993, the Deans added another member to their family, a baby girl they named Taylor Alexandra Dean. Two years later, they moved to Fort Drum, New York, before ultimately settling down in San Antonio, Texas, in 1998. With immense love, warmth, and care, the couple raised their daughters, instilling in both of them the values of familial bonds, integrity, hard work, and resilience. Samantha and Taylor shared a close-knit bond that only grew with time.
Samantha, AKA Sammie, was a lively young girl whose athletic abilities secured her a spot on the varsity tennis team at Judson High School, from which she graduated in 2003. She then enrolled at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she devoted her time and effort to supporting various organizations that focused on the welfare of children in the region. At the time, she was also getting treatment for sarcoma cancer in her elbow. Despite undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Samantha attended class and ultimately graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts and Public Policy.
Samantha had aspirations of pursuing a career in law enforcement and dedicating herself to protecting and serving her community by becoming a police officer. Unfortunately, she developed a disability due to the sarcoma cancer, which prevented her from doing so. However, this, coupled with all the extensive surgeries and radiation treatments, didn’t dampen her spirit to serve in the field. She joined John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York in 2007 and obtained her Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology to build a career in victim services.
Samantha Dean Was Seven Weeks Pregnant When She Was Fatally Shot
Seemingly, in 2008, Samantha’s paths crossed with a man named Clark at work, which was unrelated to law enforcement. She went on to volunteer in victim services at the Austin Police Department. She and Clark reportedly grew closer during that time as the latter had begun serving as a police officer at the same department. In the early 2010s, she had secured employment at the Kyle Police Department. In August 2014, Samantha got pregnant with her and Clark’s child. The compassionate and kind individual was excited to be a mother soon and had even planned to name her daughter Madeline, AKA Maddie. By the time 2015 rolled around, she had been working there for over three years.
Samantha was leading a fulfilling life, as she loved her job and her coworkers. The crime victim counselor had finally found a purpose in helping survivors of crime heal and move forward with hope. On the personal front, she had a close circle of family and friends who adored her for her generosity and strength. Sadly, all her hopes regarding embracing motherhood and bringing light into the lives of more crime survivors were crushed on February 4, 2015. The 29-year-old was found fatally shot with three gunshot wounds in Bastrop County, behind an abandoned office building. She was seven months pregnant when her life was cut short. The authorities launched a nationwide hunt for the killer of Samantha Dean.
Samantha Dean’s Murder Was Orchestrated by Someone Close to Her
During the investigation, the authorities dug deeper into Samantha Dean’s personal life in order to learn more about the circumstances surrounding her sudden demise. They learned that she shared an on-and-off relationship with VonTrey Clark, the father of her unborn child, who also passed away with her. On top of that, he also had a live-in girlfriend at the time, and he wanted Samantha to get an abortion. When she refused to do so, he orchestrated a plan to get her and her unborn child killed by hiring a hitman named Freddie Smith for $5,000, with the help of his friend, Kevin Watson.
According to reports, on the evening of February 4, 2015, VonTrey lured the 29-year-old pregnant woman to Bastrop County under the pretense of purchasing items for their yet-to-be-born child. However, she was reportedly ambushed by Freddie, who shot her in the head a couple of times before VonTrey also fired a fatal shot into her body. Kevin was reportedly the one who dropped Freddie off at the shopping center and picked him up after the murder. The authorities learned about the trio’s involvement in the crime through their burner phone records, geolocation data, and cellular forensic exams.
When VonTrey realized that the police were starting to zero in on him, he fled to Bali, Indonesia, despite not having permission to even leave Travis County, in July 2015. Consequently, he was fired from the Austin Police Department, where he had worked as a police officer. About a month later, he was detained by the Indonesian police while staying at the Pondock Bali Villa resort hotel in Canggu because of a visa-related issue. According to his attorneys, he had been in Indonesia to seek medical attention for an ailment. Several weeks later, at the FBI’s request, he was extradited back to the US, where he was held in custody at the Bastrop County Jail. In October 2015, the former cop was indicted on a capital murder charge in connection with Samantha’s murder.
VonTrey Clark is Currently Incarcerated at a Texas Prison Facility
In November 2015, VonTrey Clark pleaded not guilty and decided to take the matter to court. Several years later, on December 16, 2019, he ended up pleading guilty to capital murder in order to avoid the death penalty. Thus, he was instead sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. At his sentencing hearing, Samantha’s sister, Taylor, addressed the killer, stating, “The one person that I can turn to for moral advice or support is gone, thanks to you. You stole my favorite person. But that’s not all. You stole an innocent child, you stole my niece. It’s incredible that someone so small could bring so much joy. You stole our future memories, too.”
Samantha’s parents also took the stand and spoke to VonTrey directly. Her mother, Kimberly, said, “God was offering you the opportunity to do the right thing and find love through a little cherub that would have softened your soul. Madeline was your chance to make things better. I know she would have loved you unconditionally. Yet you missed that opportunity and you chose to kill her.” Meanwhile, his two associates were also lawfully punished for their respective crimes. Kevin pleaded guilty in September 2019 and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, while Freddie was convicted of capital murder on June 30, 2022. A few days later, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. As of today, VonTrey Clark is serving his sentence at the H. H. Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas.
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