Suvechha Sarkar
William Eric Clark was a loving brother and a dutiful son, known for his hardworking nature. The 35-year-old never imagined that his beautiful life would come to an abrupt end in December 2005 when he was visiting Atlanta, Georgia. What initially appeared to be a carjacking case soon turned into a homicide as the investigators dug deeper. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fatal Vows: Recipe for Death’ explores the investigation that revealed a string of betrayal and manipulation. It also features firsthand accounts from the detectives who worked on the case, along with interviews with William’s loved ones.
William Clark Was Found Dead From Gunshot Wounds in a Suburb of Atlanta
On September 6, 1970, William N. and Janice Baron Clark welcomed their bundle of joy, William Eric Clark, into the world. William grew up in a household filled with love and laughter, alongside his brother, Phillip Clark, and his sisters, April and Kimberly Clark. His loved ones described him as a joyous person who always followed his passion. After a serious incident in high school in 1998, William began struggling to find a proper job. Ultimately, he enlisted in the US Navy and served for a few years before returning to Birmingham, Alabama. Following that, William immersed himself in his passion for baking. In his personal life, after a heartbreak, William thought he found a second chance at love when he crossed paths with Constance Shinell Harris.
William and Constance met through a mutual friend and quickly bonded over their shared love of food. William also became close to her cousin, Jean Pierre Devaughn, and often visited Jean whenever William traveled to Atlanta, Georgia. After 6 months of dating, William asked Constance to marry him, and they tied the knot on February 13, 1999. They eventually settled down in a residence in Bessemer, Alabama. William then joined U.S. Steel Fairfield Works Employee Services to provide a better life for his wife. Moreover, he took up a side job as a bartender. On December 13, 2005, William planned to drive to Atlanta to buy liquor at a discounted price for an upcoming event.
Around 9 pm, officials received a 911 call from the area of Waterford Edge, an unfinished subdivision near College Park in Atlanta. A mother and daughter living in the area reported hearing popping sounds. When authorities rushed to the scene, they discovered a man lying dead on the driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was identified as William from the driver’s license in his wallet. Detectives reportedly ruled out robbery since $500 cash in his wallet remained untouched. Although his car was missing, investigators deduced it wasn’t a simple carjacking, considering the brutality of the crime. The autopsy report revealed that William was shot multiple times, including two gunshot wounds to the head. It was further determined that his cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
Jean Devaughn Was Arrested Based on Cell Phone Data and an Unverified Alibi
With robbery and carjacking already ruled out, officials reportedly spoke with the individuals who reported the crime. They informed the officials that they had seen two cars speeding away from the location. According to policy records, when Constance was questioned, she informed the detectives that she was with William’s sister at the time of the murder, and the alibi was quickly verified. They reportedly learned that on December 13, 2005, William was being guided by Jean to what William thought was a discounted liquor store. When questioned about his whereabouts, Jean claimed he got off work and spent the rest of the day with his girlfriend, as per reports. Officials soon discovered that Jean worked for a lumber company that delivered lumber to the area where William was killed.
Further investigation revealed that William and Jean’s phones pinged off the same cell phone tower, just a mile from the crime scene. Moreover, William’s car was found within a short distance of the crime scene. According to court records, one of the vehicle descriptions spotted on the day of the crime matched Jean’s. He was arrested and indicted on malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, hijacking a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of felony murder on May 29, 2009. When Jean’s phone records were checked, investigators discovered an unknown number, which led them to Christopher Rashad Tumlin. He was already in custody when officials questioned him.
Witness Accounts and Phone Records Helped Officials Unravel a Murder Plot
Investigative reports suggest that Christopher confessed that on December 13, 2005, his friend Khorey Branch contacted him because Khorey and Jean wanted a gun to commit a robbery. Christopher reportedly admitted that he sold them a handgun for $125 and then met up with William around 9 pm. In his statements, Christopher insisted that he and Khorey remained in Jean’s car, while Jean got out to meet William and then shot the 35-year-old. Records specify that Christopher then got into William’s car and abandoned it a mile from his home.
Jean eventually confessed that Constance wanted him to kill William because she claimed William was an abusive partner, as per reports. After speaking with William’s family members, authorities learned that he and Constance were facing financial struggles due to her reported use of illegal drugs. Official reports indicate that Constance reportedly obtained another life insurance policy on William, worth $100,000, in June 2000. Around 6 months before the murder, in June 2005, Constance had obtained another life insurance policy amounting to $500,000 on him.
The detectives were shocked to learn that Constance was the primary beneficiary of both policies. According to police records, Derrick Henry, the man Constance dated after William’s death, came forward to report that he had heard Constance paid $5,000 to Jean to kill her husband. Her phone records reportedly uncovered that she had spoken to Jean on the phone both two hours before and after the murder. On May 29, 2009, Constance was indicted on the same charges as Jean. Although Christopher faced the same charges, he was not indicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
While Jean and Constance Are Incarcerated in Georgia Prisons, Christopher is Likely Out on Parole Today
Since Khorey cooperated with the authorities, he was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony. Christopher also testified for the prosecution under a grant of use immunity. Jean’s jury trial commenced on April 4, 2011, during which the prosecution presented all the evidence and witnesses before the court. On the other hand, the defense questioned the witnesses’ credibility and also sought to suppress statements Jean made to investigators. Jean was ultimately found guilty of all his charges on April 11. He was sentenced to life in prison for murder and two consecutive prison terms of 20 years and 5 years for hijacking and firearm convictions, respectively.
Jean’s felony murder counts were vacated by operation of law, while the assault and conspiracy counts merged into the murder conviction. His motion for a new trial was later denied by the trial court on May 3, 2013. Jean had also appealed his conviction, but the court affirmed his judgment on February 2, 2015. Constance’s jury trial began on August 8, 2011, during which the prosecution claimed that she killed William for the life insurance proceeds. The defense contended that there wasn’t enough evidence to tie Constance to the murder, and the case was circumstantial. On August 16, the jury acquitted her of felony murder and hijacking but convicted her of the remaining charges.
Constance was sentenced to life in prison for murder and received a consecutive 5-year prison term for the firearm-related conviction. While the felony murder verdict was vacated, the conspiracy and assault charges were merged. She later appealed the judgment, but the court upheld it on February 16, 2015. Although public reports don’t reveal information about Christopher’s trial, the official records show that he was sentenced to a combined 40 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and other related charges regarding William’s death. He was released from prison, likely on parole, on September 14, 2021. While Jean is serving his sentence at the Calhoun State Prison in Morgan, Georgia, Constance is incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia.
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