CLEVELAND — 50-year-old Jamar Skanes and 35-year-old Alontez Beasley -- two men found guilty of multiple charges in the death of 29-year-old Alyson Appling-France who was killed in front of her children earlier this year -- will learn their fate today as both are being sentenced in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Judge Brendan J. Sheehan is presiding over the hearing, which we are streaming live in the video at the top of this story. You can also watch live coverage on our YouTube channel (subscribe here).
A third suspect in the case -- identified as 44-year-old Clarence Bennett -- remains on the loose.
CASE DETAILS
It was back on Jan. 10 when Bennett allegedly followed Appling-France to a Target store in Cleveland.
"He watched Alyson Appling-France exit her driver’s vehicle with her two daughters, ages 6 and 10, and enter Target,” according to a previous press release from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. “He then waited until she exited the store and re-entered the vehicle. He informed Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley she was heading back to her apartment with her two daughters.”
When Appling-France’s driver pulled the vehicle into her apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road, Skanes and Beasley were waiting for her to arrive.
“As the victim opened the vehicle door and began to unload groceries, Beasley approached her and shot her 17 times within seconds,” according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. “Skanes and Beasley then fled the scene.”
Appling-France was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Skanes and Beasley were both arrested on Jan. 26, but anybody with information regarding Bennett’s whereabouts is asked to call 1-866-4WANTED.
CONVICTIONS
Both Skanes and Beasley were convicted of the following charges connected to the case back in late August:
Skanes was found guilty of:
- One count of aggravated murder
- One count of conspiracy to commit murder
- Two counts of murder
- Five counts of felonious assault
Beasley was found guilty of:
- One count of aggravated murder
- One count of conspiracy to commit murder
- Two counts of murder
- One count of involuntary manslaughter
- Five counts of felonious assault
- One count of having weapons while under disability