Two Men Sentenced for Cleveland Mom’s Murder in ‘Brutal Assassination’ Case
Two men convicted in the fatal shooting of a Cleveland mother in front of her young children have been sentenced to life in prison. Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Brendan Sheehan handed down the sentences to Jamar Skanes, 50, and Alontez Beasley, 35, on Tuesday, following their conviction for the murder of 29-year-old Alyson Appling-France.
On August 27, a jury found both men guilty of multiple charges related to the January 10 murder. Appling-France was shot 17 times while unloading groceries in the parking lot of her apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road in Cleveland. Her two young daughters, ages six and ten, were inside the car but were unharmed during the incident.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley revealed that a third person, Clarence Bennett, is also charged in connection with the crime but remains at large. O’Malley stated that Skanes and Beasley, along with Bennett, spent about eight hours conducting surveillance on Appling-France the day of the murder. They followed her to a Target store in Cleveland, where Bennett kept watch as she exited the store and informed the others when she was heading back to her apartment.
As Appling-France arrived at her apartment complex and began unloading her purchases, Beasley approached and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene with Skanes. Appling-France was rushed to a nearby hospital by her driver but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
Both Skanes and Beasley were arrested by Cleveland police on January 26, but Bennett remains on the run. Authorities are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4WANTED.
This brutal murder has shocked the community, especially given the presence of Appling-France’s children during the attack. The life sentences for Skanes and Beasley bring some measure of justice, but the case remains open as authorities continue to search for Bennett.
