CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging Jamar Skanes, 49, Alontez Beasley, 34, and Clarence Bennett, 43, with conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated murder among other charges for the shooting of Alyson Appling-France in front of her two children in January. Prosecutor O’Malley and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Violent Fugitive Task Force are asking for the public’s help in locating Clarence Bennett.

“These three individuals conspired to brutally murder Alyson Appling-France in front of her 10-year-old and 6-year-old daughters. Their actions were unfathomable, and it is my firm belief that they are a danger to the public. Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley are in custody. We need the public’s help to find Clarence Bennett. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshals at 1.866.4.WANTED.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On January 10, 2024, Clarence Bennett followed the victim to a local Target in Cleveland. He watched Alyson Appling-France exit her driver’s vehicle with her two daughters, ages 6 and 10, and enter Target. 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.

The victim’s driver pulled into Appling-France’s apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road in Cleveland. Jamar Skanes and Alontez 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. Skanes and Beasley then fled the scene. The victim’s driver immediately drove her to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The Cleveland Division of Police responded to the scene. On January 26, Skanes and Beasley were arrested.

The U.S. Marshals Service’s Violent Fugitive Task Force is actively searching for this individual. If you have any information about this matter, please contact the U.S. Marshals at 1.866.4.WANTED.

Clarence Bennett – D.O.B. 10/03/1980

Jamar Skanes was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Aggravated Murder
  • One count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder
  • Two counts of Murder
  • Five counts of Felonious Assault 

Alontez Beasley was indicted on the following charges:

  • 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

Clarence Bennett was indicted on the following charges:

  • 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