A 26-year-old Placentia man is scheduled to be arraigned this morning for the beating-murder of his ex-girlfriend.
Madeline Rose Mallory, 19, had been in a romantic relationship with Nicholas Lee Clark for about four months early in the year, and she lived with him in his Placentia apartment briefly over that period, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA).
But Mallory went on to seek treatment for physical injuries and at one point moved into a women's shelter before she obtained a restraining order in June that prevented Clark from threatening, battering or attacking her, the OCDA says.
Clark met with and severely beat Mallory at his place of business on July 31, when he called 9-1-1 to report his ex-girlfriend had fainted at the front door, prosecutors allege.
When police officers and paramedics arrived, Clark was gone and Mallory required CPR, according to the OCDA, which adds she had visible bruising on her face, arms and chest and did not regain consciousness at a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The Orange County coroner's office determined blunt force trauma to the head and torso caused Mallory's death.
Later the same day, Placentia cops located and arrested Clark in Lakewood.
“Maddie grew up and attended school in La Habra, CA,” reads her Heritage Memorial Services obituary. “She was a sweet soul with a smile that would light up the room. She loved animals, doing makeup, singing and performing, and making people laugh. She was always a friend to everyone and will be terribly missed.”
Clark has been charged with one felony count of murder and, if convicted, faces up to 25 years to life in state prison, according to the OCDA.
He was being held on $1 million bail heading into today's hearing at the Central Jail in Santa Ana.
