By CAROL CHRISTIAN and RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Posted on 07/30/2002 7:58:34 PM PDT by demkicker
July 30, 2002, 10:17AM
Spotlight Turns on Dead Orthodontist's Mistress
By CAROL CHRISTIAN and RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Photo from tape provided by Blue Moon Investigations Gail Bridges, left, disguised as "Leslie," and her friend Julie Knight, appearing as "Lisa," appeared on a Sally Jessy Raphael show in April 2001. Knight's ex-husband had alleged the women were having an affair.
The case of the Friendswood dentist accused of murdering her husband by repeatedly running over him has taken more twists as tales of spying and allegations about the "other woman" emerged from court papers and an episode of Sally Jessy Raphael.
The Chronicle has learned that in April 2001, the mistress, Gail Bridges, and friend Julie Knight appeared in disguise and with their voices altered on a segment titled, My Husband Spies on Me!
"He was alleging that she and I were having a bisexual affair," Knight said of her ex-husband. She said the allegation of the two women being involved in a bisexual relationship was "totally preposterous."
Knight talked about hiring a Clear Lake private eye firm, Blue Moon Investigations, to do surveillance on her now ex-husband, whom she suspected was having an affair. It was then that Knight learned that her ex had earlier hired the same private detective agency to monitor her and Bridges. It's also the agency the dentist, Clara Harris, had hired to monitor her orthodontist husband.
Bridges, 38, was with David Lynn Harris, 44, on Wednesday night when he was struck by his wife's Mercedes-Benz and then run over several times in a hotel parking lot on NASA Road 1 near the Johnson Space Center.
Clara Harris reportedly was enraged that her husband was having an affair with Bridges. A source close to the case has told the Chronicle that David Harris recently had told his wife their marriage was over and that he was involved with Bridges.
In a petition filed Monday by Bridges' ex-husband, Steve Bridges cited the relationship between his ex-wife and Knight as part of his request that a Galveston County court change his divorce decree to give him exclusive custody of the couple's three children.
His original divorce suit accused his wife of having an affair with Knight, and he said in this week's petition that Knight owns a home near his ex-wife's in Clear Lake and is currently staying with Gail Bridges. He also said the relationship between the two women has been sometimes violent, citing a 911 call his daughter made a few months ago asking police to break up a fight between the two women.
Steve Bridges said he temporarily took his children to Louisiana and is asking for the change in custody arrangements because he is scheduled to return his 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son to Gail Bridges on Wednesday. Their 12-year-old son is to return to his mother on Friday.
"It is not in the best interest of my children to return to their mother's residence or to her possession at this time. My children will be exposed to emotional harm and stress and possible physical harm if they are returned to their mother," the father said in the petition.
Bridges said his ex-wife fears more violence, believing Clara Harris was "initially aiming for her with her Mercedes."
Bridges said his ex-wife is upset over media attention and noted that one reporter called about allegations of an affair between his ex-wife and Knight.
It was Knight who reported to police that Clara Harris had come to Bridges' home last weekend and pounded on the door in violation of the terms of her bond. Knight, who was at the home, said she saw Harris being driven away from the house.
The report prompted prosecutors to seek a new arrest warrant for Clara Harris, but they withdrew their motion to revoke bond after concluding it was a case of mistaken identity and Clara Harris was with her lawyer at the time of the incident.
Clara Harris' attorney, George Parnham, who also represented Andrea Yates, the Clear Lake mother who drowned her five children, said he wasn't convinced anyone had knocked on Bridges' door.
In Steve Bridges' custody petition, he said both he and his ex-wife are worried about what Clara Harris might do next, noting that while his ex-wife worked at David Harris' orthodontist office, she and the children socialized with the Harris family.
"Both Gail and I are very concerned because Mrs. Harris knows our children. Gail has told me she feels that her life is in danger," the petition said.
The petition is just the latest to give Steve Bridges a day in court.
When Gail Bridges filed for divorce in April 1999, she cited discord and conflict of personalities. He countersued, claiming cruel treatment and accusing her of having an affair with Knight.
In June 2001, a Galveston County grand jury indicted Steve Bridges and Knight's ex-husband, Charles Knight, on charges of unlawful interruption of oral or electronic communication. Charges against Bridges were later dropped because of insufficient evidence, prosecutor Mo Ibrahim said Monday.
In January, according to court records, Knight filed a lawsuit against Charles Knight; Steve Bridges; State Farm Lloyd's of Texas; Natasha Warren, a former League City neighbor; and Laurie Wells, who she said is engaged to her ex-husband. She alleged the group placed recording or microphone devices in her then-League City home and at Gail Bridges' home "for the express purposes of intercepting and/or attempting to intercept communication between the plaintiffs and any other party with whom they were communicating."
Julie Knight said she learned of the recordings in May 1999 and moved out of the house.
Steve Bridges says in his petition filed Monday that Knight's lawsuit is "absolutely groundless."
Clara Harris, the dentist accused of murder for repeatedly driving over her husband, sits in a courtroom with her lawyer, George Parnham.
Chronicle reporter Kevin Moran contributed to this story.
Do you agree that this is Texas Trash at its best?
She ran the guy over 3 times, and he's dead.
Any questions?
FMCDH
However, I know a physician here in town who states that this is false. He was with her lawyer at the time in a downtown restaurant.
That doesn't prove that Harris was the one pounding on Bridges's door. It does prove that her lawyer lied about her alibi.
No. However, it could be worse.
Well, we certainly will have something to do next fall, won't we?
Knight talked about hiring a Clear Lake private eye firm, Blue Moon Investigations, to do surveillance on her now ex- husband, whom she suspected was having an affair. It was then that Knight learned that her ex had earlier hired the same private detective agency to monitor her and Bridges. It's also the agency the dentist, Clara Harris, had hired to monitor her orthodontist husband.That sounds like a very busy private investigations firm.
*Head spinning around a la Linda Blair*
Hang the lawyer by his 'dog-b*lls'. (no offense personally Bud, just agreeing)
Nam Vet
That's what the little judge said...
That's just how girls ARE in Texas...
Though a man was cold and dead.
Of for Yates, five children. Texas isn't going to do much to a female, it will be written off to
THATS HOW GIRLS ARE IN TEXAS!
I was thinking, "I need a flow chart."
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