Lodged in the Windshield: The Shocking Tale of a Twisted Crime

On Oct. 27, 2001, Ft. Worth police received a call from off-duty firefighter Todd Breedlove, informing them he found a body on a park bench at Cobb Park. The man had a broken right arm and broken shin bones. His torso was cut, and his left leg was almost amputated at the knee. Police knew that he had been killed elsewhere, as there was no blood around the body.

Police determined the body was that of Gregory Biggs, a 37-year-old homeless man who had recently fallen on hard times. An autopsy determined Biggs had died from blood loss caused by blunt force trauma - a hit-and-run accident, they presumed. Like most hit-and-run cases, Gregory’s turned cold since the police did not have any leads.

An Unexpected Call Changed the Case

Four months later, an unexpected call from Miranda Daniel came into the police station, telling them she had information about Gregory’s murder. Although they suspected Daniel’s call was a mere prank, they decided to follow up. Daniel told them that the night before, she was at a party when Chante Mallard told her and a group of others that she had "hit this white man" and laughed and joked about it. She suspected Chante was the driver responsible for hitting Biggs with her car.

On February 26, 2002, a dozen officers showed up at Mallard’s house with a search warrant. Immediately upon opening the door, Mallard said, "It was an accident. I’m not a bad person. It all happened so fast. I’ve never even had a speeding ticket."

In the garage, police found the Chevy Cavalier that Chante owned. The windshield was almost completely missing, as was much of the interior. The car had significant damage on the side. They found blood on the car and floor of the garage, as well as strands of Gary’s hair. Police took her into custody, charging her with Gregory’s murder.

An Evening of Partying Turned Deadly

Chante and a friend had spent the evening of October 25, 2001, at a nightclub called Joe’s Big Bamboo, where it was 69-cent drink night. They met two other friends, shared an Ecstasy pill, and drank several alcoholic drinks. After the friends left the club around 3 a.m., Chante, high and intoxicated, struck Biggs with her vehicle on Highway 287 N, a six-lane highway. She hit Gregory with such force that his body hit the hood of the vehicle, then he hit the windshield head first, lodging his body half inside the car and half outside the car. His partially severed leg rested on her dashboard, and he was still alive.

She pulled over and attempted to pull Gregory out of the windshield but could not. Chante drove home, about one mile away. Gregory moaned in pain during the drive and after Chante parked the car in the garage. Chante left the man in the windshield and went inside her home as he begged for help.

Chante apologized, turned off the garage light, and called the friend she had spent the night with to explain what happened. Chante checked on Gregory; he continued to beg her for help. She continued to apologize but did nothing to assist Gregory. After two hours of agonizing pain, Gregory died.

The following morning, Chante called two other friends and asked them to help her move the body. That’s when they transported the body to Cobb Park, where Breedlove found it the next day.

The trio removed the seats of the car and attempted to burn them to remove evidence.

Chante & Friends Sentenced

Chante was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

A doctor testified at her trial that Gregory would’ve lived had Chante taken him to a hospital or attempted to render any type of aid. She could’ve stopped at a pay phone and called for help. She did none of those things, but instead, bragged about what she had done.

Mallard was found guilty of murder and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a term of 50 years on the murder charge and 10 years on the accessory charge. She must serve half of her sentence before she is eligible for parole.

Mallard’s friends were also convicted of tampering with evidence.

Do you think Chante should've been charged with murder?

Case Information/Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/windshield-aftermath-described/

https://www.courttv.com/title/6-tx-v-mallard-officer-bill-yeager/