Placentia Murder Suspect with History of Stalking, Domestic Relations Crimes

PLACENTIA, CA —The Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas stated in his felony complaint that Nicholas Lee Clark did "unlawfully and with malice aforethought kill Madeline Mallory."

Clark--a 26-year-old Lakewood resident, was arrested following the discovery of Mallory's body. She was discovered at 11:30 a.m. on July 31, not breathing, after a 9-1-1 call to the Placentia police according to Placentia Police Department Capt. Eric Point. She was declared deceased one hour later at an Anaheim hospital.

Clark's arraignment was delayed until August 10, for the suspect who has a history of domestic relations-related crimes, including stalking, disobeying domestic relations court orders, and contempt of court span his record from 2009 to 2011, according to court documents.

"Police were called to the 900 block of South Placentia Avenue about 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning to assist an unconscious woman," Point said.

Reports state that she was not breathing upon their arrival. Officers began administering lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived on scene, according to a Placentia Police Department release. Attempts to revive Mallory at the scene and the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Anaheim were unsuccessful, and hospital staff pronounced her deceased just before 12:30 p.m.

Police declined to reveal the cause of death or comment on the relationship between the victim and suspect, who was arrested early Monday, other than to confirm that they knew each other.

"It was a personal relationship versus a working relationship," Point said.

Mallory is from the Orange County area, however her residence has not yet been made known.

Clark, who has stated his occupation as a machinist, is being held at Orange County Central Men's Jail on $1 million dollars bail.

Clark's history of domestic-related misdemeanors began in 2009, and the last known event was in 2011, according to court documents. Clark pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2009, to disobeying a court order and was placed on three years of informal probation and ordered to complete 12 days of community service in lieu of jail.

On May 25, 2010, he pleaded guilty to disobeying a domestic relations court order and contempt of court, both misdemeanors, and was again placed on three years of informal probation and sentenced to 10 days jail.

Court records show Clark pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2011, to contempt of court, stalking and two counts of disobeying a domestic relations court order, all misdemeanors. He was placed on three years of informal probation and was ordered to spend 90 days in jail, enroll in a batterer's treatment program and perform eight hours of community service.

There is no word on the specific nature of Mallory and Clark's relationship or previous reports of Clark stalking Mallory prior to Sunday. This case remains under investigation.

Photo of Nicholas Lee Clark, courtesy Placentia Police Department