1
00:00:05,506 --> 00:00:08,640
[Ashley speaking]
2
00:00:11,112 --> 00:00:13,112
It's really neat to watch
it back and be like,
3
00:00:13,114 --> 00:00:15,247
"Oh, my goodness.
We were so silly back then."
4
00:00:16,550 --> 00:00:20,085
[Jimmy] There was some
fun years for 'em growing up
5
00:00:20,087 --> 00:00:23,422
Yeah, I wish I could
go back to them days.
6
00:00:23,424 --> 00:00:25,557
[Lori] We were starting live
7
00:00:25,626 --> 00:00:27,926
you know, in
different places.
8
00:00:27,928 --> 00:00:30,429
We were very excited.
9
00:00:30,431 --> 00:00:32,464
I didn't know
10
00:00:32,533 --> 00:00:35,100
that that would have
been a warning sign.
11
00:00:35,102 --> 00:00:38,237
This perfect life
was all a facade.
12
00:00:40,408 --> 00:00:43,809
[dispatcher speaking]
13
00:00:43,811 --> 00:00:47,813
[detective] I've worked
close to 1,300
death investigations
14
00:00:47,815 --> 00:00:50,716
and only two 911 calls
15
00:00:50,718 --> 00:00:53,419
really got my attention.
And this was one of them.
16
00:00:53,421 --> 00:00:55,054
[dispatcher speaking]
17
00:00:55,122 --> 00:00:58,057
[man speaking]
18
00:00:58,059 --> 00:00:59,124
[dispatcher speaking]
19
00:00:59,193 --> 00:01:02,661
None of us ever realized
what was truly going on.
20
00:01:02,730 --> 00:01:05,431
[dispatcher speaking]
21
00:01:21,415 --> 00:01:25,517
[Ashley speaking]
22
00:01:25,519 --> 00:01:27,453
[narrator] February 1990...
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00:01:30,257 --> 00:01:32,091
[Ashley speaking]
24
00:01:32,093 --> 00:01:34,093
[narrator]
11-year-old Ashley Pittman
25
00:01:34,095 --> 00:01:39,798
goofs around with best frien
Erin Russell at Erin's hous
in Bossier City, Louisiana.
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00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:44,103
[Ashley speaking]
27
00:01:44,105 --> 00:01:49,308
My friends and I,
we loved to
slide down the stairs.
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00:01:49,310 --> 00:01:52,344
We would use a piece of
foam usually
29
00:01:52,413 --> 00:01:54,746
that was covered in cloth,
and we would use a beanbag.
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00:01:54,815 --> 00:01:58,016
We would try different
things to lay on top and
slide down the stairs.
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00:01:58,018 --> 00:02:00,018
And it was just
really a funny thing
32
00:02:00,020 --> 00:02:02,054
that we used to love to do.
33
00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:04,056
Ashley and I started
doing videos.
34
00:02:04,058 --> 00:02:06,425
We were probably
about ten years old.
35
00:02:06,427 --> 00:02:12,698
She was a natural in front of
a camera. She was just full
of life, very entertaining.
36
00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:14,032
[Ashley speaking]
37
00:02:21,208 --> 00:02:23,742
When we had the
video camera out, Ashley
38
00:02:23,844 --> 00:02:27,613
would come to life. But
Ashley was always kind
of on all the time.
39
00:02:27,615 --> 00:02:31,450
So she was the same person
even when the camera was off.
40
00:02:31,552 --> 00:02:33,519
-[girl speaking]
-[Ashley speaking]
41
00:02:33,521 --> 00:02:36,121
[Erin] But she did love
being an entertainer.
42
00:02:36,123 --> 00:02:39,591
And she would easily
make friends with others.
43
00:02:39,593 --> 00:02:41,560
She's very bubbly,
very outgoing.
44
00:02:41,629 --> 00:02:44,129
So I think that's
just her personality.
45
00:02:44,131 --> 00:02:46,064
And so that's what we
would always capture
46
00:02:46,133 --> 00:02:48,300
when we were on film togethe
47
00:02:51,105 --> 00:02:54,206
Ashley and I grew up in
Bossier City, Louisiana,
48
00:02:54,208 --> 00:02:58,744
and went to the same
elementary school at
Sun City Elementary.
49
00:02:58,845 --> 00:03:01,914
And we met in
kindergarten,
50
00:03:01,916 --> 00:03:05,417
and we met one day on
the playground
51
00:03:05,419 --> 00:03:08,720
and just instantly
kind of clicked.
52
00:03:08,722 --> 00:03:11,757
[Ashley speaking]
53
00:03:11,792 --> 00:03:13,725
[Erin] We did
spontaneous things.
54
00:03:13,727 --> 00:03:17,229
You know, we would
make videos, music videos,
55
00:03:17,231 --> 00:03:20,799
or just film ourselves, you
know, having a cooking show.
56
00:03:23,837 --> 00:03:26,305
And she would just
always make me laugh.
57
00:03:30,544 --> 00:03:32,978
So this was the start
of our music video.
58
00:03:34,415 --> 00:03:38,217
We're pretending like
we're driving through town.
59
00:03:38,219 --> 00:03:41,253
We're pretending to
drive her dad's truck.
60
00:03:41,322 --> 00:03:42,821
And Ashley is...
61
00:03:42,823 --> 00:03:46,058
we're bouncing up and
down dressed up like guys.
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00:03:47,728 --> 00:03:50,128
Oh, gosh, it's funny.
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00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:52,698
[Jimmy]
They got in my old truck.
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00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:55,000
Oh, man.
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00:03:55,002 --> 00:03:58,303
That's been so long ago
since I had that old truck.
66
00:04:02,142 --> 00:04:03,842
[narrator] Ashley's dad,
Jimmy Pittman,
67
00:04:03,944 --> 00:04:08,413
met his wife Donna
when she was already
pregnant with Ashley.
68
00:04:08,415 --> 00:04:13,051
Jimmy has a five-year-old
daughter, Kecia, from
a previous relationship.
69
00:04:13,053 --> 00:04:17,489
Ashley was born
on November 4, 1978.
70
00:04:17,491 --> 00:04:19,424
She was a tiny little thing
71
00:04:19,426 --> 00:04:22,427
She was only
about four pounds
when she was born.
72
00:04:24,064 --> 00:04:27,733
Ashley was my sister
by adoption, so
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00:04:27,834 --> 00:04:34,539
she was raised by my
biological dad from
the time she was born.
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00:04:34,641 --> 00:04:36,041
[Jimmy]
Ashley was my daughter.
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00:04:36,143 --> 00:04:39,244
Her real dad gave me
permission to adopt her,
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00:04:39,346 --> 00:04:41,313
and that's what
I wanted to do,
77
00:04:41,315 --> 00:04:43,048
where we could
be a whole family.
78
00:04:45,419 --> 00:04:50,155
[Kecia] Donna was
a really strong mom.
79
00:04:50,223 --> 00:04:52,324
You know, it was her way
or the highway.
80
00:04:53,627 --> 00:04:56,061
But that strictness, I think,
81
00:04:56,063 --> 00:05:02,601
came out of her wanting
the best possible
lives for us.
82
00:05:04,638 --> 00:05:09,041
[Jimmy] I worked for
the railroad for 37 years.
83
00:05:09,043 --> 00:05:10,709
I worked hard, you know,
84
00:05:10,711 --> 00:05:17,316
Donna didn't have to work,
and I wasn't home a lot of
times. I would stay busy.
85
00:05:17,318 --> 00:05:19,718
[Kecia] Jimmy was
a loving dad.
86
00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,988
I think that they
were two people that
87
00:05:22,990 --> 00:05:26,458
did the best that
they could to,
88
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,361
you know, provide us with
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00:05:29,430 --> 00:05:30,996
good education,
90
00:05:30,998 --> 00:05:34,700
a Christian environment,
you know, with church.
91
00:05:34,702 --> 00:05:39,037
It was a good place to
be brought up for sure.
92
00:05:42,309 --> 00:05:46,211
[Lori] Ashley and
I met in the fifth grade.
93
00:05:46,213 --> 00:05:49,614
We had every class
together and we instantly
94
00:05:49,616 --> 00:05:51,216
hit it off as friends.
95
00:05:54,121 --> 00:05:56,621
Ashley and I loved the
New Kids on the Block.
96
00:05:56,623 --> 00:05:59,591
They were a very
popular band back then.
97
00:05:59,593 --> 00:06:02,260
And we spent
many hours
98
00:06:02,362 --> 00:06:07,299
arguing over who was
going to marry Jordan Knight.
99
00:06:07,301 --> 00:06:09,835
Every now
and then, we would cave
into one another
100
00:06:09,936 --> 00:06:11,737
and settle on another
member of the band.
101
00:06:11,838 --> 00:06:14,940
But we both had our eyes
on Jordan, for sure.
102
00:06:19,513 --> 00:06:22,714
In the summer
of 1990, we were
103
00:06:22,716 --> 00:06:27,052
really excited because
the New Kids on the Block
were coming to town
104
00:06:27,054 --> 00:06:29,454
and tickets were
very hard to find.
105
00:06:29,556 --> 00:06:34,860
And so Jim, Ashley's
dad, took us to
106
00:06:34,928 --> 00:06:39,564
sleep outside all night
long and camp out for
these tickets.
107
00:06:41,602 --> 00:06:45,036
Jim just doted on Ashley
and thought that
108
00:06:45,072 --> 00:06:48,106
she was the greatest
thing. And so naturally,
109
00:06:48,108 --> 00:06:52,444
he accepted us, her
friends, and treated us like
110
00:06:52,546 --> 00:06:54,846
we were his children too.
111
00:06:54,948 --> 00:06:57,416
Ashley had
a magnetic personality.
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00:06:57,418 --> 00:06:59,418
She did not meet a stranger
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00:06:59,420 --> 00:07:03,455
She was just very
outgoing and very spunky.
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00:07:08,061 --> 00:07:09,928
[narrator] In
the fall of 1990,
115
00:07:09,930 --> 00:07:13,365
Donna makes a decision
that shatters Ashley's world
116
00:07:14,601 --> 00:07:18,036
She came home one day and
she said, "Well, I'm leaving."
117
00:07:18,038 --> 00:07:21,673
And I said, "What do
you mean you're leaving?"
118
00:07:21,675 --> 00:07:24,342
She said, "I'm gonna
leave on Ashley's birthday.
119
00:07:24,444 --> 00:07:26,611
And I said, "Why are you
going to do that, Donna?"
120
00:07:26,613 --> 00:07:30,248
I said, "You don't do stuff
like that. That's your child."
121
00:07:30,317 --> 00:07:33,752
She loaded up in
her car and she left.
122
00:07:33,821 --> 00:07:36,922
I would like to know exactly
myself what was going on.
123
00:07:36,924 --> 00:07:41,526
But, you know, I didn't--
There wasn't no way
I could find out.
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00:07:41,528 --> 00:07:44,729
I would never believed
she would have done
anything like that.
125
00:07:45,933 --> 00:07:49,501
Never in my lifetime
I wouldn't have
believed that.
126
00:07:49,503 --> 00:07:52,037
[Kecia] I remember having
conversations with Donna
127
00:07:52,105 --> 00:07:57,542
where she would talk about n
being happy in the marriage
128
00:07:57,644 --> 00:08:00,245
So I think she did that
thinking that that was
129
00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:03,114
going to be what was best
for us at that point in time.
130
00:08:04,351 --> 00:08:09,054
I think that I knew that
that was coming.
131
00:08:09,056 --> 00:08:11,189
But, you know, Ashley was
132
00:08:11,191 --> 00:08:16,728
so much younger that
I think it was probably
pretty unexpected for her.
133
00:08:18,398 --> 00:08:20,499
[Jimmy]
Ashley, she was in tears.
134
00:08:20,501 --> 00:08:24,035
I wouldn't want anybody
to go through what
Ashley went through.
135
00:08:24,037 --> 00:08:26,304
Her heart was broken,
136
00:08:26,306 --> 00:08:28,340
from her mama leaving.
137
00:08:30,043 --> 00:08:33,512
[narrator] Donna remarries
and settles in Kansas.
138
00:08:33,514 --> 00:08:35,814
Ashley stays in contact
with her mom
139
00:08:35,816 --> 00:08:38,550
through phone calls
and occasional visits.
140
00:08:38,652 --> 00:08:42,120
[Kecia] We still would
visit and go shopping
141
00:08:42,122 --> 00:08:45,957
and go out to eat and stuff
that we would do with her,
142
00:08:47,060 --> 00:08:50,829
you know, just ordinarily.
143
00:08:54,034 --> 00:08:57,202
[narrator] Ashley adjusts
to the new family setup,
144
00:08:57,204 --> 00:09:01,806
and she appears to be her
old bubbly self by
October 1991.
145
00:09:02,910 --> 00:09:05,143
[Lori] Ashley was
the cheer captain
146
00:09:05,212 --> 00:09:09,214
for our eighth grade
middle school cheer team.
147
00:09:09,216 --> 00:09:13,318
We cheered for the Eagles
at Elm Grove Middle School.
148
00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,555
We cheered at
football games,
basketball games.
149
00:09:16,623 --> 00:09:20,392
We did pep rallies.
And it was a lot of fun.
150
00:09:20,394 --> 00:09:24,029
Riley. Ashley.
Amber. Julie.
151
00:09:24,031 --> 00:09:26,231
[Erin] If I wasn't behind
the camera, it was usually
152
00:09:26,233 --> 00:09:31,703
one of my parents. They
would come to assemblies
or to football games.
153
00:09:31,705 --> 00:09:35,040
[cheerleaders speaking]
154
00:09:37,311 --> 00:09:39,811
Ashley was
the perfect cheerleader
because
155
00:09:39,813 --> 00:09:42,747
she was so enthusiastic,
just naturally
156
00:09:42,849 --> 00:09:45,350
happy, energetic,
always smiling,
157
00:09:45,419 --> 00:09:47,619
you know, get
the crowd involved.
158
00:09:49,523 --> 00:09:53,792
[Lori] I think Ashley knew
that she was a strong person
159
00:09:53,794 --> 00:09:58,229
She would help you
find ways to deal with
160
00:09:58,231 --> 00:10:00,098
hard times in your life.
161
00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:03,134
I think that just both
of us being together
162
00:10:03,236 --> 00:10:07,939
was probably what kept us
both focused on our future.
163
00:10:08,041 --> 00:10:10,942
Things are gonna be great.
That was our plan.
164
00:10:18,819 --> 00:10:21,886
[Jimmy] Ashley was a happy,
carefree teenager.
165
00:10:21,888 --> 00:10:24,623
Even though they didn't
have a mama for a long time,
166
00:10:24,724 --> 00:10:26,257
she still had a happy home.
167
00:10:27,794 --> 00:10:30,795
And I made sure of that.
168
00:10:30,797 --> 00:10:34,132
She always had something
going on with some of
her little friends.
169
00:10:35,235 --> 00:10:37,802
-[Ashley speaking]
-[Erin speaking]
170
00:10:37,871 --> 00:10:40,271
February 1992,
171
00:10:40,273 --> 00:10:43,908
Ashley and I are in
the kitchen at my house.
172
00:10:45,912 --> 00:10:48,113
Please stop it,
I'm [indistinct].
173
00:10:48,115 --> 00:10:50,615
-I can't talk now.
-[Ashley speaking]
174
00:10:50,617 --> 00:10:53,218
Of course, we had our
eyes on some cute boys,
175
00:10:53,220 --> 00:10:56,321
so we decided to
make some cookies to
176
00:10:56,323 --> 00:10:58,790
give to some cute boys
for Valentine's Day.
177
00:10:59,926 --> 00:11:02,060
[Ashley speaking]
178
00:11:02,062 --> 00:11:03,261
[Erin speaking]
179
00:11:03,329 --> 00:11:04,596
[Ashley speaking]
180
00:11:04,598 --> 00:11:06,865
[Erin] Oh, the cookies
were definitely in hearts.
181
00:11:06,867 --> 00:11:10,669
So we tried to make them
Valentine themed cookies.
182
00:11:10,671 --> 00:11:12,404
And after we made them,
183
00:11:12,406 --> 00:11:14,973
Ashley and I put icing,
you know, pink icing on them.
184
00:11:14,975 --> 00:11:17,208
I think we added some
sprinkles, you know,
185
00:11:17,210 --> 00:11:18,510
to make them look cute.
186
00:11:18,512 --> 00:11:22,681
And that was our
gift for our, um,
187
00:11:22,683 --> 00:11:24,549
we were hoping,
soon to be Valentine.
188
00:11:29,189 --> 00:11:31,723
I don't think Ashley
needed to bake any cookies
189
00:11:31,792 --> 00:11:33,825
to give to a boy
to get his attention
190
00:11:33,893 --> 00:11:36,327
'cause she was beautiful.
She was gorgeous,
191
00:11:36,329 --> 00:11:39,030
so fun to be
around, fun loving.
192
00:11:39,032 --> 00:11:41,499
I mean, who wouldn't
want to be around Ashley?
193
00:11:43,336 --> 00:11:45,170
[Jimmy] All of them
boys loved Ashley.
194
00:11:45,172 --> 00:11:49,340
And I didn't let her
start dating till she
got 16 years old.
195
00:11:49,409 --> 00:11:51,509
And I said, "'Cause
you're still a baby.
196
00:11:51,511 --> 00:11:53,344
You know, you need
to wait till you get grown
197
00:11:53,413 --> 00:11:57,215
to do all these things as
there's a certain time in
life for everything."
198
00:12:00,620 --> 00:12:04,355
[church minister speaking]
199
00:12:07,828 --> 00:12:11,429
Ashley, Lori, and I were
very involved in our church.
200
00:12:11,431 --> 00:12:13,932
We went to
First Baptist Bossier.
201
00:12:13,934 --> 00:12:18,603
[church minister speaking]
202
00:12:25,412 --> 00:12:30,048
We had a wonderful student
ministry, and he, you know,
203
00:12:30,050 --> 00:12:33,218
preached about that
true love should wait.
204
00:12:34,688 --> 00:12:38,590
Ashley and Lori and I, we we
all very committed for sure
205
00:12:38,592 --> 00:12:41,526
Ashley was definitely
a little boy crazy.
206
00:12:41,528 --> 00:12:45,430
But you all dream
about one day finding
207
00:12:45,432 --> 00:12:47,899
that one special person.
208
00:12:47,901 --> 00:12:50,802
We wanted to save ourself
for that special person.
209
00:12:54,941 --> 00:12:58,443
[Lori] Our graduation year
was '96.
210
00:12:58,512 --> 00:13:01,813
It was a very fancy night
in our high school gym.
211
00:13:06,620 --> 00:13:10,054
[Erin] Ashley was actually
a part of the committee
212
00:13:10,123 --> 00:13:13,525
that helped to
decorate and, you know,
213
00:13:13,527 --> 00:13:15,126
organize the event.
214
00:13:15,128 --> 00:13:19,364
And so she got to
present one of the awards.
215
00:13:19,432 --> 00:13:23,535
[Ashley speaking]
216
00:13:23,603 --> 00:13:27,138
[Erin] And here she at
Ring Ding the Oscar night,
217
00:13:27,207 --> 00:13:28,706
just gorgeous.
218
00:13:28,808 --> 00:13:30,241
She looks like a movie star
219
00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:34,012
I'd hate taking her lookin'
for prom dresses 'cause she...
220
00:13:34,014 --> 00:13:37,682
it had to be... it had
to be something else.
221
00:13:37,684 --> 00:13:40,718
[Ashley speaking]
222
00:13:42,622 --> 00:13:45,223
She looked sharp.
Sharp as a tack.
223
00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:47,959
Yeah. Yeah.
224
00:13:51,631 --> 00:13:57,035
[narrator] Ashley and Lori
choose to attend the same
college after they graduate
225
00:13:57,037 --> 00:14:00,772
Ashley said, "I'll go
wherever you go, Lori.
226
00:14:00,774 --> 00:14:04,342
So just tell us where
we're going to college."
227
00:14:04,410 --> 00:14:09,414
[narrator] Lori selects
Ouachita Baptist
University in Arkansas.
228
00:14:09,416 --> 00:14:13,218
She and Ashley start
there in the fall of 1996.
229
00:14:15,021 --> 00:14:18,790
It's hard, always hard
when your kids leave,
230
00:14:18,792 --> 00:14:22,727
you know, as they
start college 'cause
you worry about them.
231
00:14:22,729 --> 00:14:25,630
And I thought to myself,
"Well, if something happens
232
00:14:25,665 --> 00:14:26,898
she can always call me."
233
00:14:28,401 --> 00:14:31,669
We stayed in
touch pretty often.
234
00:14:31,671 --> 00:14:34,305
And I would say at
least once a week,
235
00:14:34,307 --> 00:14:37,842
you know, I'd call and
see how she was doing.
236
00:14:37,844 --> 00:14:40,712
I missed her.
I missed Ashley.
237
00:14:43,149 --> 00:14:46,050
[Lori] Ashley was
a good time girl at college
238
00:14:46,119 --> 00:14:49,120
The county that
Ouachita Baptist was in
239
00:14:49,122 --> 00:14:51,556
at the time was a dry county
240
00:14:51,658 --> 00:14:55,260
There weren't
a whole lot of parties.
241
00:14:55,328 --> 00:14:59,063
She would just find things
to do for entertainment.
242
00:14:59,165 --> 00:15:00,832
It was kind of hard to find
243
00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:03,501
good entertainment in
Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
244
00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:09,407
I think Ashley
knew her strength
245
00:15:09,409 --> 00:15:14,979
and knew her power and
even probably knew her beauty.
246
00:15:14,981 --> 00:15:19,350
But deep down, she
probably felt a void.
247
00:15:23,323 --> 00:15:24,722
[narrator] In 1998.
248
00:15:24,724 --> 00:15:28,459
Ashley meets 22-year-old
business major Jeffrey Scott
249
00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:35,333
[Lori] Ashley met Jeff throu
a mutual friend in college.
250
00:15:35,435 --> 00:15:37,902
She really liked Jeff because
251
00:15:37,904 --> 00:15:42,206
I think she saw him
as somebody that
252
00:15:42,208 --> 00:15:45,410
was reserved and
quiet and maybe...
253
00:15:45,412 --> 00:15:50,114
maybe she felt like she coul
bring him out of his shell.
254
00:15:50,116 --> 00:15:52,717
[Jimmy] I wanted Ashley to
find somebody nice,
255
00:15:52,719 --> 00:15:55,253
a good Christian man,
and a college person
256
00:15:55,355 --> 00:15:59,290
that's going to have
an education like her.
257
00:15:59,292 --> 00:16:02,894
Ashley said, "Oh,
yeah, Daddy, he's nice.
258
00:16:02,896 --> 00:16:06,331
And he's not going
to hurt me or nothing."
259
00:16:06,333 --> 00:16:10,501
[Lori] Jeff's family
was upper middle class.
260
00:16:10,503 --> 00:16:12,904
Mom and Dad are still married.
261
00:16:14,507 --> 00:16:17,775
Jeff's mom would take care
of things in the home.
262
00:16:17,777 --> 00:16:21,312
Jeff's dad was
the owner of a company.
263
00:16:21,314 --> 00:16:25,416
It was quite different
from Ashley's upbringing.
264
00:16:25,418 --> 00:16:31,889
And I think just that whole
just family dynamic was
very intriguing to her.
265
00:16:36,997 --> 00:16:40,031
[narrator] Ashley
returns home for the
wedding of her friend Erin
266
00:16:40,033 --> 00:16:43,101
a few months after
she meets Jeffrey.
267
00:16:43,103 --> 00:16:47,338
[Erin] Neil and I got
married on March 21, 1998,
268
00:16:47,407 --> 00:16:50,908
and we got married
at our home church,
269
00:16:50,910 --> 00:16:54,812
First Baptist Bossier
where Ashley and Lori and
I went to church together.
270
00:16:54,881 --> 00:16:57,348
So Ashley and
I did not get to marry
271
00:16:57,417 --> 00:16:59,417
our New Kids on
the Block crushes.
272
00:16:59,419 --> 00:17:01,419
So we missed out.
273
00:17:01,421 --> 00:17:03,354
I didn't...
I didn't marry Joey.
274
00:17:03,423 --> 00:17:06,691
And she... she
didn't marry Jordan.
275
00:17:06,693 --> 00:17:08,459
I knew she had met Jeffrey,
276
00:17:08,528 --> 00:17:12,430
but it wasn't a serious
relationship or
anything at that point.
277
00:17:12,432 --> 00:17:16,100
But, you know, she did mention
who he was and everything
278
00:17:16,102 --> 00:17:17,668
and talked about him.
279
00:17:19,606 --> 00:17:22,940
Ashley thought
Jeffrey's family was
the ideal family,
280
00:17:22,942 --> 00:17:25,043
you know,
that they had it all
281
00:17:25,111 --> 00:17:27,412
and they wanted her to be
a part of their lives as wel
282
00:17:27,414 --> 00:17:30,548
And so on the outside
looking in, it looked like
everything was great.
283
00:17:39,959 --> 00:17:44,495
[Kecia] In 1999, Ashley had
gone back to spend Christma
284
00:17:44,497 --> 00:17:47,298
with Jeffrey and the Scotts
285
00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:51,369
and she had been unreachable,
286
00:17:51,371 --> 00:17:53,404
couldn't get in
touch with her.
287
00:17:53,473 --> 00:17:56,707
And it just seemed unusual.
288
00:17:56,809 --> 00:18:03,214
And then that whole last
semester of her senior year
of college, same thing.
289
00:18:05,485 --> 00:18:08,719
[Jimmy] A couple of times,
I called up there
and asked Ashley
290
00:18:08,788 --> 00:18:10,955
and they told me
she wasn't there.
291
00:18:12,892 --> 00:18:15,960
So I told them, I said,
"When she gets in, how
about having her call me?"
292
00:18:17,530 --> 00:18:19,831
I called up there two or
three more times,
293
00:18:22,502 --> 00:18:24,802
and then Ashley called
me one day and she said,
294
00:18:24,804 --> 00:18:27,805
"They don't want you
calling here no more, Daddy."
295
00:18:27,807 --> 00:18:28,906
And I said, "Why"?
296
00:18:28,908 --> 00:18:31,609
She said, "Well, I can't...
297
00:18:31,611 --> 00:18:35,213
I can't have anything to
do with you anymore"
298
00:18:37,617 --> 00:18:38,950
I'm gonna send
you a letter."
299
00:18:44,624 --> 00:18:46,424
[Kecia]
About a week or two later,
300
00:18:46,426 --> 00:18:50,728
I get a letter in
the mail from Ashley and
301
00:18:50,730 --> 00:18:55,399
she says that I don't
know her and that she's...
302
00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:58,302
You know, it's time for
her to start a new life
303
00:18:58,304 --> 00:19:02,773
and that she has the
opportunity to do
that with Jeffrey
304
00:19:02,775 --> 00:19:06,511
and please respect her wishe
305
00:19:06,612 --> 00:19:09,313
and please don't
try to contact her.
306
00:19:09,415 --> 00:19:11,816
It didn't make sense.
307
00:19:11,918 --> 00:19:18,523
It wasn't like there was
a clear explanation of why.
308
00:19:20,126 --> 00:19:22,093
There were things that
went through my head, like,
309
00:19:22,095 --> 00:19:25,496
maybe she thinks that
we're not high society enoug
310
00:19:25,498 --> 00:19:28,699
to be around his family or
311
00:19:28,768 --> 00:19:30,501
maybe Ashley was embarrassed,
312
00:19:30,603 --> 00:19:33,504
you know, of the family
of origin she came from.
313
00:19:41,214 --> 00:19:45,683
Christmas of 2000, Ashley
finally got what she wanted
314
00:19:45,685 --> 00:19:47,718
and Jeff proposed.
315
00:19:48,955 --> 00:19:52,523
Ashley thought that
she had hit the jackpot.
316
00:19:52,525 --> 00:19:54,959
She was ecstatic.
317
00:19:54,961 --> 00:19:59,730
She was so happy and thrilled
318
00:19:59,832 --> 00:20:01,566
to be engaged to Jeff.
319
00:20:05,672 --> 00:20:10,174
Jeff and Ashley were
married June 9, 2001,
320
00:20:10,176 --> 00:20:14,679
at Forest Hill Baptist Churc
in Germantown, Tennessee.
321
00:20:14,681 --> 00:20:17,315
And after the ceremony,
322
00:20:17,383 --> 00:20:20,518
they held their reception at
the Germantown Country Club.
323
00:20:21,888 --> 00:20:24,121
Ashley was beautiful
at the wedding,
324
00:20:24,157 --> 00:20:26,724
and she was just...
she was so happy.
325
00:20:31,397 --> 00:20:34,599
The wedding was already
a little bit different becau
326
00:20:34,601 --> 00:20:36,901
she had moved to Tennessee,
327
00:20:36,903 --> 00:20:39,370
and she had
a completely different life.
328
00:20:40,807 --> 00:20:45,977
There were more people
that I didn't know
than that I did know.
329
00:20:47,013 --> 00:20:48,913
It wasn't
necessarily alarming.
330
00:20:48,915 --> 00:20:54,418
It was more a feeling of
we were in Jeff's world.
331
00:20:57,523 --> 00:21:00,891
[Kecia] Ashley didn't
invite us to the wedding.
332
00:21:00,893 --> 00:21:02,526
At that point,
333
00:21:02,595 --> 00:21:08,065
we hadn't heard from
her since, you know,
I had gotten my letter.
334
00:21:09,569 --> 00:21:11,102
[Jimmy] And I couldn't
walk her down the aisle.
335
00:21:12,605 --> 00:21:16,507
You know, I'm her father.
That shouldn't... that
shouldn't happen.
336
00:21:22,315 --> 00:21:24,181
[narrator]
Ashley and Jeffrey
buy a house
337
00:21:24,183 --> 00:21:27,385
in the exclusive Memphis
suburb of Cordova.
338
00:21:29,222 --> 00:21:32,423
Jeffrey works for his
father's IT company.
339
00:21:32,492 --> 00:21:36,794
Ashley embarks on a career
as a high school teacher.
340
00:21:36,796 --> 00:21:38,963
[Lori] In January of 2004,
341
00:21:38,965 --> 00:21:42,900
she was teaching English
at Bolton High School.
342
00:21:42,902 --> 00:21:45,803
And she could not wait
343
00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:48,973
to impact
the lives of students
344
00:21:48,975 --> 00:21:54,478
and to teach them all of the
things that she loved to read.
345
00:21:55,815 --> 00:21:59,083
[Erin] I was so excited for
Ashley to become a teacher
346
00:21:59,085 --> 00:22:03,954
because I know her love of
reading and books.
347
00:22:03,956 --> 00:22:06,824
Her favorite subject
was English.
348
00:22:06,926 --> 00:22:08,959
-[man speaking]
-[Ashley speaking]
349
00:22:08,961 --> 00:22:10,961
-[man speaking]
-[Jodie speaking]
350
00:22:10,963 --> 00:22:16,167
Ashley was in charge
of the prom in 2006,
351
00:22:16,169 --> 00:22:19,603
which was the perfect job
for her because,
352
00:22:19,705 --> 00:22:21,772
number one,
she loved a party.
353
00:22:21,774 --> 00:22:25,209
[man speaking]
354
00:22:25,311 --> 00:22:28,813
[Ashley speaking]
355
00:22:51,604 --> 00:22:55,206
[Lori] I remember distinctl
talking to her after prom
356
00:22:55,208 --> 00:22:59,176
and she would walk through
the crowd of the dancing
high school students
357
00:22:59,178 --> 00:23:02,079
at prom with a pool noodle
358
00:23:02,081 --> 00:23:06,117
trying to separate them
because she said they
were dancing too close.
359
00:23:06,185 --> 00:23:08,319
Really, she didn't think
they were dancing too close.
360
00:23:08,321 --> 00:23:13,224
But she just she loved the
role of having some authority
361
00:23:13,292 --> 00:23:16,227
to tell someone
not to do something
362
00:23:16,295 --> 00:23:19,397
that she certainly would
have been doing if she
was in high school.
363
00:23:23,569 --> 00:23:26,203
[Erin] September 2006
364
00:23:26,305 --> 00:23:28,406
was such an exciting time
365
00:23:28,474 --> 00:23:32,943
because it was our
ten-year reunion from
graduating from high school
366
00:23:32,945 --> 00:23:35,713
and Ashley came to town.
367
00:23:35,815 --> 00:23:39,383
We were so excited because
we hadn't seen her in so long.
368
00:23:41,521 --> 00:23:46,424
[Lori] At the reunion,
Ashley was just as fun
369
00:23:46,492 --> 00:23:49,427
and happy as she always was
370
00:23:49,528 --> 00:23:53,397
We ate.
There was dancing.
371
00:23:53,399 --> 00:23:56,267
We hadn't seen these
people for years and years,
372
00:23:56,269 --> 00:23:58,969
and it was really fun
to be back together.
373
00:23:58,971 --> 00:24:01,405
And she was just happy.
374
00:24:05,511 --> 00:24:08,979
[Erin] The only thing that
I noticed when she was in to
375
00:24:08,981 --> 00:24:11,515
is that Jeffrey called
her on the phone
376
00:24:11,584 --> 00:24:14,618
and you could hear
him talking to her,
377
00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:17,621
"What are you wearing?
What are you doing?
378
00:24:17,623 --> 00:24:20,691
Who are you talking to?
Have you been drinking?"
379
00:24:20,693 --> 00:24:24,328
You know, just
questioning her,
380
00:24:24,397 --> 00:24:27,431
the tone of his voice,
you could tell that he
was very aggravated
381
00:24:27,467 --> 00:24:31,936
or agitated with her
because she was here.
382
00:24:31,938 --> 00:24:36,040
I never sensed that from
him when I met him or from
what Ashley had told me.
383
00:24:40,613 --> 00:24:42,279
[phone ringing]
384
00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:49,487
[Lori]
After the reunion, there
were a few weeks when
385
00:24:49,489 --> 00:24:51,822
Ashley would not
return my calls.
386
00:24:51,824 --> 00:24:54,925
So Jeff started calling me
387
00:24:54,927 --> 00:25:01,632
and telling me that
Ashley was drinking a lot
388
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:05,202
and that he was really
concerned that she was
389
00:25:05,204 --> 00:25:08,906
often drinking so much
that she was falling down,
390
00:25:08,908 --> 00:25:11,675
waking up with bruises,
391
00:25:11,677 --> 00:25:17,214
and that he was just
worried about the path
392
00:25:17,283 --> 00:25:19,083
that she was headed down.
393
00:25:20,887 --> 00:25:23,888
[narrator] Jeffrey reveals
that police had charged Ashl
394
00:25:23,890 --> 00:25:27,091
with drunk driving
in August 2005.
395
00:25:27,093 --> 00:25:29,793
[Lori] He indicated that
he was concerned that,
396
00:25:29,795 --> 00:25:32,696
you know, she was in
a self-destructive state.
397
00:25:32,698 --> 00:25:34,665
Which I found strange.
398
00:25:34,667 --> 00:25:39,703
I knew that Ashley
drank but not to the extent
399
00:25:39,805 --> 00:25:42,006
that he was
making it out to be.
400
00:25:42,008 --> 00:25:45,309
And so it did not
sound like Ashley at all.
401
00:25:45,411 --> 00:25:47,645
You know, I had not
talked to Ashley, and so
402
00:25:47,647 --> 00:25:51,115
I only knew his
side of the story.
403
00:25:51,183 --> 00:25:54,118
During this time,
I would try to call her
404
00:25:54,219 --> 00:25:58,422
and tell her what he
was saying, but she
wouldn't answer my calls.
405
00:26:02,295 --> 00:26:04,194
[phone buzzing]
406
00:26:04,196 --> 00:26:07,565
She tried to call me
that Thanksgiving.
407
00:26:07,567 --> 00:26:10,034
I woke up to a missed call.
408
00:26:10,036 --> 00:26:11,902
She did not leave a voicemail.
409
00:26:13,205 --> 00:26:15,406
So I went to
Thanksgiving dinner,
410
00:26:15,474 --> 00:26:17,942
called her on the way
and left a message.
411
00:26:17,944 --> 00:26:20,578
She didn't call back, but
412
00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,680
I wish I could have
gotten that call.
413
00:26:24,584 --> 00:26:28,118
I had no idea of what
was to come next.
414
00:26:39,699 --> 00:26:42,399
[dispatcher speaking]
415
00:26:42,401 --> 00:26:45,603
[Jeffrey speaking]
416
00:26:48,474 --> 00:26:50,207
On Thanksgiving afternoon,
417
00:26:50,209 --> 00:26:56,914
a male calls 911 to report
that his wife was unconscious
and that he needed help.
418
00:26:56,916 --> 00:26:58,582
[dispatcher speaking]
419
00:26:58,584 --> 00:27:00,117
[Jeffrey speaking]
420
00:27:00,186 --> 00:27:01,485
[dispatcher speaking]
421
00:27:01,487 --> 00:27:02,586
[Jeffrey speaking]
422
00:27:02,588 --> 00:27:04,388
[dispatcher speaking]
423
00:27:04,390 --> 00:27:06,123
[Jeffrey speaking]
424
00:27:06,158 --> 00:27:07,791
[dispatcher speaking]
425
00:27:07,793 --> 00:27:09,727
[Jeffrey speaking]
426
00:27:09,729 --> 00:27:11,795
[dispatcher speaking]
427
00:27:11,797 --> 00:27:14,298
[Jeffrey speaking]
428
00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:15,766
[dispatcher speaking]
429
00:27:15,768 --> 00:27:17,101
[Jeffrey speaking]
430
00:27:17,103 --> 00:27:18,636
[dispatcher speaking]
431
00:27:18,638 --> 00:27:20,204
[Jeffrey speaking]
432
00:27:20,206 --> 00:27:22,506
[Dr. McGee speaking]
433
00:27:22,575 --> 00:27:24,575
[Jeffrey speaking]
434
00:27:28,514 --> 00:27:30,547
[Tim] Jeffrey called his
friend Roger McGee,
435
00:27:30,549 --> 00:27:34,485
who is a doctor, to come
over and check on her.
436
00:27:34,487 --> 00:27:36,587
[narrator] Dr. McGee
arrived at the Scotts' home
437
00:27:36,589 --> 00:27:42,626
at 3:45 that afternoon.
He told Jeffrey to call
911 immediately.
438
00:27:42,728 --> 00:27:44,428
[dispatcher speaking]
439
00:27:44,497 --> 00:27:46,230
[Jeffrey speaking]
440
00:27:46,331 --> 00:27:48,666
[dispatcher speaking]
441
00:27:51,103 --> 00:27:53,103
[Jeffrey speaking]
442
00:27:53,105 --> 00:27:54,605
[Dr. McGee speaking]
443
00:27:54,707 --> 00:27:57,307
[dispatcher speaking]
444
00:27:57,409 --> 00:28:00,010
[Jeffrey speaking]
445
00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:01,378
[dispatcher speaking]
446
00:28:01,380 --> 00:28:03,781
[Jeffrey speaking]
447
00:28:05,217 --> 00:28:09,119
[Tim] I've worked close to
1,300 death investigations
448
00:28:09,121 --> 00:28:13,490
and only two 911 calls
really got my attention.
449
00:28:13,492 --> 00:28:15,626
And this was one of them.
450
00:28:15,695 --> 00:28:20,197
The callousness, the fact th
she had been unconscious sin
451
00:28:20,199 --> 00:28:22,766
11:00 and this is
in the afternoon,
452
00:28:22,768 --> 00:28:26,804
the dispatchers, they
were just they were
really upset with this.
453
00:28:26,905 --> 00:28:28,005
[dispatcher 1 speaking]
454
00:28:28,007 --> 00:28:29,073
[dispatcher 2 speaking]
455
00:28:29,075 --> 00:28:31,408
[dispatcher 1 speaking]
456
00:28:31,477 --> 00:28:32,576
[dispatcher 2 speaking]
457
00:28:32,578 --> 00:28:34,178
[dispatcher 1 speaking]
458
00:28:34,180 --> 00:28:36,714
[dispatcher 2 speaking]
459
00:28:36,716 --> 00:28:38,882
[dispatcher 1 speaking]
460
00:28:41,587 --> 00:28:43,186
[dispatcher 2 speaking]
461
00:28:45,491 --> 00:28:49,727
They hear all this bad stuff
every day, and this
really shook them up.
462
00:28:52,832 --> 00:28:56,700
[narrator] EMS arrives
5 minutes after
Jeffrey calls 911.
463
00:28:59,038 --> 00:29:03,907
They find Jeffrey's
wife, Ashley Scott, in
an upstairs bedroom.
464
00:29:03,909 --> 00:29:07,311
[Tim] Roger McGee was
performing some CPR on her.
465
00:29:07,379 --> 00:29:10,714
She's got blood coming
out her ear, her nose,
466
00:29:10,816 --> 00:29:12,816
vomiting blood
out of her mouth.
467
00:29:12,885 --> 00:29:14,118
She's bruised.
468
00:29:14,186 --> 00:29:17,521
Her lips are swollen
and split open.
469
00:29:17,623 --> 00:29:19,923
And she had a
very faint pulse.
470
00:29:19,925 --> 00:29:22,726
She's in really bad shape.
471
00:29:22,728 --> 00:29:26,230
The paramedics took over
and then they rushed her
to the hospital.
472
00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:31,502
But there was nothing
anybody could do for
her at this point.
473
00:29:33,405 --> 00:29:38,609
Ashley Scott was pronounced
dead at 7:52 p.m. on
Thanksgiving Day 2006.
474
00:29:44,383 --> 00:29:49,319
Jeff's dad told me that Ashley
had died the night before,
475
00:29:49,388 --> 00:29:54,158
and I was in complete shock.
476
00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:59,429
And I was asking him,
like, "What happened?
477
00:29:59,531 --> 00:30:01,632
Was she in an accident?
Was she sick?"
478
00:30:03,302 --> 00:30:05,602
He said he
did not really know.
479
00:30:05,604 --> 00:30:08,472
And I said, "You have
to know something."
480
00:30:09,608 --> 00:30:13,944
And it was like, in
that instant, I knew.
481
00:30:18,584 --> 00:30:20,317
[Erin] It was just
so shocking.
482
00:30:20,386 --> 00:30:23,887
It was a nightmare.
And you feel like you're
gonna wake up, but
483
00:30:23,889 --> 00:30:25,823
you don't because
it really happened.
484
00:30:26,926 --> 00:30:28,992
And it happened
to your close friend.
485
00:30:32,798 --> 00:30:35,432
[Jimmy] All I want her
to do is come back and
tell me she loved me.
486
00:30:37,403 --> 00:30:41,004
That's all I care
about. Just come back,
just come back home.
487
00:30:44,810 --> 00:30:47,978
[Tim] The initial officers
got on the scene and they
488
00:30:47,980 --> 00:30:50,047
naturally asked
Jeffrey what happened.
489
00:30:51,617 --> 00:30:54,418
Jeffrey said that
he struck his wife
490
00:30:54,486 --> 00:30:58,322
and she tripped and
fell due to the alcohol
that she had consumed.
491
00:30:58,390 --> 00:31:02,893
And he said it was just
a one time hit and she fell
492
00:31:02,895 --> 00:31:04,895
[Karen]
Somebody who is unconscious
493
00:31:04,897 --> 00:31:08,498
and they're bleeding
and vomiting is a very,
494
00:31:08,500 --> 00:31:11,768
very bad sign of some
very serious head trauma.
495
00:31:13,205 --> 00:31:16,406
Jeffrey Scott did not have a
kind of criminal background
496
00:31:16,508 --> 00:31:19,943
so there was nothing
to indicate that
there was going to be
497
00:31:19,945 --> 00:31:23,413
any kind of escalation
that would result in
Ashley Scott's death.
498
00:31:25,718 --> 00:31:28,819
[Tim]
Jeffrey claimed that he got
into an argument with Ashle
499
00:31:28,821 --> 00:31:33,390
over a phone call or
text message that
Ashley had received.
500
00:31:33,392 --> 00:31:36,593
Because they had both
been drinking, things
got out of hand quickly
501
00:31:36,595 --> 00:31:38,695
and it actually got
physical at that point.
502
00:31:40,733 --> 00:31:43,600
He threw her out and
put her in the garage.
503
00:31:43,669 --> 00:31:45,168
He left her there all night
504
00:31:45,170 --> 00:31:49,773
and in the morning,
he found that she was
still unconscious.
505
00:31:49,775 --> 00:31:53,377
He eventually dragged her back
in in front of the fireplace.
506
00:31:53,379 --> 00:31:56,613
And after a time frame,
507
00:31:56,615 --> 00:31:59,216
eventually, he picked her
up and put her in the bed
508
00:31:59,218 --> 00:32:01,919
and she was still
unconscious, bleeding.
509
00:32:01,921 --> 00:32:04,221
And that's when he
called his friend Dr. McGee.
510
00:32:06,725 --> 00:32:08,992
[narrator] But the extent
of Ashley's injuries sugges
511
00:32:08,994 --> 00:32:11,428
that Jeffrey's account
is not the whole story.
512
00:32:12,965 --> 00:32:15,699
[Tim] The autopsy showed
that she had bruises from
513
00:32:15,701 --> 00:32:19,469
literally the tops of her
feet to the top of her head
514
00:32:19,471 --> 00:32:23,941
She had a fractured skull,
subdural hematoma.
515
00:32:23,943 --> 00:32:27,377
The brain swelling was so ba
it was forcing the brainste
516
00:32:27,379 --> 00:32:29,513
down in the spinal column.
517
00:32:29,581 --> 00:32:33,450
These were
devastating injuries.
518
00:32:33,452 --> 00:32:38,488
[Karen] She had what
appeared to be
a shoe print on her torso.
519
00:32:38,490 --> 00:32:42,392
This isn't something
that somebody would get
by just falling over
520
00:32:42,394 --> 00:32:44,194
or falling down drunk.
521
00:32:44,196 --> 00:32:49,199
There's just too many blows to
the head for that to happen.
522
00:32:51,103 --> 00:32:52,502
[Tim]
There were pattern injuries
523
00:32:52,604 --> 00:32:54,104
There were old injuries.
524
00:32:54,106 --> 00:32:58,008
It's obvious that this is
an abusive relationship.
525
00:33:01,580 --> 00:33:03,513
Jeffrey was arrested
on the scene,
526
00:33:03,582 --> 00:33:06,416
so he was taken into
custody at that point,
527
00:33:07,987 --> 00:33:09,720
and he was
advised of his rights,
528
00:33:09,788 --> 00:33:12,222
and he declined to give
a statement at that time.
529
00:33:14,193 --> 00:33:17,427
We took pictures of
Jeffrey's hands, and
his hands were clean.
530
00:33:17,429 --> 00:33:20,097
They weren't bruised,
they weren't swollen.
531
00:33:20,099 --> 00:33:22,332
So he had to beat
her with something,
532
00:33:22,401 --> 00:33:24,301
some kind of object
533
00:33:24,403 --> 00:33:29,006
to create this 'cause he
would have been injured
some way himself.
534
00:33:31,010 --> 00:33:33,510
Jeffrey Scott was charged
with aggravated assault
535
00:33:33,612 --> 00:33:37,314
as a result of
the investigation on
536
00:33:37,316 --> 00:33:39,049
Thanksgiving eve.
537
00:33:39,051 --> 00:33:42,285
That was later upgraded
to first degree murder
538
00:33:42,287 --> 00:33:44,321
after the death of Ashley
539
00:33:44,323 --> 00:33:47,791
and as a result of all
the information that we
were able to obtain.
540
00:33:50,496 --> 00:33:52,596
After we got to
Ashley's phone records,
541
00:33:52,598 --> 00:33:55,465
we learned that
about a week before
542
00:33:55,467 --> 00:34:00,203
Ashley's murder, she
called Lori from
a closet in her house.
543
00:34:02,674 --> 00:34:08,478
Ashley had called me,
and she was whispering.
544
00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,113
She told me she was afraid.
545
00:34:10,182 --> 00:34:13,116
She and Jeff had
gotten in a big fight.
546
00:34:13,118 --> 00:34:16,520
He was just really,
really mad at her.
547
00:34:16,522 --> 00:34:19,322
I was just kind
of in disbelief.
548
00:34:19,391 --> 00:34:23,193
She had found out that
he had prostitutes over
549
00:34:23,195 --> 00:34:25,195
when she was in
town for the reunion,
550
00:34:25,197 --> 00:34:29,933
but also that Jeff had had
an affair with Blair Brown.
551
00:34:33,806 --> 00:34:36,473
[Karen] Blair Brown was
a coworker of Jeffrey Scott
552
00:34:36,475 --> 00:34:39,509
She worked at the IT company
with Jeffrey
553
00:34:39,511 --> 00:34:45,782
and met Ashley Scott
as a result of working
with her husband.
554
00:34:45,784 --> 00:34:49,619
[Tim] Quite naturally,
after the affair became
known to Ashley,
555
00:34:49,688 --> 00:34:52,823
Blair and Ashley's friendshi
you know, kind of waned.
556
00:34:52,891 --> 00:34:56,626
After about a year or so,
Ashley reached out to Blair
557
00:34:56,695 --> 00:34:59,796
and they rekindled
their friendship.
558
00:35:01,767 --> 00:35:03,800
Blair was
an incredible witness
559
00:35:03,802 --> 00:35:08,205
that she was able to
give a lot of background
between Ashley and Jeffrey.
560
00:35:08,207 --> 00:35:11,174
Blair had seen
Jeffrey around Ashley
561
00:35:11,176 --> 00:35:13,777
and had seen how
he would treat her
562
00:35:13,779 --> 00:35:18,281
and talk down to her
and had even seen him
563
00:35:18,283 --> 00:35:21,151
actually push her
and assault her,
564
00:35:21,153 --> 00:35:23,120
you know, during the
course of their friendship.
565
00:35:25,390 --> 00:35:28,525
[Tim] Ashley had gone
over to Blair's house
566
00:35:28,527 --> 00:35:32,429
to get away from
Jeffrey after an argument.
567
00:35:32,431 --> 00:35:35,065
And Jeffrey busted in the do
568
00:35:35,067 --> 00:35:37,901
and went in and started
assaulting Ashley.
569
00:35:37,903 --> 00:35:40,904
And Blair had to
jump in between them
and separate them.
570
00:35:43,041 --> 00:35:45,408
She knew a side
of Jeffrey that
571
00:35:45,410 --> 00:35:48,278
we would not have known
had she not talked with us,
572
00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:51,715
and we've now got an
actual eyewitness to
an assault on her.
573
00:36:01,293 --> 00:36:04,494
[Karen] By November 22nd,
the day before she died,
574
00:36:04,496 --> 00:36:07,497
Ashley had already decided
that she was going to leave,
575
00:36:07,499 --> 00:36:09,466
and she had gotten in
contact with the attorney
576
00:36:09,468 --> 00:36:15,472
and said she had the
filing fee and wanted
to divorce Jeffrey.
577
00:36:17,376 --> 00:36:20,177
[Tim] Ashley's
divorce attorney,
she had seen
578
00:36:20,179 --> 00:36:23,146
evidence of injuries,
bruises, black eyes,
579
00:36:23,148 --> 00:36:24,881
and that Ashley had
told her that Jeffrey
580
00:36:24,883 --> 00:36:27,784
dragged her by the
hair through the house.
581
00:36:27,786 --> 00:36:31,388
This had obviously been
going on for a long time,
582
00:36:31,390 --> 00:36:34,057
long before the night
that she was killed.
583
00:36:35,527 --> 00:36:37,961
[Karen] The lawyer said,
"Do not go home.
584
00:36:37,963 --> 00:36:39,429
Pack your stuff and leave."
585
00:36:40,966 --> 00:36:43,600
But Ashley felt some
sense of obligation
586
00:36:43,602 --> 00:36:46,203
to the Scott family
to explain to them
587
00:36:46,205 --> 00:36:47,871
why she was
leaving the family.
588
00:36:49,141 --> 00:36:52,275
Ashley felt
compelled to tell
589
00:36:52,277 --> 00:36:53,810
Jeffrey Scott that
that's what's happening,
590
00:36:53,912 --> 00:36:55,312
which is the most
dangerous time
591
00:36:55,314 --> 00:36:58,381
for any woman in
a domestic violence
relationship.
592
00:37:00,252 --> 00:37:02,819
She had already started
putting clothes in the
trunk of her car.
593
00:37:04,289 --> 00:37:08,058
In all likelihood her tellin
him that she was gonna leave
594
00:37:08,060 --> 00:37:09,926
that he was losing
control over her,
595
00:37:09,928 --> 00:37:12,829
that he could no longer
control her life,
596
00:37:12,898 --> 00:37:14,631
that would tip him
over the edge.
597
00:37:19,605 --> 00:37:22,405
[narrator] At trial,
prosecutors present the even
598
00:37:22,407 --> 00:37:25,242
that led to Ashley's death.
599
00:37:25,244 --> 00:37:28,912
[Karen]
Ashley Scott finally was
able to get the courage up
600
00:37:28,914 --> 00:37:30,580
to leave Jeffrey Scott.
601
00:37:31,817 --> 00:37:35,185
In Jeffrey's mind, she
wasn't going to walk
out of that marriage.
602
00:37:35,187 --> 00:37:36,286
She was going to die.
603
00:37:39,691 --> 00:37:42,058
The altercation
or the fight started
604
00:37:42,060 --> 00:37:44,060
probably in the living room
around the fireplace
605
00:37:44,062 --> 00:37:46,429
where one vase was broken.
606
00:37:46,531 --> 00:37:48,665
He's hitting her in her face
in her head.
607
00:37:48,667 --> 00:37:50,800
He's yanking on her.
608
00:37:50,902 --> 00:37:53,503
He was beating her
throughout the house.
609
00:37:53,505 --> 00:37:55,772
We have evidence
that something
happened in the garage,
610
00:37:55,774 --> 00:37:59,142
we have evidence that
something happened in
front of the fireplace.
611
00:37:59,144 --> 00:38:00,277
She's got bruises.
612
00:38:00,279 --> 00:38:03,513
And if she falls down,
when he punches her,
613
00:38:03,615 --> 00:38:06,616
that's when he's going
to be able to be able
to put that... Kick her,
614
00:38:06,618 --> 00:38:09,085
where the shoe print
would come into play.
615
00:38:09,087 --> 00:38:11,988
He was kicking her
just like a rag doll.
616
00:38:11,990 --> 00:38:13,790
He didn't really care.
She was...
617
00:38:13,792 --> 00:38:15,558
she was just nothing to him.
618
00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:16,993
And so he was just
619
00:38:18,797 --> 00:38:20,797
beating her and
kicking her to death.
620
00:38:23,802 --> 00:38:26,169
When Jeffrey Scott called 91
621
00:38:26,171 --> 00:38:30,807
it was about 3:46 in the
afternoon on Thanksgiving Da
622
00:38:30,809 --> 00:38:36,413
But she had actually been
unconscious for
12 to 15 hours at this point
623
00:38:36,415 --> 00:38:40,016
and he had done nothing
to get her any assistance.
624
00:38:43,221 --> 00:38:46,323
Jeffrey Scott could
have called 911
immediately himself.
625
00:38:46,391 --> 00:38:47,590
He called his friend.
626
00:38:47,592 --> 00:38:49,926
It took him over an
hour to get to the house,
627
00:38:49,928 --> 00:38:54,931
and he waited for his
friend to get there, who
then told him to call 911.
628
00:38:54,933 --> 00:38:58,768
[narrator]
Dr. Roger McGee was unaware
of Jeffrey's attack on Ashle
629
00:38:58,770 --> 00:39:01,071
He told Jeffrey to call 911
630
00:39:01,073 --> 00:39:04,140
as soon as he saw the
extent of Ashley's injuries
631
00:39:04,142 --> 00:39:06,076
[dispatcher speaking]
632
00:39:06,078 --> 00:39:08,111
[Jeffrey speaking]
633
00:39:08,113 --> 00:39:09,279
[Dr. McGee speaking]
634
00:39:09,281 --> 00:39:12,482
[dispatcher speaking]
635
00:39:12,484 --> 00:39:14,217
[Jeffrey speaking]
636
00:39:20,592 --> 00:39:22,092
[judge speaking]
637
00:39:25,097 --> 00:39:28,765
[Karen] On January 19, 2009,
638
00:39:28,767 --> 00:39:32,936
three years after
Ashley's death, the jury
came back with a verdict.
639
00:39:34,573 --> 00:39:37,407
[judge speaking]
640
00:39:42,981 --> 00:39:45,548
[Tim] In Tennessee, for
a first degree murder verdic
641
00:39:45,550 --> 00:39:48,318
you have to have
all 12 jurors agree.
642
00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:50,787
And in this case, one did not.
643
00:39:50,789 --> 00:39:53,523
So it came back to
a second degree murder.
644
00:39:56,395 --> 00:40:00,797
[Karen] The judge sentenced
Jeffrey Scott to
25 years without parole.
645
00:40:07,773 --> 00:40:11,207
Once we started to learn abo
Ashley Scott and her family
646
00:40:11,209 --> 00:40:14,210
it was very clear that
Jeffrey Scott
had done everything
647
00:40:14,212 --> 00:40:17,814
in order to make
Ashley ashamed
648
00:40:17,882 --> 00:40:19,783
of her background
649
00:40:19,785 --> 00:40:23,286
to the point that it
seemed like brainwashing,
650
00:40:23,288 --> 00:40:26,623
that she didn't
have a family at all.
651
00:40:26,691 --> 00:40:29,793
That's one of the major trai
of a domestic violence abuse
652
00:40:29,795 --> 00:40:33,329
is that they try to
isolate you from your
family and your friends
653
00:40:33,331 --> 00:40:35,832
so that ultimately you
have no place to go.
654
00:40:37,602 --> 00:40:41,004
[Kecia] All these years late
I can look back at the lette
655
00:40:41,006 --> 00:40:45,575
and I just have to
wonder how early on
656
00:40:45,577 --> 00:40:49,679
did Jeffrey have this
control over Ashley
657
00:40:49,681 --> 00:40:52,882
where she altered
her decisions
658
00:40:52,884 --> 00:40:57,220
and behaviors
because of him.
659
00:41:00,425 --> 00:41:03,960
[Lori] No, justice
was not served.
660
00:41:03,962 --> 00:41:08,631
Jeff took a life that
was loved by so many,
661
00:41:09,768 --> 00:41:14,604
and she did not deserve
to die in that way.
662
00:41:16,374 --> 00:41:19,409
[Kecia]
Ashley's legacy is that
she made a real impact
663
00:41:19,511 --> 00:41:24,113
on the students that she di
have the opportunity to teac
664
00:41:25,517 --> 00:41:27,317
And they won't
ever forget her.
665
00:41:29,688 --> 00:41:33,022
I will never forget Ashley
as long as I live.
666
00:41:35,026 --> 00:41:36,259
She was my sister.
667
00:41:39,331 --> 00:41:40,463
[Ashley speaking]
668
00:41:40,465 --> 00:41:41,531
[Erin speaking]
669
00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:44,200
I'm so thankful
that we did videos
670
00:41:44,202 --> 00:41:49,072
just to hear her voice and
to see her face
671
00:41:49,074 --> 00:41:51,407
and her just laugh
and her mannerisms.
672
00:41:51,476 --> 00:41:55,512
[Ashley speaking]
673
00:41:55,514 --> 00:41:58,781
I definitely cherish them.
For sure.
674
00:42:00,385 --> 00:42:02,418
[Jimmy]
What would I say to her?
675
00:42:02,420 --> 00:42:05,421
I would say, baby,
Daddy loves you.
676
00:42:05,423 --> 00:42:07,323
I don't hold any grudges.
677
00:42:07,325 --> 00:42:09,626
All I want you
to do is just...
678
00:42:09,727 --> 00:42:11,528
just tell me you love me.
That's all.
679
00:42:13,031 --> 00:42:14,163
That's all.
680
00:42:17,235 --> 00:42:19,602
Just let me know, "I love you
681
00:42:19,704 --> 00:42:21,905
and I'm your daughter,"
and that's it.
682
00:42:23,408 --> 00:42:25,041
What more could I ask for?