I worked with Ashton and considered him a close friend at one point. If someone would have asked me 6 months ago if he was capable of murder, I would have said no way. He really did come across as a typical, fun-loving teenager. Ask anyone he worked with. Nobody saw this coming.
I went to court yesterday (plea hearing has been postponed to May 2) and he was completely unrecognizable from the person I once knew. His beard has grown out and he looked disheveled and emotionless. Various local news teams were scheduled to appear and photograph the hearing but none of them showed up.
But something struck me yesterday when I saw him in this sad state. This hadn't hit me before, but basically, at one point in his life, Ashton had it all. He had family, friends, love and support, and a promising future. And now he has nothing and is completely alone.
I cannot understand what would drive him to commit this horrible crime and throw everything away when he lived a decent life. He was a passionate person who liked to travel, volunteer, and hang out with friends. I never met his parents, but according to what I've heard, his mother loved him very much and they had a good relationship.
Was Ashton really so full of himself that he thought he could get away with this and return to a normal life? (Without even attempting to hide his tracks?) I don't think so. He was intelligent, and a reasonable person would never have done this. The only conclusion that makes sense to me right now is that he went insane. I have never believed that money was the motive, and I'm having trouble coming up with any other explanation.
