DC - Ashley Turton, 37, lobbyist, found dead in burning car, 10 Jan 2011

[Gibson]

for the warm welcome! Good point -- she may have moved that Maxima herself, just not far enough it seems.

Capitol Hill is not a great neighborhood to say the least. Seldom go over there myself, and never in the dark. Certainly wouldn't let my wife go outside w/o armed escort that time of night.

Hope the police consider all angles, though sounds like they early decided on an accident. Kinda like the fire dept assuming just another unoccupied car on fire...

Gibson

 

[newone]

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/memorial-service-held-for-lobbyist-ashley-turton-011411

"The medical examiner still hasn't released an exact cause of death. The reason for that is because sources say the toxicology tests take time and no official announcement will be made until those tests are back."

There was only this one news item and there's not much there - I suspect this story will be quiet for a while.

 

[tiredblondy]

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/memorial-service-held-for-lobbyist-ashley-turton-011411

"The medical examiner still hasn't released an exact cause of death. The reason for that is because sources say the toxicology tests take time and no official announcement will be made until those tests are back."

There was only this one news item and there's not much there - I suspect this story will be quiet for a while.

I wonder if we will ever know. I sure wish the gal on "Bones" was there.

I'm concerned that we heard nothing about the memorial service.

 

[Allusonz]

Nothing odd to me about the hubby not getting up. Thats how it would of been here in my household.

i travelled alot, never woke kids up as most times it was a very early morning flight and my children could sleep through anything

if you take into account drive time to the airport, if this was something regular as it was in my case, check-in time, security etc

i would personally not find that unusual at all

 

[newone]

I wonder if we will ever know. I sure wish the gal on "Bones" was there.

I'm concerned that we heard nothing about the memorial service.

there is a video re memorial service at the link in my post #102 - the service was well attended by many in DC (politicos). There will be a graveside service on the 21st in Chapel Hill NC - today was memorial service only in DC

 

[Gozgals]

for the warm welcome! Good point -- she may have moved that Maxima herself, just not far enough it seems.

Capitol Hill is not a great neighborhood to say the least. Seldom go over there myself, and never in the dark. Certainly wouldn't let my wife go outside w/o armed escort that time of night.

Hope the police consider all angles, though sounds like they early decided on an accident. Kinda like the fire dept assuming just another unoccupied car on fire...

Gibson

Gibson, I'm sure they did an investigation of the scene esp. because of who she was. I am not doubting the police this time.
I am not looking for a murder case when we don't have one yet.

Goz

 

[shadowraiths]

The man is about the last one to believe in any sort of conspiracy but he also frequently makes the comment, "I don't believe in coincidences."

Reminds me of a favorite saying:

"There is no such thing as chance, only patterns we do not understand" -- Harlan Ellison, Chaos Theory​

http://www.fireengineering.com/index/articles/Wire_News_Display/1337739148.html

From the above link, quoted below (emphasis, mine):

"Campbell said he believed investigators have reached out to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to see if the model of BMW SUV involved has a history of fire. Results of an internet search yielded several postings and reports about BMWs similar to Turton's having burst into flames."​

This is mind boggling. While I would expect to see an "I read it on the internet, so it must be true!" statement from, say, a {mod snip} usenet poster, coming from BATF? Who are trained to, among other things, investigate suspicious fires? Things that make you go, "hmmmm." Whatever the case, I tend to agree with others in this thread. There are just too many anomalies to ignore, including but not limited to, how the fire started in the first place, the vague suggestion of a pre-existing medical condition, the 13B dollar merger scheduled for the same day, and a government official citing the internet as a valid and reliable source for determining whether this tragic incident was accidental or intentional.

 

[tiredblondy]

I so agree Shadowwraith, Bumping this up. Has anyone heard anything else???

Reminds me of a favorite saying:

"There is no such thing as chance, only patterns we do not understand" -- Harlan Ellison, Chaos Theory
​

From the above link, quoted below (emphasis, mine):

"Campbell said he believed investigators have reached out to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to see if the model of BMW SUV involved has a history of fire. Results of an internet search yielded several postings and reports about BMWs similar to Turton's having burst into flames."
​

This is mind boggling. While I would expect to see an "I read it on the internet, so it must be true!" statement from, say, a {mod snip} usenet poster, coming from BATF? Who are trained to, among other things, investigate suspicious fires? Things that make you go, "hmmmm." Whatever the case, I tend to agree with others in this thread. There are just too many anomalies to ignore, including but not limited to, how the fire started in the first place, the vague suggestion of a pre-existing medical condition, the 13B dollar merger scheduled for the same day, and a government official citing the internet as a valid and reliable source for determining whether this tragic incident was accidental or intentional.

 

[Gozgals]

I so agree Shadowwraith, Bumping this up. Has anyone heard anything else???

Sadly, I don't agree when I saw the post before it was fixed.

No charges yet and nothing new. So sad for the woman and her family. My blessings go out to them since I do not believe the husband was involved. Maybe down the line we will find a cover up of sorts.

Goz.

 

[Coolmomof4]

A friend of mine who also works in the DC area was able to attend the service on Friday. She was a friend of Ashley's and went to school with her in NC. She said it was lovely, and her husband and three children were there. Several of my friends will be at the service in Chapel Hill later this week. I wanted to go, as I will be in NC this weekend, but I will not be able to get to town in time.

 

[songline]

I keep searching for an update on this case but I can not find any

 

[Coolmomof4]

me too. Nothing. My friends have been pulling out pictures of Ashley for the memorial service. It's been nice seeing them.

 

[fran]

Ashley Turton’s suspicious death leaves probing questions


Jan 20, 2011, 00:17


Progress Energy lobbyist and ex-chief of staff to Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ashley Westbrook Turton, opened the door of her BMW suburban utility vehicle a few minutes before 5 am on January 10. The 37-year old mother of three young children, including twin boys, and the wife of Dan Turton, President Obama’s chief liaison to the House of Representatives, was on her way to work. Later that day, an announcement would come from Duke Power that it was buying Progress Energy for $26 billion, creating the largest power utility in the United States.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~snip~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ashley Turton’s friends described in Turton a person who had an appetite for possible gossip. In some cases, while discussing a juicy bit of political rumor, Ashley Turton would tell her friends, usually over a glass of wine, that “this conversation needs to go out on the porch~~~~~~~~~~~~~~snip~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Considering Ashley Turton’s job as DeLauro’s chief of staff, legislative aide, and press secretary for a number of years; Emanuel’s use of DeLauro’s townhouse while he was a member of the House and in charge of doling out or withholding Democratic Party funds to candidates around the country; the presence of Greenberg’s partner Carville and Rove at the Arizona political confab attended by Ashley Turton’s just five days before her suspicious death, the question will always remain: What “juicy gossip” might have Ashley Turton taken with her to the grave?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<more at link>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_6821.shtml

 

[scapa]

Well, here's more support for the "spontaneously combusting BMW" line of enquiry. A prominent Winnipeg BMW dealership is suing its parent company in the wake of a fire that caused 450k in damages, caused, they claim, by a manufacturing fault in the X5 SUV:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/bmw-defect-alleged-450k-winnipeg-fire-20110126-043955-234.html

The article provides a little technical info on how this might happen. Not sure if it explains the Turton case, but interesting nonetheless -- and has reduced my desire to own one of these to exactly zero.

best,

s

 

[songline]

You may think I am :crazy: crazy, but I am suspicious that it is a government hit.
Sadly they are not all saints, government has been know to do this before.

That is why the hush hush. Just thinking....:waitasec:

 

[Coolmomof4]

yes. Very odd it is so quiet.

 

[dmander]

Well, here's more support for the "spontaneously combusting BMW" line of enquiry. A prominent Winnipeg BMW dealership is suing its parent company in the wake of a fire that caused 450k in damages, caused, they claim, by a manufacturing fault in the X5 SUV:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/bmw-defect-alleged-450k-winnipeg-fire-20110126-043955-234.html

The article provides a little technical info on how this might happen. Not sure if it explains the Turton case, but interesting nonetheless -- and has reduced my desire to own one of these to exactly zero.

best,

s

I don't buy the spontaneous combustion theory at all for several reasons. First is that while a car may burn, it does not blow up like the movies. And a neighbor clearly heard an explosion, something I would not expect from a car burning at the front say from a gas leak or oil fire. Another reason is if it was a fire, how come no attempt was made to get out either by going in reverse or opening the door and leave?

Whatever the cause is claimed, it needs to address the explosion cause, why she didn't just open the door and leave or back out. If facing a wall of fire care for a side mirror is not going to stop you.

I even question, was she awake? Could be she was put in the car unconscious and that is why no escape attempt? Air bags never went off.

Another question is if it was murder, was she the intended target? Could be her husband was the target; they got the wrong person. Which means it might be related to John Wheelers demise, perhaps a psycho or revenge plot to a related party. Do they swap vehicles like my wife and I?

But I would not overlook the husband. Say she wanted a divorce. The home would be hers with the kids and big merger bonus...insurance...motive exists.

Then maybe she knew too much about something or told someone some dark secret.

We need more to go on. But I doubt this was an accident.

 

[tiredblondy]

Has anyone heard of an autopsy report? This is really too quiet.

 

[GhostGhost]

.
One Must focus on 2008 year model.

This would be the first 2008 X5 to ignite with fire. There are ZERO complaints and known incidences of a 2008 X5 on record.

On top of all the other odds, then you have this as the first 2008 X5 to have this problem - in the stone Cold of a DC January Winter at 4:55 am?

I'm not buying it. I think something is wrong here (with this case).

 

[tiredblondy]

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_6821.shtml[/quote]

Also from Fran's article above


Based on the presence of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, and former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) at Turton’s funeral service on January 14 at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, there is little doubt that Turton and her husband were a “power couple” in the nation’s capital. But there was also a sense from those in attendance, including members of Ashley Turton’s family from North Carolina, that all the information about Ashley’s tragic death was not being brought forward by the police or the fire department.

I'm sorry. I want to know more. There is so much more to her death.