Identified! CA - Carlsbad, LIVING WhtFem, 50s, amnesia, Feb'15 - Ashley Menatta

[pinklilies]

Hi Sandyuk
I don't feel you'll find the answers to any of your questions but I personally don't believe it is a fake story. I think she's been very ill for some time and over time, it has made her a little confused, I think it is a common thing to happen during prolonged illness. There has been nothing gained from it except that she is, thankfully, reunited with her family.
I have a sad personal theory as to her story but I don't believe it's fair to write it on the Internet. For me, I'm just happy she's had treatment, on the road to recovery and been reunited with her family who have stated there is a king sized bed waiting for her. That says to me they will welcome her back and take care of her which is all she needs. She seems such a pleasant, polite lady, I really wish her well.

Welcome to Websleuths too

 

[Magnum P.E.]

Are you chasing a Blue Peter badge?

Don't know what one is.
I hope this poor woman gets to spend some time with her family. Stage 3 ovarian cancer does not have a good outlook.
Does anyone know where in Pennsylvania she is from? I am in Pa. and I wonder if she is from my area.

 

[Magnum P.E.]

Hi Sandyuk
I don't feel you'll find the answers to any of your questions but I personally don't believe it is a fake story. I think she's been very ill for some time and over time, it has made her a little confused, I think it is a common thing to happen during prolonged illness. There has been nothing gained from it except that she is, thankfully, reunited with her family.
I have a sad personal theory as to her story but I don't believe it's fair to write it on the Internet. For me, I'm just happy she's had treatment, on the road to recovery and been reunited with her family who have stated there is a king sized bed waiting for her. That says to me they will welcome her back and take care of her which is all she needs. She seems such a pleasant, polite lady, I really wish her well.

Welcome to Websleuths too

Well, there are three theories on this board that inevitably come out for anyone living or dead with an unknown identity, so let's get 'em out of the way now:

1) She was fleeing an abusive relationship
2) She escaped from or left a cult
3) She is Lori Kasperik or Lori Lee Berens

and if it is a male, add a fourth theory....

4) He was Amish and left for Rumspringa and never went back.

I don't really believe any of those apply to this case, but I think in trying to explain why someone has not been recognized, we underestimate the ability of some to live among us but stay under the radar, for whatever reason.

 

[ClaireNC]

Welcome Sandyuk! Glad you decided to join us. Great questions, but unfortunately we probably won't get answers to most of them. On the why didn't anybody recognize her questions, one answer is because they didn't publicize it when she was found. There was no news coverage in the US about her until a few days ago when NBC San Diego picked up the story. When they set up the FB page, they concentrated on spreading the word in Australia and the UK. It's not the way I would have done it, but in the end it was successful.

I think she has had some health issues and has rapidly declined since the last time her family heard from her in 2013. There are some families that just loose touch as they get older. It sounds like she was a free spirit who traveled around and enjoyed her life, separate from family ties. I know some people like that and they are fun to be around.

 

[LaborDayRN]

There are still so many things bugging me about this case.
1. There are camera's at the traffic lights on the corner where she was found. She either walked or got a bus or someone dropped her off there. Coincidently its the same corner as the church she apparently attended.
2. If the police were investigating surely they would have asked at the church if anyone could identify her. If she attended the church why could only ONE person recognise her. She was in a Bible Group - what about the rest of the people in this group ? Coincidently this person new her as 'Sam' also.
3. She was obviously a member of the community yet NO-ONE recognised her ????
4. Her family have said they lost touch with her in 2013 !!! If I couldn't contact my family for 2 years I would be frantic !!!
5. She was from Flagstaff yet no-one recognised her.
6. She had been living in La Jolla, Vista and Carlsbad for the last 2 years yet no-one recognised her. If her family lost touch with her 2 years ago how do they know she had been living in these places ??
7. Where are her clothes ? We were never shown the clothes she was found in. In her interview why was she not wearing the clothes she was found in. They were good quality, they would have been laundered.
8. Can't find anything about this Debbie Rough that set up the Facebook page.......not even on Facebook.
Chicken1 how did you get on with your investigations regarding FBI and Firefighters that found her ??

There is a person with this name listed with an active RN license on the CA board of registered nursing web site. HTH.
I know many people that done have facebook pages.

 

[Nece]

There is a person with this name listed with an active RN license on the CA board of registered nursing web site. HTH.
I know many people that done have facebook pages.

Some people also block themselves from searches and use other names. I have a friend who is an educator and she uses her maiden name on FB so students don't search for her.
I'm bugged by several things with this case
#1 Her accent didn't seem as pronounced in the 2nd interview. The crying seemed fake to me In 1st interview she described howher family might see interview and say "oh look there she is" almost like she knew she had been out of contact with them and then they find her with almost same wording.
#2 There doesn't seem to be a trace of AM anyplace on the internet. Everyone I've ever looked for shows up with some address on a People Finding website search. She has none. I couldn't find an internet trail for her anyplace yet she seemed fairly knowledgeable about internet.
#3 How did they really confirm her identity? The pictures aren't a for sure match for me. If I lost my memory and I didn't know anyone how is she sure the people that came forward are her family? She seemed to accept them too quickly for me and this seems odd.
#4 I think she might be someone who fabricates stories either because of her illness (which I don't think is the cause) or this is a personality trait (as witnesses seem to suggest)
#5 Her friend, Debbie, had some odd expressions which made me think that perhaps for months she had been helping AM and began to suspect something was off with her story and pressured AM into looking harder for family. I have an idea that AM liked the attention and was not serious about finding her family. Her real life is not nearly as amazing as her accent and "memories' were which hints at a very manipulative or mentally delicate person.
#6 She seems to be a person that 'lived off' the kindness and generosity of others her entire life (couch surfing) There was no suggestion that she has been a contributing member of society and given this history I am surprised that she didn't have fund raising account. However, with her accent and story she was provided lots of attention, gifts,medical care, new friends and a place to live.

I want more of this story. I hope we continue to get updates and perhaps maybe one her family members will give an interview. The more she talks the more it unravels. I pray that she finds peace.

This case puzzles me and nags at me and I'm not convinced of anything.

 

[wfgodot]

The giveaway here was the use of the definite article, strongly indicating an American writer.

 

[cocomod]

I have followed this case from the beginning, but have not posted much.

To me, it sounds like this woman was a bit eccentric during her life. She never married, lived alone, and basically did her own thing. Eccentric to me does not necessarily equate to mental illness. However, because of her lonely lifestyle, she very well may have had too much time on her hands and basically created things in her mind that did not exist.

I want to say that I do NOT believe that this was faked. The article that talks about when she was found indicates that her "Her blood pressure was so low she was barely conscious." (http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Woman-Amnesia-Mystery-Solved-311262611.html); not to mention the antibodies from the cancer. Here is a quote from one article (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/offici...ns-family-tumor-left-memory/story?id=32127872) "ovarian tumors have been known in rare cases to cause memory loss or psychiatric problems for patients due to anti-bodies or proteins produced by the tumor.

“[Proteins] can bind to the cells in the brain in areas that are important in memory,” he explained to ABC News.

Lerner, who did not treat the woman, said even after treatment the proteins can leave behind lasting damage."

But, the low blood pressure also would cause a multitude of problems including extreme mental confusion. The low blood pressure causes low blood flow to the entire body.

Also, as far as the family losing track of her, she may be the "crazy aunt" that everyone talks about and loves dearly. Because she has lived alone, sometimes - even if you love your family - you may get busy in your own life, your children's lives, your own problems. Not to say that they didn't worry about her and wonder where she was. Not to say that they didn't search for her. But, if she has basically kept to herself for most of her adult life, they may not have had a choice about being close to her. We do not know the dynamics of their family relationships, and it doesn't mean that they didn't care about her.

I just think this is one crazy story, but I do not get the feeling at all that this was faked or "put on". Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction!

 

[pinklilies]

I really cannot see the point of anybody speaking negatively about this lady or further questioning her story. It's a fact she's very ill, her cancer cannot be faked. She's not a criminal and never has been or the police would have been able to identify her through her finger prints. If she is a fantasist, a dreamer, so be it, it's not a crime. Hopefully she can recoup in privacy and any curiosities will just have to remain that unless this lady feels she wants to tell her story but I doubt it.
Don't mean to offend anyone, it's just my opinion like the posts of everyone else.

 

[GigTu]

I'm so glad her family identified her and are taking her in. I hope she stays put. She has a lot of healing to do, and the cancer diagnosis means she's going to need support.

 

[Magnum P.E.]

Are you chasing a Blue Peter badge?

OK I looked it up, very funny.

 

[Sandyuk]

If you rearrange the letters in her name you get Samantha Leye/Yeel/Leey/Eley/Eely..........

 

[pinklilies]

OK I looked it up, very funny.

I was just joking with you
You were actually very close with your thoughts on the accent

 

[Magnum P.E.]

I was just joking with you
You were actually very close with your thoughts on the accent

Well, I expect my Blue Peter Badge to be in the mail, then.😁

To me, the thing that stood out was that her accent varied. Almost RP, something learned, not natural. I would like to hear her natural speech. I grew up near Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh accent (AKA Yunzer) is very localized and distinctive. I don't have it, as my four grandparents were born in four different countries. Yunzer is difficult to shake.
For my SECOND Blue Peter Badge I would guess she is from the York, Chambersburg, or Harrisburg areas. Some people there have a bit of a southern drawl, it starts that far north!
In southwestern Pennsylvania you have the Northern limits of the Appalachian twang. I hear no trace of that in her voice.

 

[pinklilies]

Well, I expect my Blue Peter Badge to be in the mail, then.��

To me, the thing that stood out was that her accent varied. Almost RP, something learned, not natural. I would like to hear her natural speech. I grew up near Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh accent (AKA Yunzer) is very localized and distinctive. I don't have it, as my four grandparents were born in four different countries. Yunzer is difficult to shake.
For my SECOND Blue Peter Badge I would guess she is from the York, Chambersburg, or Harrisburg areas. Some people there have a bit of a southern drawl, it starts that far north!
In southwestern Pennsylvania you have the Northern limits of the Appalachian twang. I hear no trace of that in her voice.

Now one Blue Peter badge in a lifetime is an honour, two I think is probably unheard of lol

Oh I wouldn't be able to hazard a guess as not familiar with regional accents, you may well be correct.

I better head over to eBay now to see if I can find two badges....

 

[Sandyuk]

Hello,
I'm a long time lurker but I've only posted once or twice. So please point out any faux pas.
I've been following this story and it really doesn't sit well with me.
No media record of her being found in February? It seems like the local law enforcement would have issued a media release in an attempt to find her identity.

The more I have been looking into this story the more questions I have :/ I sent a message to the admin of the FB page that was set up for 'Sam' thinking it was this Debbie who was helping her. I asked if she new the names of 'Sam's ' sisters. The reply I got was 'Sorry' ????? Then I saw a message posted on the page from someone called Julie Ann thanking Debbie and it was signed Admin J. Julie Ann is from Ipswich Australia. Now I am REALLY confused :/ :/

 

[Nece]

Hello,
I'm a long time lurker but I've only posted once or twice. So please point out any faux pas.
I've been following this story and it really doesn't sit well with me.
No media record of her being found in February? It seems like the local law enforcement would have issued a media release in an attempt to find her identity.

The more I have been looking into this story the more questions I have :/ I sent a message to the admin of the FB page that was set up for 'Sam' thinking it was this Debbie who was helping her. I asked if she new the names of 'Sam's ' sisters. The reply I got was 'Sorry' ????? Then I saw a message posted on the page from someone called Julie Ann thanking Debbie and it was signed Admin J. Julie Ann is from Ipswich Australia. Now I am REALLY confused :/ :/

Wowzer. I agree with you and I still am not convinced of anything. I'm thinking the FB page was Sam herself but they did show 'Debbie' on the news? I'm happy this 'sick' lady now has an identity but the story isn't pulling together for me.

This isn't a 'negative comment' about Ashley it is just my opinion that there is much more to the story. You create a FB page and put yourself on the news then the details should be able to be confirmed and verified and as of now they aren't. JMO

 

[Nece]

Just read a new article with FBI not confirming Ashley
“The FBI is not identifying this individual as by the name of Ashley,” Special Agent Darrell Foxworth said in San Diego. “This is something she is self-identifying herself as based on conversations she had with people that represent themselves as family members.”
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-woman-with-amnesia-identified-20150701-story.html

I find this odd. I also read she was reunited with family and gone from CA.

 

[Sandyuk]

An internet search show a Debbie Rough (the Nurse) living a couple of blocks from where AM was found. Interesting....

 

[verbonica]

An internet search show a Debbie Rough (the Nurse) living a couple of blocks from where AM was found. Interesting....

I don't think that's too unusual. Carlsbad is a fairly small city and the nurse worked at the local hospital where "Ashley" was treated. I'm not sure why an indigent patient was not transferred to the San Diego County Hospital, but I suppose that Carlsbad takes on some charity cases itself.