Ashley Reeves was born in 1983 in Belleville, United States. Michelle, Ashley’s mother, had two daughters. However, Ashley was the elder sister. When she was a student in 7th Grade Sam Shelton was his Teacher. By profession, Shelton was Gym Coach and pro wrestler. Ashley used to play Basketball and was a good student.
Ashley had a boyfriend, and he presented her promise ring. On Thursday, April 27, 2006, she informed her parents that she was going for an interview. Ashley Reeves told them she would be home by 10 pm. She also borrowed her boyfriend’s car. The investigation started for missing Ashley. Soon her mother realized something was wrong as there was no sign of Ashley. Sam Shelton was brought in for questioning. Her family discovered that he was the last person to whom Ashley spoke before disappearing.
Samson claimed that they were both romantically involved and had a fight in the car. Shelton put Reeves in a chokehold and dragged her out of the car. However, she struggled for a while before going limp. When he noticed Ashley was still alive, he strangled her with his belt once more. He left her dying in the woods.
It took the team some time to find her body. The detectives initially thought she was dead, but she moved. Ashley Reeves was taken to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. Samson was arrested and placed under house arrest for a year. He attempted suicide with the sign ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ on his chest. Samson was sentenced to 20 years in jail. She recovered from injuries and is now a mother of two children.
Ashley Reeves Biography
Ashley Reeves was born on January 1, 1983. She was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, in the United States of America. She is the eldest daughter of Michelle, Michael Reeves and Tracy Green Koenig.
Casey Reeves is the only sister. Michelle and Michael Reeves were strict parents. Furthermore, her parents often curfew their children. She completed her graduation in the United States of America.
Ashley Reeves Educational Life
Ashley was a good student in high school. She also often went to play Basketball. She also had a boyfriend at the age of 17 named Danny. In addition to this, Danny also presented her Promise ring.
It was a very early commitment by Ashley Reeves. However, this early commitment could have been a better decision. The relationship ended very soon.
Sam Shelton was a former American Teacher. He was the Teacher of Ashley. She was in seventh grade in the year 2001 when she met Sam Shelton. Also, he was a gym coach and pro wrestler.
Ashley’s Disappearance
Ashley Reeves informed her parents on Thursday, April 27, 2006, that she would attend a job interview in Fairview Heights. The venue was about 20 minutes away from Millstadt. Ashley informed her parents that she would play Basketball after the interview. She informed them that she would be home by 10 pm.
Ashley arrived at the interview at 3:30 pm. She carried a change of clothes and drove Jeremy’s car. Ashley had borrowed the car for the day. Time had passed, yet there was no sign of Ashley. Soon her parents realized something had gone wrong as Ashley disappeared.
Initial Investigations
Ashley’s mother realized that something had gone wrong. She called St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Michelle also called Ashley several times, but she did not respond. She also asked her younger sister if she had seen or spoken to Ashley.
The officer’s first suspect was Ashley Reeves boyfriend. Because she used his car to attend a job interview. But after investigation, they concluded he had nothing to do with her disappearance.
Samson Shelton
After the realization that Ashley’s boyfriend was not involved in this case, detectives were getting closer to locating Ashley Reeves. Michelle called the phone company as Ashley was only 17 at that time. So, Ashley’s phone was in her mother’s name. They gained access to her phone records; there was the detail of all of her incoming and outgoing calls.
Michelle searched through the phone records. However, discovered several calls from the same phone number. Michelle dialled the number and spoke with Samson Shelton. She questioned her about her daughter. He replied that he had not seen Ashley.
Shelton’s Interrogation
Sam Shelton was brought in for questioning as a minor suspect. His family discovered that he was the last person to whom Ashley spoke before disappearing. Initially, Sam informed them that he had not seen her in days. He kept changing his story as the interrogator spoke to him.
Ashley was romantically involved with an older man, according to her friends. Ashley had planned to meet him the day she went missing. They used to play Basketball together.
Ashley Reeves and Samson Shelter were reunited in Feb 2006. Samson lived in Belleville with her mother and grandmother. Ashley and Samson often met there. Detectors found his abandoned car near Lander Mark Park. After a long interrogation of 12 hours, he revealed his relationship with Ashley.
Murder Attempt
Samson claims that he was driving when he got into an argument with Ashley. He wanted to end the relationship, but Ashley Reeves was angry. She began screaming at him. He pulled over, unbuckled Ashley’s seatbelt, and motioned for her to exit the vehicle. When she resisted, he dragged her out of the car. Samson abandoned her on the side of the road.
After they fought, Shelton put Reeves in a chokehold. He dragged her out of the car. Moreover, she struggled for a while before going limp. He panicked when he realized he had snapped her neck and dragged her into the woods. He then tied her with his hands.
When he noticed Ashley was still alive, he strangled her with his belt once more. Samson wrapped the belt around Ashley’s neck. He pulled as hard as he could until the belt snapped. Samson choked Ashley a third and final time with his hands after the belt broke. Samson fled, leaving her to die on the cold, hard ground deep in the woods.
Recovery of Ashley
Shelton abandoned her in the woods and went dancing, leaving her to die. Samson led detectives to Ashley’s body in Citizens Park. It was a 45-acre park in Belleville, only 12 minutes away from Ashley’s home. It took the team some time to find her body because of the rain.
Shelton couldn’t remember where he had left her. They eventually found her lying on her back, hands up to her chest. Her tongue was protruding from her mouth, and there were numerous insect bites all over her body. She’d been there for days.
The detectives initially thought she was dead, but she moved. EMTs were then dispatched to bring her out of the woods. Ashley Reeves was taken to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma.
Samson‘s Suicide Attempt
Shelton was arrested after Ashley Reeves was discovered. He was later granted bail and placed under house arrest for a year while awaiting trial. Sam attempted suicide during that year. When the paramedics arrived at his house, they discovered him with a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ sign written on his chest.
The judge hearing Ashley’s case questioned Samson’s mental state. However, prosecutors believed his suicide attempt was merely a ruse to win sympathy from potential jurors. Even so, Ashley’s family decided they didn’t want her to go through a retelling of the heinous attack. They agreed to a plea deal. Samson accepted the plea bargain and got a 20-year prison sentence.
Brain injuries of Ashley
Ashley Reeves lost some of her memory after the incident. All she could remember was the fight they faced that day. Her recovery was challenging because she had to relearn how to talk, eat, and move her limbs.
The doctors had told her parents that she would be unable to return to her previous self for some time. They also mentioned that there was a chance she wouldn’t make it.
The incredibly strong and brave celebrity Ashley Reeves had managed to learn how to talk, eat, and drink a few months after the attack. She graduated from high school a year later and began volunteering at a violence prevention center. Ashley is 40 years old and has two children.
FAQ’s
Is Left for Dead, the Ashley Reeves story, a true story?
Yes, Left for Dead is a real story based on Ashley, as she was left for dead for three days and nights.
How long was Ashley in the woods?
Ashley was abandoned for 30 hours by her Teacher Sam Shelton.
Where is Sam Shelton today?
Sam Shelton got sentenced to 20 years in jail and is now behind bars at Illinois’ Hill Correctional Center.
Where was left for dead Ashley’s story filmed?
Left for dead, Ashley was based on the true story of a teenage girl whom he attempted to murder, and the story was filmed in Ontario, Canada.
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