Russell Ashford, the former partner of missing pharmaceutical executive Antoinette Forbes, has been arrested for violating his parole after leaving Washington, DC with the couple’s son.
Ashford, 65, a retired CIA employee, was stopped by police in Pennsylvania after license-plate readers tracked his vehicle leaving DC, where Forbes lived with their son before she vanished. Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible confirmed the arrest to WPXI.
“Ultimately, a parole violation was lodged on him for leaving the state,” Bible said.
The boy was with his father in violation of a custody agreement with Forbes. Bible said the child “is safe, and he is unharmed.”
Ashford has not been named a suspect in Forbes’ disappearance. Forbes, 52, is vice president and head of public affairs at Eli Lilly. She disappeared from her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Sept. 4, leaving behind her purse, keys, car and dog.
Ashford was convicted in 2021 of beating Forbes at their Chevy Chase home. He told responding officers at the time that “he had just beat up his ex,” according to WTOP. Forbes was found in and out of consciousness with a concussion and fractures to her face and hands. She told police the assault happened during an argument over their son’s schooling.
A judge originally sentenced Ashford to 15 years in prison, but he served only nine months before the guilty verdict was thrown out this summer. He was placed on probation while awaiting a new judgment. The reports on the reversal did not explain the legal basis for the decision.
His probation terms barred him from contacting Forbes or their son. Besides being found with the boy in his car in Pennsylvania, Ashford allegedly attempted to pick the child up from summer camp last month, according to NBC Washington.
Forbes’ sister, Aileen Forbes, has said her sister showed no signs of trouble before disappearing and would never walk away from her family.
“Antoinette is a 100% solid, reliable, intelligent, competent woman who is a devoted mother. She would never leave her son,” Aileen Forbes told CNN. “She wouldn’t leave her dog. She wouldn’t leave her sister who needs her.”
Aileen said Forbes’ home is being treated as an active crime scene and that she fears her sister may be dead.
The DC Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday it had no new updates. “We understand the sense of urgency surrounding this case, but at this present time, we do not have any new details to release,” a spokesperson told The Post. “This investigation remains a priority for our department, as all missing person cases are. This case remains an active and ongoing investigation with the Metropolitan Police Department. We will share additional information as it becomes available to us.”
Eli Lilly, where Forbes has served as vice president and head of public affairs, said it is supporting police efforts to locate her.
