Rockville, Md. – The search for Antoinette Forbes, a Washington, D.C. woman who vanished on Sept. 4, entered its 13th day as investigators released previously unheard court recordings that shed light on her tumultuous past with ex‑boyfriend Russell Ashford.
Audio reveals disputed domestic‑violence history
The July hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court captured both Forbes and Ashford describing their relationship and co‑parenting of a 10‑year‑old son. Ashford, who previously secured a probation‑before‑judgment after his assault conviction was largely dismissed, testified that his 2021 conviction for beating Forbes nearly to death barred him from hostile contact with her.
Forbes told the court, “I spoke to some neighbors recently who said, ‘Antoinette, he tried to kill you.’” She emphasized that the assault was not an isolated incident, citing a pattern of domestic violence leading up to the crime.
Ashford described his behavior as “out of character,” noting he had not received a traffic ticket since his teenage years and that recent hardships have made him “stronger and wiser” and more in control of his actions.
Current legal status and police activity
As of Thursday, Ashford remains incarcerated in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, on an unrelated gun charge. He has not been named a suspect or person of interest in Forbes’ disappearance.
Police on Wednesday removed bags of potential evidence from Forbes’ Rockville home. Court records indicate Ashford was occasionally invited inside to see their son, though Forbes recounted multiple instances where she felt unsafe and had to ask him to leave.
“I have allowed Russell into my home because I think it shows our son some level of amicability,” Forbes said in the audio, adding that he sometimes became hostile and refused to leave even after she threatened to call police.
Family and community response
Friends and family continue to hold out hope for Forbes’ safe return. The Metropolitan Police Department urges anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact them immediately.
The investigation remains open and ongoing, with authorities treating the case as a missing‑person matter while also examining the domestic‑violence context revealed in the court recordings.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
