Ashley Reeves is an incredible woman who rebuilt her life after surviving a vicious attack by her former teacher. Many others have found inspiration in her narrative of bravery and resiliency, which has been made into a Lifetime film. She was lured into a s*xually abusive relationship by her driver’s education and gym teacher, Samson Shelton, with whom she had a covert relationship. He choked her and left her for dead in the woods on April 27, 2006.
She was paralyzed and barely breathing when she was discovered some thirty hours later. She completed her education in high school and college and testified against Shelton. She is now a mother of two, a volunteer, and a carer.
Ashley Reeves Wiki & Bio
| Name | Ashley Reeves |
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Belleville, Illinois |
| Physical Appearance | Brown hair, brown eyes |
| Parents | Mike Reeves (father), Michelle Reeves (mother) |
| Siblings | Cassey Reeves (Sister) |
| Husband | Jeremy Smith (They married in 2008) |
| Children | Two (names not disclosed) |
| Attacker | Sam Shelton (teacher) |
| Date of Attack | April 27, 2006 |
| Location of Attack | A wooded area near Freeburg, Illinois |
| Injuries | Brain damage, spinal cord injury, internal bleeding |
| Recovery Time | About two years |
| Sentence of Attacker | 20 years in prison |
Early Life, Parents, Age and School
Ashley Reeves was born on January 1, 1989, in Belleville, Illinois, in the United States of America. As of 2024, she is 35 years old. When she was a newborn, Michelle Reeves and her father, Mike Reeves, adopted her. She was raised in Millstadt, an Illinois hamlet in St. Clair County.
She met Samson Shelton, a driver’s education and gym teacher at Millstadt Consolidated School, where she attended elementary and middle school. Samson Shelton would later attack her. For her junior year, she subsequently transferred to Columbia High School, where she was an academic and athletic standout. She was a gifted cheerleader as well as a basketball player.
Ashley Reeves Height and Weight
The stunning Ashley Reeves has blue eyes and blonde hair. She weighed about 120 pounds and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. Her body type is athletic and slender. She frequently sports shoes, t-shirts, and trousers in her easygoing wardrobe.
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Ashley Reeves’ Siblings and Boyfriend
With her devoted parents and two siblings, Madison Koenig, and Daniel Koenig, Ashley Reeves had a contented and typical upbringing. She had been seeing Jeremy Smith for two years, and they were in a stable relationship. He loved her for her brains and sense of humor, and they were quite close.
But Ashley also maintained a covert liaison with Samson Shelton, who had made contact with her again in February 2006. Shelton, who was 26 years old at the time, had come to teach at Freeburg High School in addition to his dream of being a professional wrestler. Through deceit and intimidation, he led Ashley into a s*xually abusive relationship. In addition, he cut her off from her friends and family, which caused her to feel ashamed and guilty.
Ashley Reeves Career and Profession
Ashley Reeves works as a volunteer and a carer. She assists individuals with impairments with their everyday needs and activities as a carer. In addition, she works as a volunteer at a center dedicated to preventing violence, where she supports and discusses her own experience of abuse. She has a strong commitment to ending violence against women and children and spreading awareness of this issue.
Ashley Reeves Achievements
Ashley Reeves is a multifaceted achiever. She overcame a horrifying ordeal and bravely and resolutely rebuilt her life. Despite the difficulties she encountered, she has completed both her high school and college degrees.
In addition, she gave birth to two children, whom she adores. She has reliable employment and a network of friends and family who encourage her. She has evolved into an advocate and role model for other victims of abuse, motivating them with her tenacity and grit.
The Attack and Rescue
Ashley left her house around 3:30 p.m. on April 27, 2006, to go to a job interview in a nearby city. She informed her parents that she would return by 10 p.m. to play basketball after that. But that night, she never came home. Rather, she met Samson Shelton in his vehicle at Belleville’s Laderman Park. She attempted to break up with him there, but he became angry and attacked her.
Until he heard a crack, he first strangled her with his bare hands and then with his belt. He hauled her body to the woods, believing he had killed her. After leaving her for dead, he proceeded to dance at a country music bar.
But Ashley wasn’t dead. Despite her horrific injuries, she was still alive. She suffered hundreds of mosquito bites, internal bleeding, a catastrophic brain injury, and a fractured neck. She was unable to speak, move, or make a help call. Before the police discovered her on April 28, she lay there in the chilly soil for more than thirty hours.
Following the discovery of Ashley’s car close to his house and the acquisition of her mother’s phone records, the police identified Shelton as their top suspect. After questioning him for twelve hours, he admitted to the crime and gave them Ashley’s whereabouts. They believed her to be dead when they found her lying on the ground with her hands up to her chest and her tongue protruding. But they hurried her to the hospital after noticing a movement in her chest.
The Recovery and Trial
When Ashley Reeves got to the hospital, her condition was severe. To preserve her life, numerous operations and surgeries were required. In addition, she had to retrain her swallow, walk, communicate, and all the other skills she had cherished prior to the attack.
She worked very hard to restore her skills and independence while spending months in the hospital and in rehabilitation facilities. Along with dealing with the emotional pain of what had happened to her, she also had to deal with criticism from those who held her responsible for the relationship with Shelton.
Following his detention, Shelton was accused of attempting first-degree murder. As part of an agreement with the prosecution and Ashley’s family, he originally entered a not-guilty plea but thereafter amended it to guilty.
In 2007, he received a 20-year prison sentence. While out on bond, he also tried suicide by taking too many drugs, but the medical staff saved him. According to reports, he lost control and spat on the officers who attempted to assist him.
Ashley told the court in her testimony during Shelton’s sentencing hearing how he had betrayed her trust and attempted her life. She added that she had struggled mightily to regain her voice and her ability to stand on her own two feet. She expressed her desire to hold him accountable for his actions while yet wanting to move on with her life.
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Ashley Reeves’ Documentary and Injuries
The documentary Ashley Reeves chronicles the actual events surrounding Ashley Reeves, a 17-year-old who was attacked by her former instructor and abandoned in the woods. The movie chronicles her incredible survival, her recovery from life-threatening wounds, and her evidence against her assailant.
The TV episode “Deadly Lessons” from the show “On the Case with Paula Zahn” served as the inspiration for the movie. The movie debuted on June 12, 2021, on Lifetime.
The incident resulted in numerous injuries for Ashley Reeves. She suffered hundreds of mosquito bites, internal bleeding, a catastrophic brain injury, and a fractured neck. She was unable to swallow or speak since she was paralyzed from the neck down. To preserve her life, numerous operations and surgeries were required.
In addition, she had to retrain her swallow, walk, communicate, and all the other skills she had cherished prior to the attack. She worked very hard to restore her skills and independence while spending months in the hospital and rehabilitation facilities. Along with the emotional pain of what had occurred to her, she also had to cope with criticism from some quarters who held her responsible for her relationship with her attacker.
Where is Ashley Reeves Today?
Ashley Reeves is currently residing in Illinois and working as a volunteer and carer. Her boyfriend from high school, Jeremy Smith, is her husband, and the two of them have two kids together.
She inspires other victims of assault with her grit and resiliency, serving as an advocate and role model for them. She overcame a horrifying ordeal and bravely and resolutely rebuilt her life.
