Ashley Simpson: Three Years Gone

photo courtesy of Marnie Portugaise


For John and Cindy Simpson, time stands still.
Certainly, there have been good times. The birth of grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
A puppy named Gypsy who has finally grown into her ears.
Love continues to swirl around them, like a warm Caribbean breeze.
But it doesn't matter.
None of it matters as much as it would in a normal family.
The only thing that matters is finding out what happened to their cherished daughter Ashley Marie who disappeared in April 2016.
Ashley is presumed murdered.
Her body has never been found, and no one has been charged.
While many people in Salmon Arm believe they know who took her life, the RCMP continue to say, at least publicly, that there are no leads in the case.
Last year, her driver's licence was found in a sanitation truck a 1,000 miles away from where she disappeared. Aside from that, nothing.


As winter turns to spring, John remains hopeful that a drone team will find the remains of Ashley somewhere. Maybe at Margaret Falls where her last selfie was taken, maybe up the mountain near a stolen truck. Maybe along Yankee Flats Road where she had lived with her boyfriend.
As the spring thaw begins, drone and on-foot teams will begin the sad task of continuing to pursue Ashley's final rescue.
In the meantime, the family continues to plead with the public for clues in the case.
And they pray that the perpetrator(s) of this horrible crime will have a conscience and come forward, so the healing can begin.


Hope springs every spring.
Because hope is the only thing they have left.


In the meantime, there are things to do.
John will once again travel to Salmon Arm for another arduous search amid mosquitoes, flies and treacherous terrain. The family will fundraise to pay for the drone searches. They will talk to the media, on the anniversary of her disappearance. They will continue to press the RCMP for answers.
The family motto is: Never Give Up.
And they never will.
Until they know the truth.
And God finally answers their prayers.


Where are you, Ashley Marie?


If you would like to help, please consider a donation to Wings of Mercy, a volunteer group of drone pilots who help families in their search for loved ones.
You can find them on Facebook
Buy a t-shirt. Pay for a tank of gas and lodging.
Or just share their page.


If you know something, say something.
Help this family bring Ashley Marie home.
Thank you.