Ashley Simpson: Calling All Angels

Ashley Simpson was looking forward to spending one of her final afternoons in Salmon Arm, B.C. at Margaret Falls, a picturesque and rocky tourist attraction not far from the town where she and her boyfriend called home. 

Ashley had messaged her friends and family that she was done with the place, and would soon be heading home to St. Catharines, Ontario, her hometown. She was dead broke, so broke she didn't have phone service, so she was waiting for an unemployment cheque to arrive that would get her back home to celebrate the baby shower of her sister, Tara. Ashley was tired of fighting with her boyfriend Derek Favell, and she was so troubled by his demeanour that she posted a chilling meme.

Ashley, Derek and their friend Mike loaded up on cigarettes and libations and headed for Margaret Falls later that afternoon. Little did she realize that her final afternoon in Salmon Arm would also be her final day on Earth. 

                                                                            Ashley and Mike at Margaret Falls 

Meanwhile, Cindy and John Simpson, and their big extended family, were busy as usual. Ashley's parents work the ships that lumber through the Welland Canal, and are often off on the Great Lakes cooking massive meals for hungry sailors. But they never missed a FaceTime from Ashley, or any of her silly posts and selfies that earned her the nickname "selfie queen". 

                                                                                    Ashley and Cindy 

So when Ashley didn't FaceTime on that day, or the next, they started to panic. 

"This is Amanda," her sister wrote on her Facebook page. "If anyone knows Ashley's whereabouts please contact either myself or my mother...ASAP!!!!!"

Their pleas were met with well meaning posts of concern from friends, but no information. 

A few days later, her sister Amanda decided to leave St. Catharines for Salmon Arm, with her dad and some friends. They came into town with fire in their hearts, and tears in their eyes. After some initials dustups with Derek and others, they joined local volunteers to scour every inch of the places where Ashley spent her final hours. But they came up with nothing.

The boys she had been with said she probably took off and hitched a ride. Locals didn't recall seeing her. 

The RCMP went over every inch of the trailer where she had lived with Derek, and the adjoining areas. 

Nothing. 

A particularly wet spring made it difficult for search parties. The terrain is treacherous in the best weather and her heartbroken father watched in agony as the rain washed away any potential evidence at the scene. Still, he kept going back every spring, scouring the fields, the bush and streams looking for any loose clothing or shoe that might have fallen out of her pink suitcase that her boyfriend said she had taken off with. 

John risked everything to look for his daughter, spent every dime he had, and for a time lost his livelihood. He organized fundraisers, and golf tournaments, made hats and signs, and sweatshirts. Anything to keep himself busy while he sat at home, hoping for news.

Often, he would have to stop driving, and pull over to the side of the road, his body shaking, and tears flowing down his face. 

His wife Cindy reached out to the media and cheerfully took every interview request, hoping that somebody would come forward with information. 

A relative posted a $10,000 reward.

Still nothing. 

Ashley was never seen again after that spring day.  

That was five years ago. 

Despite all efforts, from the family and volunteers, Ashley has never been found.

It's as if she vanished into thin air along with several other women from the Salmon Arm/Enderby area who disappeared in the same year. The grief her family and friends feel is unspeakable, and she is never far from their thoughts, or their hearts. Her parents cry everyday for her.

So I am asking anyone and everyone to take a moment at 8 p.m. on April 27th to think of Ashley Simpson, to pray for her if they believe, to light a candle, or sing a song, and join us on her Facebook page to post their remembrance. 

I'm calling all angels to remember her and cherish her memory.

Maybe somebody, God, a cop, a volunteer or even her killer will be listening and make this situation right for the family.