The family of missing Washington, D.C., mother Antoinette Forbes has been granted emergency custody of her 10-year-old son, as new details emerge about a brutal 2021 assault by the child’s father and Forbes’ concerns about him just weeks before she disappeared.
A Montgomery County judge granted Forbes’ family custody of the boy Friday. His father, Russell Ashford, remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he is facing firearms charges unrelated to Forbes’ disappearance.
Forbes, 53, was last seen around 3 p.m. Sept. 4 in the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW, near American University. Her loved ones last heard from her the following morning, when she spoke with her sister over FaceTime.
As Criminal Enterprise previously reported, loved ones became concerned after Forbes failed to make contact as expected. A friend who went to check on her found her front door unlocked. Forbes’ phone, wallet, keys, car and dog were left behind.
The investigation into Forbes’ disappearance has since intensified. A source close to the case told 7News that the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Major Crimes Unit is now leading the investigation and that detectives are treating Forbes’ disappearance as suspicious, with investigators having “strong reason to believe she is dead.”
7News reported that its crews have seen forensic investigators at Forbes’ Northwest D.C. home multiple times, at times carrying items from the residence that appeared to be evidence.
Ashford, Forbes’ former partner and the father of her son, was arrested in Pennsylvania on an alleged probation violation stemming from his 2021 assault of Forbes in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Court records provide a disturbing account of that attack.
According to prosecutors, Ashford threw Forbes against a staircase and took her phone when she attempted to call police. He then threw her onto the kitchen floor and repeatedly punched her in the face and head.
Prosecutors said Ashford struck Forbes’ head against the floor at least a dozen times before she lost consciousness. A neighbor told investigators Forbes was lying motionless while Ashford continued punching her.
Ashford later pleaded guilty to assaulting Forbes. According to WJLA, prosecutors requested four years behind bars. He was sentenced to 15 years, with all but nine months suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation.
On July 9, less than two months before her disappearance, Forbes appeared in Montgomery County Circuit Court for a hearing on Ashford’s request for probation before judgment.
His physical presence creates an intimidating situation where sometimes I am scared.
— Antoinette Forbes, testifying in Montgomery County Circuit Court
During the hearing, Forbes described permanent injuries from the assault, including a titanium plate in her cheek, screws in her jaw, an improperly healed finger and an eye injury she described as debilitating.
Forbes also told the court the 2021 attack was not the only incident of domestic violence or assault involving Ashford. She described occasions when she allowed Ashford into her home to spend time with their son and said he became hostile and would not leave despite being repeatedly asked to do so.
Forbes told the court that Ashford’s physical presence could create an intimidating situation in which she sometimes felt scared.
Both Forbes and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office opposed Ashford’s request for probation before judgment. Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said his office was “vehemently opposed” to changing the original disposition.
Despite those objections, Judge David Lees granted Ashford probation before judgment. Prosecutors said the decision effectively removed the conviction from his record, although Ashford remained subject to probation.
Court records indicate another incident involving the couple’s son had already occurred.
Ashford allegedly showed up unannounced at the boy’s summer camp on July 9 and attempted to see him. When told he was not an approved adult authorized to see the child, Ashford allegedly became agitated and forceful with a camp counselor. One condition of his probation required that he have no hostile contact with his son.
Court records obtained by NBC Washington, also state Ashford had the boy with him beginning Sept. 4, the same day Forbes was last, in violation of the existing custody order.
Ashford was arrested in Pennsylvania while the child was with him. The boy was unharmed and was subsequently placed in the care of a relative.
Since Forbes disappeared, both Ashford and members of Forbes’ family sought emergency custody of the boy. Friday’s ruling granted custody to Forbes’ family.
Ashford also faces separate firearms charges in Pennsylvania.
Court documents obtained by NBC Washington state investigators discovered multiple guns while executing search warrants following Ashford’s arrest. A woman who described having an on-and-off relationship with Ashford told investigators he had asked her to store guns at her home.
Ashford remains in custody in Pennsylvania. Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible said a violation was lodged against Ashford for leaving the state and that he is expected to be extradited to Maryland.
Despite the circumstances surrounding his arrest and his history with Forbes, authorities have not named Ashford, or anyone else, a suspect in Forbes’ disappearance, and he has not been charged with any crime in connection with her disappearance.
Forbes’ family continues to search for her and has asked residents in Tenleytown, Spring Valley, Wesley Heights and Friendship Heights, as well as those near American University, to review doorbell and security camera footage from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7.
Anyone with information concerning Antoinette Forbes’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
[Featured images: Antoinette Forbes/DC News Now, Russell Ashford/NBC4 Washington]
