BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man connected to the disappearance of a Washington, D.C. mother was arrested Saturday morning in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, law enforcement officials said, as family and friends continued to seek answers about the woman's whereabouts.
Arrest follows license plate reader trail
Beaver County authorities said Russell Ashford — identified by the district attorney as the father of a 10-year-old boy whose mother has been missing — was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Brighton Township at about 10:20 a.m. He was not charged in the disappearance but was held in the Beaver County Jail on a parole violation, the district attorney's office said.
Officials credited license plate reader technology for helping to locate Ashford's vehicle and follow his movements from Washington, D.C., north to Pennsylvania.
“They were able to track him with the use of LPRs, license plate readers, so they can see him going down the highway, several different stops that were made, and then ultimately can kind of follow his path for the most part from Washington, D.C. up to Brighton Township,”
The Beaver County District Attorney, Nate Bible, said the parole violation stems from Ashford leaving the state. Bible told local television that Maryland police indicated Ashford is retired from the Central Intelligence Agency.
Missing mother last seen in D.C.
Antoinette Forbes, the missing woman, was last seen near her Washington, D.C., home on Friday, Sept. 4. Family members said they spoke with her on FaceTime the next morning and at first thought nothing was unusual. When she did not join the family's usual Sunday phone call, relatives became alarmed.
Friends reported finding Forbes's phone, wallet, keys, car and dog left behind at her residence, according to family accounts. Her sister, Aileen Forbes, described her as “a beloved daughter, a mother, colleague, friend” and appealed for her safe return.
“She’s my beloved sister, a beloved daughter, a mother, colleague, friend; we want her to come home,”
Child was with suspect at time of arrest
Beaver County officials said the 10-year-old boy was in the vehicle with Ashford when police stopped it. A family member picked up the child from the scene; the district attorney said the boy is safe and unharmed.
According to prosecutors, court records from a prior custody dispute show Ashford has lived at an apartment complex called Bridgewater Crossing. Bible said Ashford had been convicted of assaulting Forbes in 2021 and was on parole following that conviction.
Investigation continues across jurisdictions
At this stage, prosecutors in Pennsylvania emphasized that Ashford had not been charged in the disappearance. Detectives in Beaver County said they would assist D.C. and Maryland authorities if asked. Local leaders and family held a vigil over the weekend, urging anyone with information to come forward.
The family's outreach and community vigils reflect growing concern in Washington, D.C., where residents say they want authorities to prioritize finding Forbes and making sure she is safe.
- Missing person: Antoinette Forbes, last seen Sept. 4 near her D.C. home.
- Arrest: Russell Ashford arrested Sept. 14 in Brighton Township, Beaver County, Pa.
- Custody/child: The 10-year-old son was in the vehicle; family member collected him and authorities say he is unharmed.
- Current status: Ashford held on a parole violation; not charged in disappearance.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 4 | Antoinette Forbes last seen near her D.C. home |
| Sept. 5 | Family speaks with Forbes on FaceTime |
| Sept. 14 | Russell Ashford arrested in Brighton Township, Pa. |
Officials have asked anyone with pertinent information to contact the relevant law enforcement agencies. For residents in Washington, D.C., tips can typically be reported to the Metropolitan Police Department; Pennsylvania authorities would accept leads through the Beaver County Sheriff's Office or the Beaver County District Attorney's office.
As the investigation moves forward across state lines, Forbes's relatives and friends continue to press for answers. “Our thoughts in prayers go out to her family and hopefully she is found and she’s found to be unharmed,” the district attorney said, echoing the community's hope.
WE NEWS will continue to follow the case and provide updates when authorities release new information.
