The 2006 attempted murder of Ashley Reeves, a junior at Columbia High School, by her former teacher is the subject of the Lifetime documentary “Left for Dead: The Ashley Reeves Story.” The 17-year-old met up with Samson Shelton, who was 26 at the time, on the afternoon of April 27, and the two got into a fight that nearly cost her her life. She did, after all, spend about thirty arduous hours in the woods, unable to move or call for assistance because of her wounds. We now have all the information you need if you’re interested in learning more about Samson and his current whereabouts.
The documentary “Left for Dead: The Ashley Reeves Story” on Lifetime tells the extraordinary true story of a typical teen whose life was completely turned upside down in the spring of 2006. Around that time, Ashley was involved in a covert relationship with an older man, which nearly cost her her life when she was only 17 years old. Her strength, courage, and resiliency became the focus of her story as the mystery surrounding what happened to her quickly vanished with the aid of friends and detectives.
Who Is Ashley Reeves?
Ashley Reeves, 17, a native of the Illinois community of Millstadt, was a junior at Columbia High School in 2006 and had a committed relationship with Jeremy Smith. They were very close and had been together for two years. He also loved how funny and intelligent his girlfriend was. Although Ashley also did well in school, she still couldn’t wait to pass her exams the following year. She always had her parents, sister, and friends, but none of them knew that the teen would soon have to deal with the unthinkable. Fortunately, she made it through and prospered.
On April 27, Ashley informed her parents that she would play basketball after her 3:30 p.m. job interview and return home by her 10 p.m. curfew before leaving for a job interview in a nearby city. The evening passed, though, and Ashley was still nowhere to be found. She didn’t answer any calls or texts, either, which was unusual for her, so her parents immediately filed a missing person report. The vehicle she was operating was eventually discovered to be abandoned in Belleville’s Laderman Park. Ashley was still carrying her basketball outfit change in her backpack.
Ashley’s mother desperately needed information, so she got in touch with the phone company and was able to get Ashley’s records, which she used to see if anyone else had heard from her daughter. This led her to Samson Shelton, a 26-year-old who claimed not to have spoken to or seen Ashley. He hung up, however, before anyone could inquire as to how he even knew her. Samson, a driver’s education and gym coach who had instructed Ashley in middle school, was then revealed to be her older boyfriend. He also resided in Belleville, which was close to where the teen’s car was found, making him the main suspect.
Who Is Sam Shelton?
In 2006, Samson Shelton taught drivers education and physical education at Freeburg High while also training to be a professional wrestler under the name “The Teacher.” While some thought Samson was charming and attractive, others thought he was a little too self-absorbed. But it wasn’t until April 28 when the investigators started questioning him that his true circumstances became clear. He had been caught on camera the previous night at a dance club, but since Ashley’s friends claimed they were dating and some police officers discovered her car close to where he lived, he had to be thoroughly investigated.
Samson was initially helpful, explaining that despite everything that was said, he and Ashley were strictly platonic and that they played basketball together. He also said that he was snubbing her because she was becoming obsessed with him. But as time went on, Samson frequently altered his story. Before admitting to strangling the minor with his hands and belt, he went in a number of different directions, from insisting that he had only hugged her to admitting sexual intimacy with Ashley in the back of a car to alleging that a breakup conversation was initiated by him. He was questioned for more than 12 hours, but he also gave away where she was, which led to him being accused of a crime and taken into custody.
Samson Shelton’s Whereabouts Today?
Samson Shelton confessed, but he was quickly released on bail and put under house arrest despite this. The police then responded to an attempted suicide call made from his home just before he was to stand trial; he had consumed a potentially fatal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol. Do not resuscitate was handwritten on his chest, but when EMTs tried to revive him, he reportedly attacked them, spitting and punching them. Then, he allegedly hurled racial slurs and caused a disturbance in the hospital. A district judge thus questioned Samson’s mental state.
Samson was formally determined to be mentally competent to stand trial after a month of medical evaluations and claims from the prosecution that he was merely attempting to elicit sympathy from the public and potential jurors. But ultimately, in 2007, he agreed to a plea deal that had been approved by Ashley’s family and the district attorney’s office. According to the same, he was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder and given a 20-year prison term.
Sam Shelton Release Date
When given the chance, Samson declined to address the court or even express regret to his victim. He is still imprisoned at the medium-security Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg today at the age of 41. Although his initial anticipated release date was April 22, 2027, he won’t be eligible for parole until spring 2024. We should also point out that Samson had attempted battery charges against him for assaulting the emergency personnel during what appeared to be a suicide attempt, but they were dropped in February 2010.
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