Three years after Ashley Wadsworth’s murder, her family continues to cope with their loss and raise awareness about domestic violence.
Chelmsford: Three years ago, Ashley Wadsworth, a young Canadian woman, was murdered. She came to Essex to meet her boyfriend, Jack Sepple. Sadly, he killed her when she wanted to go home early.
Ashley, just 19, traveled from Vernon, British Columbia, on a tourist visa. Sepple, then 23, became angry and stabbed her. He later showed her body to his sister on FaceTime. In October 2022, he received a life sentence.
Ashley’s parents, Christy and Kenneth, attended Sepple’s sentencing. They bravely shared their pain in court. They also visited the place where Ashley died and a nearby church to honor her memory.
Three years later, Ashley’s family is trying to cope with their loss. They remember her by being active and playing her favorite music. On February 1, they visited her grave and celebrated her life with family and friends.
Christy shared that the past year has been especially hard. She feels a deeper sadness now that the shock has worn off. However, they welcomed a new baby, Addison Ashley, named after her aunt, which has brought some joy.
Christy said they are learning to live with the pain. They focus on how Ashley lived, not how she died. They also participated in a Domestic Homicide Review about Ashley’s death, which has been difficult but informative.
They received police footage related to the case, which was tough to watch. Christy said it helped them find closure about how Ashley died. Now, they are focused on living as Ashley would have wanted.
Christy and her family are trying to be more outgoing, just like Ashley was. They play her favorite songs and watch her videos. They also go hiking, which Ashley loved to do.
Since Ashley’s death, Christy has connected with anti-knife crime campaigner Julie Taylor. Julie lost her grandson to a stabbing and now raises awareness about knife crime. Christy appreciates Julie’s support and efforts.
Looking ahead, Christy hopes to raise awareness about domestic violence. She believes sharing Ashley’s story can help others. She wishes they had known about Clare’s Law, which could have prevented Ashley from visiting Sepple.
Christy encourages everyone to research laws about domestic violence. She hopes that by spreading awareness, they can save others from similar tragedies. She believes that would make Ashley proud.
