← Sword and Scale
Sword and Scale
Episode 299
01:12:06
Ashley Bocanegra told everyone the attack was random, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t. Hours later, she was dead, and her attackers were on the hook for murder. What no one realized was that Ashley had been hiding a secret, and it was one she was...
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- [00:01]
Julian Reyes
McCrispy strips are now at McDonald's.
- [00:03]
Narrator
I hope you're ready for the most dippable chicken in McDonald's history.
- [00:07]
Julian Reyes
Dip it in all the sauces. Dip it in that hot sauce in your bag. Dip it in your McFlurry.
- [00:11]
Narrator
Your dip is your business.
- [00:13]
Julian Reyes
McCrispy strips at McDonald's. Use of flavored tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't. Addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Oregon legislators can do something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me. @ flavorshookoregonkids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.
- [00:46]
Narrator
Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences.
- [00:52]
Julian Reyes
Listener discretion is advised. I will murder you. I will murder you. I will murder you. I will murder you. I will fucking murder you.
- [01:09]
Narrator
Why do we play this dumb music at the beginning of a show about murder? I don't know, Karen. Why do you listen to murder? For entertainment. It's a contradiction, isn't it? This is episode 299 of Sword and Scale. You know the drill.
- [02:06]
Julian Reyes
McCrispy strips are now at McDonald's.
- [02:08]
Narrator
I hope you're ready for the most dippable chicken in McDonald's history.
- [02:12]
Julian Reyes
Dip it in all the sauces. Dip it in that hot sauce in your bag. Dip it in your McFlurry.
- [02:16]
Narrator
Your dip is your business.
- [02:18]
Julian Reyes
McCrispy strips at McDonald's.
- [02:31]
Narrator
It was a busy August evening at a hospital in Georgia. Julian Reyes was sitting in a waiting room in his gray sweatsuit. His fiance, 30 year old Ashley Boccanegra, had suddenly died. Detectives had just arrived at the hospital and sat down across from Julian.
- [02:52]
Julian Reyes
How you doing, sir? Detective Araya. This is Detective Blackburn. First, just want to say I'm really sorry for your loss. Appreciate it. We're going to do everything we can to find the people responsible. Please. No, man. I know this is really difficult right now. Doesn't even seem real. It's like oh my God. Every day it's just a normal day. It doesn't even seem real.
- [03:24]
Narrator
Of course it didn't seem real. When Julian left the house that morning, his fiance was in good spirits. Ashley was an active, thriving, working mom of their seven year old son. Now she's dead. A few hours Earlier, Ashley had called Julian for help, telling him that she had been jumped.
- [03:45]
Julian Reyes
You know, she called me and she was just like really out of breath. So she tried to get it out. She didn't tell me. Henry, Henry, Henry. I'm like, calm down. What happened? What happened? I just got jumped. I just got jumped. I got Henry. All right, I'm on my way out of my job. Note I left, I came home, she's on the bed, just like gasping for air. When she called you on the phone, did she tell you who did this to her? She told me two females. She recognized them? No. Did she describe them? One was a dark skinned, heavyset woman, and then one was a light skinned, thin woman. That's all she said. I asked her, who are they? Do you know them? Have you seen them before? No, I've never seen them before. I have no clue who they are.
- [04:42]
Narrator
During her labored breaths, Ashley described the woman who jumped her. She was shaken up, exhausted, and kind of embarrassed. She had been beaten up very badly. Barely able to defend herself against two other women. Still, she swore she didn't know who they were. Not a clue.
- [05:02]
Julian Reyes
When you got home, did it appear that maybe she had cleaned her wounds up or anything like that? Take a shower with a washcloth. I wipe off. No, they were fresh. Fresh, like, I mean, did you see any paper towels or like rags in the apartment where she was? No. When I got home, I opened the door, I said, where are you? I'm in here. She's in the bedroom. I turned the light. She took all her clothes off. She was completely naked on the bedroom.
- [05:31]
Narrator
Ashley looked awful. Her skin was raw and red in places where she'd been hit. Her hair was tangled and matted, and one side of her face was scraped, leaving angry marks that told the story of what she'd been through. Ashley tried to sit up and talk to Julian, but vomit spewed out of her mouth instead.
- [05:53]
Julian Reyes
When she threw up, did you look at it? What did it look like? It was red. When we were in the car, I gave her a black bag to throw up and I didn't see it. She said, I think I'm throwing blood. I get her dressed, we leave, we go straight to Forsyth. They do what they do. They scan her oxygen, IV nausea medicine, whatever they could do to make her feel better. And then the doctor told me that she was like. They did a scan that had blood by her kidney, and that's when they decided to fly her out here.
- [06:37]
Narrator
When Ashley arrived at the hospital, she had severe internal bleeding. She Couldn't breathe and was put on a ventilator. When the doctors discovered all the blood was pooling around her kidneys, they decided to airlift her to another hospital for surgery. She died en route.
- [06:55]
Julian Reyes
She was banged up. She was banged up. But what got her was because she told me she had gotten bit on her cheek. She was like, she bit me on my cheeks. She bit me on my. On. They kicked me in my ribs. While the big heavyset one was on top of her, the other one was kicking her in her rib cage. Okay? And obviously that's what caused it, you know? And she said they were using any weapons. She didn't say anything about weapons. They were fighting. She said it happened so fast that she didn't have a chance to do anything. It was just. They just gained upon her.
- [07:37]
Narrator
Before she died, Ashley had been able to describe the woman who attacked her as well as some of the beating. It was all melting into fragments as she lay dying on the hospital stretcher. Now Julian was left to try to make sense of it all.
- [07:53]
Julian Reyes
And I just don't know why. I just don't know why, you know, because we only been back in Georgia. We recently just moved back less than a year ago. When was it? We moved back in December of 2021. Okay. After my mom passed. My mom passed in November, right before Thanksgiving. We moved back in December to be close to family. Eight months later, nine months later, this happened. And it's like, there's no reason. Like, I don't even get it, you know, why would anybody want to do that? You know? It was, like, random. She was going out to get me a birthday cake today. My fucking birthday. She went out to give me a birthday cake.
- [08:39]
Narrator
Yes, it was Julian's birthday. And instead of enjoying a delicious cake with frosting and candles and maybe a birthday card and some balloons, maybe a couple pictures with the fiance and the son. Nah, nah, nah, nah. Now he's sitting in the hospital waiting room talking with a detective about Ashley's murder. Now, that's a twist. Ashley and Julian were both from New York City, the projects, to be exact. They'd met in middle school.
- [09:12]
Julian Reyes
We've been together 10 years. We've known each other since fucking 8th grade.
- [09:17]
Narrator
Though they met in school, Julian and Ashley didn't start dating until years later when they reconnected.
- [09:23]
Julian Reyes
Until 2012 is when we finally kind of reconnected on Facebook. You know, I finally. I was old enough, I had the courage, you know, come out with me. It's my birthday. You know, and she came out with me for my birthday. Eight days later, we're together.
- [09:45]
Narrator
So not only was it Julian's birthday, but Today also marked 10 years since their first date. The timing couldn't be any more cruel. A milestone meant for celebration was now twisted into a gut, wrenching loss. Julian and Ashley had grown up together, but they'd always dreamed of leaving New York City. Julian's family started trickling down to Georgia and they followed. That same year, their son was conceived. But the couple had gone back and forth between New York and Georgia for about a decade, never really able to cut ties with the Big Apple. As crime rates rose and the constant chaos of New York seemed unavoidable, they said goodbye to the north and called Georgia their home.
- [10:33]
Julian Reyes
We were both New Yorkers, but we always wanted to eventually go back. So we decided to go back. Last year. We moved in January of 2021. Being back and going back to where, you know, to visit her mom, it was just like we forgot what we left. Like, we don't need this shit. Like there's just so much. And we see in the news about all these random shootings and beatings and stabbings and.
- [11:01]
Narrator
They moved to escape the violence of New York. But mostly they wanted a better life for their son.
- [11:08]
Julian Reyes
That's what our world revolves around, you know? So when my mom passed away, we decided, you know what? We leaving this shit. We're going back to Georgia where we don't have to deal with this nonsense. And then we come back to Georgia and deal with the same shit that we tried to leave.
- [11:27]
Narrator
The irony was chilling. This young couple, raised in the unforgiving sprawl of New York City's projects, had chased a dream of a better life in the suburbs of Georgia. But it was as if the darkness they left behind had tracked them down. Kind of like, what's that movie? Final. Final Destination. The Final Destination franchise is what I'm thinking of. It's as if when death comes, you have to hurry up and set the placemats out. Cause they ain't leaving.
- [11:58]
Julian Reyes
So, like, you're fucking. You're never. You're not safe anywhere, you know? But I try to do the best I can to give my family the best that I can, you know, give them, you know, the best chance possible. And it's like it didn't fucking work, you know? Like I said, we're gonna do everything we can to find these people, make sure they pay for what they did to you, to you and your family.
- [12:25]
Narrator
Though Julian supported the family on his income, Ashley had taken A job at floor and decor to bring a little extra money in and give her some independence outside of her role in the home. She'd been promoted to night manager and was working the overnight shifts, which had put a strain on the couple.
- [12:44]
Julian Reyes
I start work at 6, she gets out at 5, 30, she's right next door. So as soon as she gets home, I, I, I gotta work, you know, and that's just how it's always been, you know?
- [12:59]
Narrator
The couple started bickering. Julian supported her desire to work, but kept reminding her that they didn't need the money. Plus, she didn't like working overnight shifts. It just seemed unsafe. Ashley was adamant about keeping her job, and making time for one another became really hard. There's only so many hours in the day, you know, they'd been fighting for the last week.
- [13:25]
Julian Reyes
It was so petty. And I was like, the last few days we were fighting about something that didn't matter. And now you're not even here. And it's like, I could have spent those last few days rekindling and saying, I'm sorry, you know, I'm sorry for starting some bullshit, you know, know. And now I will never get that chance again.
- [13:51]
Narrator
Julian sat there baffled as to how this happened to his wife.
- [13:55]
Julian Reyes
She, even then she told the nurses, it just came out of the blue. Like, I can't even tell you why, you know, I have no clue, you know, I, I'm, I go to work every day. All I do is work and come home, you know, and that's all I. So if I had any slight idea of what could have caused this, I would definitely say something. But it's like, I, I don't even know. I don't even know. Like I said, we only been back in Georgia nine months and we don't do anything. We literally work and go home every day.
- [14:35]
Narrator
This attack did not feel random. Ashley was not robbed. In fact, she didn't even have her purse on her. Two women had brutally beaten her. Working together to hold her down, kick her, punch her, bite her and scratch her. They left her gasping for air and bleeding from the head. It was savage, like an animal. But Ashley swore she didn't know them, and Julian believed her. Julian believed a lot of things. To detectives, it felt like there was more to the story. Maybe, just maybe, Ashley had taken a dangerous secret to her grave.
- [15:28]
Julian Reyes
McCrispy strips are now at McDonald's.
- [15:30]
Narrator
I hope you're ready for the most dippable chicken in McDonald's history.
- [15:34]
Julian Reyes
Dip it in all the sauces. Dip it in that hot sauce in your bag, dip it in your mcflurry.
- [15:38]
Narrator
Your dip is your business.
- [15:40]
Julian Reyes
McCrispy strips at McDonald's.
- [15:43]
Narrator
Nearly 90% of kids who vape say flavors are why they do it.
- [15:46]
Julian Reyes
A lot of the flavors that I've heard are like peach, mango, watermelon. It makes it seem like more childlike and innocent. Oh, I try this once, it won't be that much of a problem. But then eventually it becomes a problem. It's time to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Oregon and protect our kids from nick nicotine addiction. Urge lawmakers to Pass Senate Bill 702A. Take action at flavorshookoregon kids.org paid for by the campaign for tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.
- [16:27]
Narrator
In the quiet city of Beaufort, Georgia, Ashley Boccanegra's life ended violently. She told everyone she was ambushed by two strangers. It happened in the middle of the afternoon as Ashley walked to pick up a birthday cake for her fiance, Julian. Out of nowhere, two girls sprang out of the bushes outside her apartment complex and pounced. In broad daylight, they beat her mercilessly, leaving her gasping for air. Barely holding herself together, Ashley stumbled back to her apartment and called Julian for help. At the hospital, things only got worse. Her breathing faltered, her lungs started to collapse and her body started to shut down slowly, piece by piece, it gave out. By the end of the day, Ashley was gone. She was only 30 years old. It was her fiance's birthday and the 10 year anniversary of their first date. Now Julian was left heartbroken and puzzled as to why this happened. The more he talked with detectives, the more he questioned what Ashley had told him before she died.
- [17:39]
Julian Reyes
You know, I have the camera right at home, so all I see is like the typical neighbors we have walking the dog when we leave, there's nobody in the front. There's really nobody ever walking around. There's nobody ever really walking around. Everybody's just getting in their car and leaving.
- [18:00]
Narrator
Julian and Ashley had a ring camera on their front door, so their daily movements were tracked. The apartment complex they lived in was one of those cookie cutter apartment communities with a gym, a pool, a little park, and plenty of green space between the buildings. People keep to themselves, shuffling to and from the parking lot to their own suites after work. Ashley had described her attackers as a young Hispanic female and a heavy set black woman. That was all she knew.
- [18:33]
Julian Reyes
With that description, I can't even put a face to it. Like I don't even have a clue. I don't know if they lived there. I don't know if they just happened to stumble in there. I don't know if there was an actual reason for picking her. I don't know. The way she's explaining and what all the injuries you observed, it seems personal. So maybe it was something very little to her. Little to you that you're overseeing and like, go back to. And it's like, oh, like, for example, with. With my girl, if some girl, like, smiles at me, right? And she's like, oh, what was that about? Right. She. If she, you know. Yeah. And she gets extremely jealous about it. Whatever. Do you think of any situation where, like, maybe some guy was being friendly, she just was being friendly back just to be friendly? I didn't know. Maybe that guy had, like, a girlfriend. And then this girl is now retaliating.
- [19:26]
Narrator
Julian shook his head no. Then, after a long pause, he admitted something. Remember how he said they'd been fighting earlier that week? What he hadn't mentioned was why. It all started with a suspicion that he could not shake. The suspicion that Ashley may have been cheating.
- [19:46]
Julian Reyes
I don't know. It's like, I get these little moments where any little thing you do would make me believe that you cheated. Did you just have, like, a feeling that she was doing that or. Yeah, no, I had no, no type of proof. It was just. Do you guys have each other's passcodes to each other's phones? She doesn't have mine. Okay, but you have hers. I. I know hers. You never found anything on her. I never. I don't look. Okay. You know, I, I. Boundaries. You know what I mean? I don't care if you give me your code. I don't look any like, weird behavior like me with a ring camera. You've noticed her going in and out the house. Okay, normal.
- [20:31]
Narrator
Julian said that jealousy had been an issue for both of them over the years.
- [20:36]
Julian Reyes
Was it just you guys just talking, or was there actually. No, we. We never really argued. No, I mean, like the. With, like, the. The cheating, Was it just saying it just because of just jealousy, or did actually something actually happen? Well, previously in our earlier years. We've been together 10 years. Okay. In our earlier years, I. I did up and cheat in New York. In New York. Okay. Nothing here. Nothing here. Okay. This was in New York. Ever since that day, you know, she always had her doubt about me. Gotcha.
- [21:08]
Narrator
Maybe Julian had his suspicions due to his own guilt about his own past. Cheaters often accuse their spouses of cheating, but the bottom line was that he had no proof. Ashley never went anywhere without him. It Seemed logistically impossible for her to manage an affair. All she did was take care of their son and go to work. The ring camera proved it.
- [21:34]
Julian Reyes
I'm not trying to get in your personal business or anything, but, I mean, you weren't talking to any female on the side. Like, does this mean these females that. Oh, no, no, no, no. You don't say.
- [21:43]
Narrator
Maybe have gotten jealous.
- [21:45]
Julian Reyes
I know nobody here in Georgia, you know. You know what I'm saying? I just didn't. Surprisingly. I've been out in Georgia, you know, almost eight years total. I don't know anybody. So this description that she gave you, they're not. Nothing familiar.
- [22:02]
Narrator
The police were getting nowhere. There was no shady business on Julian's end that could have provoked this deadly midday attack. Keep in mind, Ashley died late in the evening, but she'd been attacked around 1pm in the afternoon. Around that time, a 911 call came in from Ashley's apartment complex.
- [22:23]
Julian Reyes
Hi. I worked here at an apartment complex, and there was two girls fighting, and she's really bloody. I can see the blood from where I'm at. They're fighting in the apartment complex, in the parking lot. I mean, on the street. Okay. What did the address of 2 Cross Street.
- [22:40]
Narrator
The woman who called 911 worked at the leasing office in the apartment complex and had seen the fight on her way to work.
- [22:48]
Julian Reyes
And he said, one of them is bleeding. Yeah, I can see her forehead from down here. Bleeding. The girl had her on the ground. It's a black girl, and I can't tell if it's two white girls or two Spanish girls. Three of them. Three girls. Three girls. All together. Three girls. Okay. Have you seen any weapons? I have been. They're arguing right now. They stopped fighting, but they're arguing now.
- [23:11]
Narrator
The leasing manager watched from her car down the road as Ashley's attackers screamed at her. While she was on the ground, Ashley hugged her knees to her chest, flipped back her curly mess of hair, and suddenly sprung up to her feet.
- [23:27]
Julian Reyes
I think they might be together because the girl who got beat up is following them.
- [23:32]
Narrator
Ashley was following her attackers. The leasing manager watched intently, trying to piece together exactly what was happening. As she trailed the two women, her unease set in as to where this strange pursuit might end.
- [23:47]
Julian Reyes
Thought they were tight from where they were. They started walking towards me, so I'm. I'm driving away. Okay, that's fine. But I'm trying to see what building they go to. They're going to building 300, the high end of 300.
- [23:59]
Narrator
According to the leasing manager. One witness to the fight. Ashley had followed the girls who attacked her into the 300 building. But that is not where Ashley and Julian lived. In fact, at the hospital, the nurse who tended to Ashley had also reported the assault to the police. When the cops called to talk to Ashley before she died, the cops were able to get her side of the story.
- [24:28]
Julian Reyes
So what happened? Well, I. Because right now it was my fiance's birthday, so I went to go run some errands to go, you know, grab.
- [24:37]
Narrator
Him the cake and stuff like that.
- [24:39]
Julian Reyes
So I was outside waiting for my Uber. I see these two females walking around. They look kind of itchy, like they was, like, you know, getting into something, But I didn't think anything of it. And then they started me. All I hear is that. That she matches the description. And then out of nowhere, literally, they just came in and tagged me up. I don't know, like, reason or anything like that. So unless they were looking for somebody or what. But.
- [25:09]
Narrator
Sorry, keep calling. Ashley said the women called out. She matches the description before they attacked her. She said she was blindsided, yet she was adamant she did not want to pursue charges.
- [25:24]
Julian Reyes
And. But once again, you don't want the police involved. You want. You don't want anything documented. You just wanted to go about your way.
- [25:34]
Narrator
Ashley's refusal to press charges just didn't add up. This was an unprovoked attack, according to her. Her hesitation made no sense. Something about the situation just felt off. The police didn't have to look very far to find Ashley's attackers. The witness who called 911 led them straight to a building in the same complex where Ashley lived. Apparently, her attackers were her neighbors. Two officers knocked on the door, and a young man answered.
- [26:06]
Julian Reyes
So what's going on? We just want to make sure everybody's good. So that's why we're here. That's fine, but we'd rather y' all come out here. Can they come out, the females that are in there? The females out there, yeah.
- [26:23]
Narrator
At this point, all that officers knew was that a fight between three women had been reported. They had no clue that Ashley had been sent to the hospital. They just needed to get details about this assault. The young man at the door stepped aside, and a heavyset black woman walked to the open breezeway. She was breathless and sweaty, wearing a white T shirt and yoga pants.
- [26:49]
Julian Reyes
This girl, she came to my house. She lives with my fiance. She works over there. She's his manager, and she keeps on forcing him to have sex with her after. He then cut it off or she was gonna fire him. And we ended up fighting right there because she approached my home. This is my home. She lives all the way over there. Is everybody in the house right now? Oh, just me. I'm the only one that fought. Just me. The girl, she left.
- [27:11]
Narrator
When she left, the woman who fought Ashley was 27 year old Antonetta Stevens. Though she was shaking with adrenaline, she claimed that Ashley had confronted her at her front door. That means there was no street brawl, no random attack. Then they fought. Apparently, Ashley had been sleeping with Antonetta's fiance Daniel, who was the one who answered the door. Antonetta claimed that Ashley was Daniel's boss at Floor and Decor and she had been forcing him to have sex with her. How about that?
- [27:52]
Julian Reyes
I'm very heartbroken. I got you. I got you. I got you.
- [27:58]
Narrator
So we're gonna make sure everybody's okay.
- [28:00]
Julian Reyes
Because a third party called 911.
- [28:03]
Narrator
Antonetta let officers inside. In the living room, Danielle and Antonetta's toddler was watching tv. Antonetta's sister in law, Janine Gonzalez, was there too. She admitted that she had also been a witness to the fight.
- [28:19]
Julian Reyes
All right, so kind of slow it down. You were going. The female that he's been sleeping with him. Yes. Michael. I've known him for five years together from up north. He has worked. He works at Floor and Decor. He's been sleeping with his manager. And that's who was here? Yes. Okay. And I've been feeling it for some time now. Yesterday, I'm walking to Kwik Trip. I see them walking together. And you're a woman. You know our intuition. I know that's the girl. I seen her. We argue. Yesterday, he broke it up. It was fine.
- [28:52]
Narrator
According to Antonetta, she had caught her fiance Daniel walking to the corner store with Ashley. This was all the confirmation she needed to secure her feeling that Daniel had been sleeping with Ashley this morning.
- [29:08]
Julian Reyes
Now she's calling, calling, text on, texting, text on, saying that she's gonna be coming here. I waited for her and then I fought her because I'm just enraged. I'm very heartbroken. You see, I started packing my stuff yesterday. Nothing is even in bags. I'm just mentally out of it right now because this is a person that I wanted to grow old with. This is a person I want to share my life with. And I feel dirty, I feel disgusting, I feel heartbroken, and I feel standable.
- [29:34]
Narrator
Antonetta was fired up, clearly. She alleged that Ashley had shown up at her front door asking for a fight. So they duked it Out. Then Ashley left.
- [29:46]
Julian Reyes
But I'm okay right now. I'm not, like, going to be going out hating anybody. I'm not in medicine, society. I'm just very heartbroken. My life has been doing. We just had to make sure everybody was good because we got a call.
- [29:56]
Narrator
The adrenaline was raging through Antonetta, and she. She couldn't stop talking.
- [30:00]
Julian Reyes
She's actually cheating on her family, too. Go figure. You know, Husband and she drive offline?
- [30:06]
Narrator
No, she walked.
- [30:07]
Julian Reyes
I don't know if she has her own car, but, you know, I don't know. I hope her husband finds the hell out, because why do I have to be the only one in shambles in my life? But what was her name? I have no idea. You don't know her name? I really don't. I'm assuming he's not gonna tell me her name. Probably not. Cause he probably wouldn't want me to find out. How old is she? She 30. 30. What she look like? Hispanic female. Yeah. Black hair with kind of like highlights. Curly. What color highlight. Messed up teeth. Really big jaw.
- [30:40]
Narrator
Of course, the man who this fight had erupted over, Daniel, you know, the prize. He just sat there quietly while his angry fiance rattled off catty remarks about his mistress just sitting there like a grown baby. It's amazing.
- [30:57]
Julian Reyes
But I'm not going over there. Just to let you guys know, I'm not going to go on a manhunt looking for her. I don't care. I already handled my business. Yeah, Like I said, it's not considered domestic violence. Y' all went at it together, so it would be. If you want to prosecute, she wants to prosecute, then technically, both of y' all will go to jail. So if you're not wanting to worry about it, then we're gonna go our separate ways and not worry about it. Thanks. Appreciate it. Oh, you want anything done to her? Nope. Nope. I think she's got enough.
- [31:28]
Narrator
You know, like, Ashley Antonetta was firm. She did not want to press charges. This was street justice. She didn't need no cops. You know, her claim that Ashley had shown up at her door only deepened the confusion. And none of it added up. Buried within the strategic white lies of both Ashley and Antonetta's stories was a truth neither woman seemed to be willing to share.
- [31:57]
Julian Reyes
I'm guessing you're gonna pack all your crap up and get out here. That's why your clothes are on the couch. Or y' all gonna try to try to work this out?
- [32:04]
Narrator
Cause y' all have a kid.
- [32:05]
Julian Reyes
I don't know what's y' all's plan. He works right there. So would I be a horrible woman to tell you to quit your job and then you have to work with this woman and I have to sit here? I work from home. I'm in this house 24 7. I cook, clean, work. That's all I do all day. It's probably why I lost my mind like that.
- [32:19]
Narrator
Antonetta worked from home while Daniel did overnights at floor and decor with Ashley. Their fare grew in the shadows of the Home Renovation Depot, hidden under stacks of tile and carpet swatches. Through long nights stocking shelves, Daniel and Ashley fell hard for one another. Their shifts became an escape, a stolen chance to leave their other lives behind and be together in secret. It was kind of the perfect affair. No seedy hotel meetups were required. All sex was maintained at work. But once Antonetta figured out what was happening, the party was over. Now she was livid and threatening to leave.
- [33:05]
Julian Reyes
So I don't really know, but I think I want to leave, though, so I'm in the process. I just don't know where to go. As I did say, I'm from up north. I don't really have family out here, you know, so put all my eggs in one basket just for this to happen. I wish you guys can take me for a weekend. I really need a break from this in this house. Well, be careful what you wish for. There you go.
- [33:26]
Narrator
Sarah's.
- [33:27]
Julian Reyes
You give her what you wish for.
- [33:30]
Narrator
As officers prepared to leave, Antonetta joked that she wished that they could take her away for the weekend. Well, they can. She had no idea. At that very moment, Ashley was being admitted to the hospital. And by the time the night was over, she wouldn't be leaving on her own two feet. She'd be leaving in a body. Back texts between Daniel and Ashley from the morning of the attack showed that they'd been swooning over each other. They were falling in love.
- [34:04]
Julian Reyes
Since I've met you, you've made everything so much better and bearable. I don't know how to explain it.
- [34:10]
Narrator
Wow, Ashley, you really make it hard not to want you or keep falling for you.
- [34:17]
Julian Reyes
I can tell you how I feel and not worry about your reaction. I feel secure around you.
- [34:22]
Narrator
I don't know why, but I just do. Just know it's gonna be like that. Be yourself, Ashley. I want Ashley, not someone else. The conversation ended up with Ashley telling Daniel to get some rest. He signed off, saying he was about to have a nap. An hour later, he started texting Ashley again. Where you At. I need to see you.
- [34:46]
Julian Reyes
Lol. I'm in bed. I want you here so bad.
- [34:50]
Narrator
Meet me, please. I'm going through it. I got kicked out.
- [34:55]
Julian Reyes
Are you serious? Let me put on something real quick.
- [34:58]
Narrator
I. I'm outside.
- [35:01]
Julian Reyes
Okay. Bowed to come out now.
- [35:03]
Narrator
Not only did Ashley and Daniel work together at Floor and Decor, but they lived in the same apartment complex. Ashley's husband Julian was at work when she allegedly left to get his birthday cake. But really, she was rushing out to meet Daniel because he had texted her saying that Antonetta had just kicked his cheating ass out of the house. Ashley put on her green leggings and Crocs as you would and left the house with only her iPhone. The ring camera on her front door was the only witness to her leaving. She walked around looking for Daniel, texting him as she searched. He said he was on his way, that Antonetta was furiously packing, that she was crazy. Ashley texted back how sorry she was as she crossed the road towards their meeting spot. And that's when it happened. Antonetta and her sister in law, 17 year old Janine, came storming onto the street. Janine had her phone recording. The only truthful witness to the fight.
- [36:08]
Julian Reyes
Look at her. Right there. Right there. Well, guess what, babe? That was me. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [36:21]
Narrator
Antonetta sprang into action. Perhaps that's a bit hyperbolic. She was a very big girl. Regardless, she tackled Ashley to the ground. She grabbed fistfuls of her hair, smashed her head into the pavement and punched her repeatedly. Her sister in law, 17 year old Janine, egged her on like a deranged cheerleader. Let's not pretend that world star hip hop was not a cultural phenomenon.
- [36:49]
Julian Reyes
This is what we do. For sad bitches. For sad bitches. You're gonna get fucked up. Get the fuck off. Get off my hair, bitch. Get the fuck off. Get off my hair, bitch. Get the fuck off. Get off my hair.
- [37:01]
Narrator
Ashley's small body was powerless against Antonetta. After all, she was twice her size. Consumed by rage and jealousy, Antonetta straddled her fists crashing down as she unleashed everything she had on Ashley.
- [37:18]
Julian Reyes
Say hi to Daniel. Say hi to Daniel. You know he said I could come out here and fuck you up, right? Yes, I did. You know that, right? He's in the house with our son, bitch. He said I could fuck you up. Yep, this is what we do. If I get mad and he knows I'm leaving, he feels sad. He says, I'll let you fuck her up. That's what I'm doing, fucking you up. All right. Ready to die over dick. Real crazy. Yep, you are.
- [37:41]
Narrator
At this very moment in the video, the leasing manager drove by. She stopped when she saw Antonetta on top of Ashley, using handfuls of her curly hair to keep her skull pinned to the pavement.
- [37:53]
Julian Reyes
Right. You his manager. I'm getting you fired, bitch. That's bias. That's a conflict of interest. I'm showing this to the job. You're fucking my nigga while he's on the clock. Fucking my nigga, going there, trying to ruin his family. Bitch, he has a whole son. You're mad for him. Okay.
- [38:07]
Narrator
Ashley was losing strength. She put up a fight, but now her breathing was slowing as Antonetta sat on top of her stomach crushing her and banging her head. Then Antonetta pushed herself up and started whipping Ashley across the pavement like a rag$fucking dad.
- [38:25]
Julian Reyes
Get the hell up off me. I will murder you. I will murder you. I will murder you. I will murder you. I will fucking murder you.
- [38:36]
Narrator
Antonetta and Ashley's rail thin body twisted over itself like a wire hanger bent beyond recognition. She shook her, punched her and screamed in her ear.
- [38:47]
Julian Reyes
Stop. You're so lucky my nails is hurting. Cause I was ready to do worse to you right now. I will do worse to you. I will do worse to you. I will do worse to you. That's why he was trying to protect you. But now he don't care for you to get your ass beat. He let me do this. He let me. You're getting fired. You're getting fucking fired. You're getting fucking fired. I'm done. I'm done. You're getting fucking. I'm fucking done. Yeah.
- [39:13]
Narrator
The fight was completely one sided. Antonetta dominated Ashley, punching her over and over with hard, angry fists. Well, Janine held the camera and continued cheering on her sister in law. Janine was giddy, like the bad teenager that she was, completely devoid of morality. Then when Antonetta was done beating Ashley, she held her in place and called to Jeanine.
- [39:40]
Julian Reyes
You want some of this, Jeanine? Yeah, I do.
- [39:42]
Narrator
That's when Jeanine backed up, took a running start and drove her foot into Ashley's side with brutal force. Over and over she kicked her mercilessly, cackling and screaming like a deranged wild animal. Like something with rabies. She wanted to show her beloved sister in law exactly how tough she really was. So she killed someone.
- [40:13]
Julian Reyes
Bitch. Go ahead, bitch. Bitch. Wanna jump her now? Yeah, we could do that. You done? You tapping out? Yeah, I'm done. I'm like, you messed with a crazy ass bitch.
- [40:29]
Narrator
When Antonetta and Janine were satisfied, she took Ashley's Crocs and her cell phone, leaving her sitting on the blacktop trying to fix herself up and salvage what little pride she had left.
- [40:41]
Julian Reyes
And he knows I'm crazy in her face looking dumb bitch. Babe, don't do this again. Cause you're gonna have to make me cry. Fight another bitch, that's what happens. Go home. Let's go.
- [40:55]
Narrator
But Ashley needed her phone back and she wasn't going to let Antonetta and Janine take it. And so, even though she had been shamelessly beaten, she followed them back to their front door. She was woozy and breathless as she trailed them. Antonetta and Janine screamed at her to go home, but she didn't relent. The screaming between the three women was so loud it woke up Daniel, who had been asleep the entire time. Can you imagine that this is all your fault and you're just sleeping through it. Unlike Antonetta had professed during her brutal beating of Ashley, he had not okayed any of this. As he walked into the living room, Antonetta burst inside yelling Dale your face.
- [41:38]
Julian Reyes
Outside. I just fucked her up. Cause I used your phone to write her and I recorded it.
- [41:43]
Narrator
Let me repeat what Antonetta said in case you missed it, Daniel, your bitch is outside. I just fucked her up. I used your phone to write her and I recorded it. There it was. This 14 minute video held it all. A motive, a plan, the murder and a confession. All recorded by Antonetta's trusty 17 year old accomplice. What a fucking idiot. When Daniel figured out what was going on, he opened the front door and saw Ashley there, bloody and shaken up. Stunned to find his boss and his secret girlfriend at his front door. He quickly slammed it in her face, then found her phone and gave it back to her. She snatched it and scurried home. Daniel was overcome with guilt. He immediately started texting Ashley from the privacy of another room. Ashley, please. Are you okay?
- [42:42]
Julian Reyes
Nah, I'm good. Leave me alone.
- [42:44]
Narrator
Please talk to me.
- [42:46]
Julian Reyes
I can't breathe and my heart is skipping a beat. I'm about to go to urgent care. Bye.
- [42:51]
Narrator
No way. Please.
- [42:53]
Julian Reyes
Your fucking sister kicked me in my back. I was good until she did that.
- [42:58]
Narrator
Ashley, I really want. With all my good intentions. I want to see you and check on you. I feel sad. I can't believe your face and body are hurt. Talk to me or let me see you. Fuck. I'm sorry. Sorry I wasn't there. In the light of truth, Ashley's secrecy at the hospital made sense.
- [43:20]
Julian Reyes
Why?
- [43:20]
Narrator
She never told Julian or the police that she knew her attackers. She couldn't risk her husband discovering the affair, especially not with their 10th anniversary and his birthday. On that day, Antonetta refused to press charges, knowing full well she had set this storm in motion, luring Ashley out with a message from Daniel's phone. It wasn't like she claimed Ashley didn't come to her looking for a fight. But as the chaos simmered one fact, Ashley was still alive when they left her. Neither Antonetta nor Janine realized that their cruel plan to teach Ashley a lesson about infidelity had already spiraled into something that they couldn't lie their way out of. Something that they wouldn't be confronted with until hours later, after the adrenaline rush had subsided and their kids had fallen asleep. It was about 4am when the police came back to Antonetta and Daniel's house and knocked on the door.
- [44:27]
Julian Reyes
Hey, I'm Detective Carter with Gwinnett County Police. Are you your intimate? Yes. Hi. Hey. This is Detective Poppy or Dr. Poppy. Hi. Ms. Me? We know that there was like an incident. Yeah. That happened earlier today. Has anyone called you about it since?
- [44:41]
Narrator
No.
- [44:42]
Julian Reyes
Was somebody supposed to? Well, we just got another call about it, so I guess the girl went to the hospital. Okay. And she died. She died. She's dead. So. But we know that there was like an altercation that happened beforehand that was mutual and she came here. Yeah, we understand that. So. But we, because of it, going to kill him, not that person. I get it.
- [45:06]
Narrator
The lack of remorse here is astounding. It truly says something about the state of our society today. What exactly? I'm not really sure. I'm not a sociologist. Is that who does things like that? I don't even really know. But I can tell you that as a human being, it feels disgusting. Antonetta sounds like she's just been told her pizza delivery will be late. Not that the girl she beat up another human being has died. I don't think I could ever fully understand the complete lack of empathy and sympathy that it takes to do something like this and then be so cold and callous about it.
- [45:53]
Julian Reyes
But because of that, we have to kind of talk to you guys and get a more formal statement. True. Wow, I'm so sorry about that. That was not my intention. I've been mentally going through a lot. I have bipolar depression and I'm just going through a lot right now. And, you know, I came here from up north with my fiance. That's him. Of course.
- [46:20]
Narrator
She has bipolar depression. Of course. Right. Who doesn't. It's 2025. Everybody has mental illness. You're not special. She's mentally been going through a lot. As if this fucking matters, seeing as she's just murdered someone with her bare hands. But sure, it's all about guns.
- [46:40]
Julian Reyes
I came here with my fiance to start a new life, Buy a house, everything like that. And I never expected him to basically cheat on me with someone at the workplace, you know what I'm saying? So we would like to get like a formal statement. So we're gonna ask that you come up to our headquarters and talk to us. It's just right up the street. Okay. All right. I hear kids. Is there someone else here that can. There's someone here with them, yeah. Okay. Were they. Were they involved at all? No. Okay. All right. So it was just you two guys. If you don't mind, if we could just get some shoes. It'll be quick. We'll be getting out. Okay.
- [47:15]
Narrator
But their time at the police station wouldn't be quick. Antonetta and Janine's reckless decision to face filmed their assault had already set the stage for disaster. But it wasn't just the evidence that left investigators disgusted. In the interrogation room, something unexpected emerged. Something that would shift the entire case and reveal a darkness no one could see coming.
- [47:57]
Julian Reyes
Use of flavored tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't. Addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Organ legislators conducer something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me. At flavors hook, OR kids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.
- [48:41]
Narrator
30 year old Ashley Bocanegra had been attacked by Antonette Stevens and Janine Gonzalez in their apartment complex. Ashley was having a secret affair with Antonetta's fiance, Daniel. You see, she was his manager at the Floor and Decor, a place that sells a bunch of tiles and flooring and shit. When Antonetta discovered the affair, she used her fiance's phone to lure Ashley to a meetup spot where she and her sister in law Janine beat Ashley up until she had to be hospitalized. Hours later, Ashley succumbed to her injuries and died. Now Antonetta and Janine were on the hook for her murder. Not just a malicious cat fight. They were taken down to the police station and the officers finally got Daniel alone so they could talk with him about what had happened.
- [49:34]
Julian Reyes
How long have you lived here? About. Like a year. About a year. Do you know Ashley? Yes, sir. How do you know Ashley? You know, you have an emotional relationship.
- [49:47]
Narrator
Daniel admitted that he'd found out about the fight after Ashley showed up at the door looking for her phone. He felt terrible for slamming the door in her face, but he was stunned to see her there.
- [50:00]
Julian Reyes
How did she look when you. When she opened the door? I'm not going to lie. She look up? Yeah. Okay. I mean, when you say she, you're talking about Ashley. Yeah. And when you said they took her phone. Yeah. So they could text. So they could text her husband, whatever she got. Sorry. How do you know that they took her phone? Did she tell you? She knocked on the door and yelled, please, I just want my phone.
- [50:31]
Narrator
Daniel explained that he and Antonetta had been having relationship problems long before his affair with Ashley. He'd wanted out of that relationship and he was preparing his exit.
- [50:42]
Julian Reyes
You and Antonetta are having relationship problems already? Yeah, it's deep like this. We got a kid and everything, so it's like, it's. I'm. I. I go off of respect. I have a kid with you. I'm going to respect you regardless. Yeah. If I'm not with you, then I don't have to. I don't have to. Like, I don't. I don't have to do that part anymore. I can just take care of my kid. And if you need help, I'll help you. Like, it's not like this is fresh. Like, I'm over here cheating on this woman. I'm not. I. We've been like, this has been a toxic environment, and she's just been trying to. Trying to figure out what to do, and I've been trying to figure out what to do, but she doesn't want nobody to leave. I'm telling her, like, I'll leave. I'll live in my car. I'll do whatever.
- [51:23]
Narrator
But Daniel had made it clear that he wanted to leave, even if it meant living in his car. What is it with these grown adults that can't get their shit together anyway? Antonetta refused to let him go because that's how it works.
- [51:41]
Julian Reyes
This sucks, man. I know. Is she hurt? Like, real bad. So honestly, I'm. I'm not gonna make a show. I'm not gonna go and yell. I'm not gonna go call her. I just. Just want to know. Well, yeah, we got a call from the hospital a while ago, and she actually Passed away from. No. Stop playing with me, please. Seriously, please stop playing with me. Please stop playing. Please. Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down. Shh. Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe.
- [52:14]
Narrator
Daniel broke down in uncontrollable sobs when the officers told him Ashley was dead. He was panicking and it seemed like he was the only one who had been truly devastated by her sudden death.
- [52:32]
Julian Reyes
The baby. The baby. The baby. It. Baby. Oh, my gosh. Oh my God. Oh, my God. Oh my God. Oh.
- [52:49]
Narrator
Daniel was shattered. The woman he loved was gone, Murdered by the very person he'd been trying to escape. Every breath felt heavy, weighed down by the cruel truth Ashley was dead because of him. So, wow.
- [53:08]
Julian Reyes
Now you know why we're here. It's more than just a little fight. Wow. Wow. I felt. I felt the hole in my heart as soon as you left. I really fucking cake into her fucking. How am I going to fucking do this? Listen, you just got to take a breath and give yourself some time.
- [53:44]
Narrator
The officer left Daniel with his thoughts and his son to keep him hopefully. They had two murderers waiting for them at the police station. The ringleader, Antonetta, was first. After having her rights read to her, she did the smart thing. Sort of have these rights in mind.
- [54:04]
Julian Reyes
Do you wish to talk to us now? Well, I do want to speak with the lawyer. Just because of how sensitive the situation is. I will say that, you know, I don't go out looking to harm anybody. That's not my intention. I do feel, you know, very remorseful about anything that has happened with that young lady. I'll also say that, you know, it wasn't my intention to even get into an altercation with her today. She came over to my place of residence looking for my fiance. We argued, I was hit, we fought. I feel really bad, but you know, I really. I don't know, I'm just. No, it's just too much.
- [55:00]
Narrator
It's just too much. She really trails off there, doesn't she? Real low energy, low confidence, biatch. Antonetta clung to her story, ignoring the damning video evidence on Janine's phone. Maybe she was dumb enough to think that the cops would never find it. I don't know. I wouldn't put it past her. But because she wasn't willing to talk, she was thrown in jail. 17 year old Janine wasn't as sharp as her sister in law. She'd stayed quiet when the police first showed up. But the moment a female detective strolled into the interrogation room, mirroring her tone and attitude, Janine's face lit up. All it took was a little imitation for her to believe she'd found a friend.
- [55:46]
Julian Reyes
Hey, at least it's not blazing hot in here, right? You look comfy. Can you sit right here for me? He's dirty. Where's the dirty at? I swear, I swear I was just dirty. Girl, you deserve. I know. I met you at your apartment. Yeah. I'm Detective Carter, this is Detective Ariah. He's still trying to like get filled in on everything. So basically her sister in law, there was a situation with her, her brother, there's a whole situation, whatever. We just got through talking to Antoinette. So basically we just gotta get your side now because you are in here. He has to read some stuff to you. So he's gonna be the lead detective. So he's gonna do most of the talking. But I'm just in here because I'm kind of familiar with it. But I'm here too.
- [56:34]
Narrator
So Jeanine smiled at her, falling for the trick that this cop was somehow in the room for her benefit.
- [56:42]
Julian Reyes
Just go through basically since I wasn't there and I'm playing casual, basically. So what happened? So like let me start to where elited. Okay. We're all okay. So like since I've been down here, they, they haven't been on good terms. So you know, arguments back to back.
- [57:05]
Narrator
Janine confirmed that Danielle and Antonetta were on the rocks. Things were bad.
- [57:11]
Julian Reyes
So like you know, they're arguing or whatever. So my brother, him being a man, cheats like always, you know, he's feeling less than he thinks it's okay to cheat. So you know, he tells me, he tells me who is he cheating with and stuff. Now me and my stepsister, I mean not my stepsister, my sister in law, we're very close. Like so close. Like you understand, like she's more of a sister to me than my brother's a brother to me, you know? Yeah. So like we're very close.
- [57:48]
Narrator
Antonetta was the sister Janine never had. She'd visited her every summer. So when Daniel admitted he was seeing Ashley, Janine couldn't wait to share the juicy gossip.
- [58:00]
Julian Reyes
So what's he told me, I was just like, oh, girl code, right?
- [58:09]
Narrator
To teenage Jeanine, this was all a game. The fact that Daniel, Antonetta and their son were a family meant nothing. She was riding high on the thrill of being the gatekeeper of his secret. In case you haven't figured it out, kids are dumb, especially teenagers. If you're looking for them to guide you. Boy, are you lost.
- [58:30]
Julian Reyes
Two days Prior, before this day, we were chilling. She was working, and Daniel did something to her to make her upset. So we were talking or whatever, and I was just like, oh, I forgot to tell you. No, I didn't forget, but that's it. So I was like, told her what happened. He explained cheated or whatever. She's like, oh, really? She's upset or whatever. I was like, don't tell him that because he's gonna be mad at me. Right? He explained how the girl looked to me, though, and, you know, earlier, a Puerto Rican skinny girl. So I was like. So then I explained it to Antonetta. So the next day after that, we went to the store last night. Last night. We went to the store last night and we were walking to Crypt Trip. Quick Trip is right there. You know, I thought I saw y' all walking earlier. I thought that was you guys. Okay. So we walked to Crypt Trip. As we're walking a Crypt trip, both of them are walking together from Cruik Trip. So they're just now leaving and we're just not coming. So Antonetta is like, is that Daniel walking? So now she runs in, like, who's this?
- [59:41]
Narrator
The feud had been boiling for 24 hours. Jeanine told Antonetta about Ashley. And then Antonetta and Janine caught Daniel and Ashley walking to the corner store on their work break. Janine kept talking to officers as if she was gossiping with her girlfriends on FaceTime. Her story was a far cry from the truth. She lied and said Ashley came to the door looking for a fight.
- [60:06]
Julian Reyes
And she comes to the house. You know, big fight. Big fight.
- [60:11]
Narrator
So.
- [60:14]
Julian Reyes
After a fight, we took her phone. We were going to call her husband to let her know that, you know, just to throw something out. So did she knock on the door at first or you guys just saw her outside? Outside? She didn't know. She didn't get the chance to. Okay. Because, like, oh, got this coming. I'm about to beat her up. So. Yeah. Did you guys start yelling at her before you guys approached her? Or how'd that go down? Yeah, yeah, tell us about that. It wasn't really all visual. It was like. Yeah. And you came to see Manega. And then it was just fighting. She knew what it was. Cause she got ready too, you know, and it was just fighting. Who was fighting? The girl. Antonio, everybody. No, girl, you making nothing? No. Yeah, of course you did. I know you did. Like you said, that's your homegirl.
- [61:13]
Narrator
It's amazing how this detective just mirrors Janine's style of talking.
- [61:18]
Julian Reyes
Right.
- [61:18]
Narrator
Right back at her. And every time she falls for it, she relaxes her body and slips up again.
- [61:24]
Julian Reyes
Tell me about that. How that happened. I didn't. I didn't go. I didn't go crazy, though. Cuz she's small. Like, you're enough already. I don't need to be punching her, dragging her. I don't need to. That. I'm good. I get my little hit in, and then that's it. Where you getting in at? I don't know. I know. I know. I ed her, though.
- [61:45]
Narrator
Janine kept changing her story. First it was Ashley who woke Daniel up. Then, wait, it was Antonetta who woke him up. Her lies were getting tangled and frayed as she tried to keep her story straight.
- [61:59]
Julian Reyes
Did you guys text her? What do you mean? Did you guys send messages to her? No, we don't get her number. No, I mean from his phone. Oh, from his. Fine. No, I don't think so. No. Okay. You sure? Yeah. Cuz you. You messed up your story a little bit. I already read the messages. You messed up a little bit. What was the messages? He wasn't getting kicked out. Oh, yes, he was. I don't know what the hel. You sure it was text messages to fight, or was this something else? I don't know. You don't know what you want to tell us, girl? You've been honest this whole time. It's fine. Just be straight up. Just smart. That's a smart move because, you know, you text her, say, come over. I'm gonna beat your ass. She's not gonna come over like that. You know, y' all were smart. Y' all finessed the hell out of that girl. Of course she. She knows. No, she was gonna come fight regardless.
- [63:01]
Narrator
To be honest, Janine's lies were like a bad high school rumor spreading fast, but falling apart under the slightest scrutiny. She was too oblivious to grasp the fact that she wasn't walking out of this police station scot free with her cell phone and her jean shorts.
- [63:20]
Julian Reyes
Earlier today, she didn't know that she was walking into a fight. Now she's dead under. This is crazy. Do you know how she died? Like the injuries of her death. So they had to do an autopsy, but it was a result of her. The injury she sustained during the fight. Shit's crazy. How does it make you feel? This. Make me feel like I'm going to hell? That I'm not going to lie. And her sh. Pretty up. Damon thought he said. When I opened the door, I saw her. I was like, oh, shit. And I had to slam the door because she was so fucked up. He did do that. He did do that. He did do that. He did do that.
- [64:06]
Narrator
The careless and sinister nature of her affect is terrifying. People like this actually exist in society, and sometimes they vote. This girl has absolutely no remorse for the fact that she helped murder someone. Nor does she even really care that Ashley was being an alleged homewrecker, trying.
- [64:26]
Julian Reyes
To ruin break up your family. I'm sure that made you upset. No, I wasn't upset. No, it's just a story. No, they've been on a rocky road for a minute. Like, I knew I've been when he was cheating, when he toing. So I was just like, what do I expect from this? Is that her first word? Even you were scared that he was gonna go off with her. Was that scary? He was gonna go out for her? To be honest, me and my brother isn't really that close. We're trying to work on it. So it's just like. I don't know. It just makes it easier when family's together. You got your sister, you got him. Yeah, but my. I don't live with those. You know, I don't really feel that family connection. Just like me and her close, and I come visit her, and he's just like my brother.
- [65:21]
Narrator
With that, they left Janine alone in the interrogation room. She laid her head on the desk and slept on it like a pillow, like little kids do in preschool. She played with the scrunchie around her wrist. Then the detective came back in.
- [65:42]
Julian Reyes
So we're gonna have to book you into the jail. Your charge is gonna be ag. Battery. All right?
- [65:49]
Narrator
For the fight.
- [65:50]
Julian Reyes
Okay. Aggravated battery. Oh, activated battery. Yeah. So it's just basically just a little more serious than just a regular battery. But we had to take the phone for evidence.
- [66:03]
Narrator
Ah, Janine's phone. The only character in this entire story capable of telling the truth.
- [66:09]
Julian Reyes
So what happens? We're gonna go to the jail. We'll get you booked in, fingerprinted, photo, all that. Then what else? Wait for a court. So you clearing your charges? Yeah, I guess. Yeah. It's robbery. Robbery? What robbery? Yeah, we didn't steal her phone. We took it so she could come to the house. Oh, you took it? Yeah. She got her phone back. I told you she wasn't leaving unless she got. We gave her back her phone. We just did it so we could call her husband before we changed our mind. Okay. Yeah. Phone jail. She got her phone back. She said it was okay for you to say again, no. Okay. Yeah. That's a robbery. The other charge is murder. Murder? Yep. You're being charged with murder. Me? Yep. Whoa. That's too bad. That's deep, right? Yeah, that's. That's fucking insane. Yeah. No, no, no, no. What? Murder. I couldn't laid hands on her. All I did was floor. You want some of this, Janine? Yeah, I do. Go ahead. Bitch. Bitch.
- [67:28]
Narrator
It was Janine's foot that delivered the fatal blows. The ones that pushed Ashley past the point of no return. The sheer force of them big ass hams as those final kicks caused bleeding in Ashley's lungs, sealing her fate in a brutal, merciless instant. Though it would take hours for Ashley to actually die, Jeanine's part in this beating was the nail in her coffin. Antonetta and Janine were charged with felony murder, robbery and aggravated battery. They waited in jail for their day in court. When it was Janine's turn, she sat beside her court appointed lawyer, tears streaming down her acne splotched face as she argued she was just a bystander and deserved a manslaughter charge instead. But the video disagrees. There was no spinning the truth. That was all caught on 1080p. Actually, it could have been 720 or 480. Who knows? This ain't a camera course. But after weeks of wrangling, both Antonetta and Janine took their plea deals. 20 years for voluntary manslaughter and robbery by force. Two decades in Arendelle State Prison will do things to you. There's plenty of time to relive every reckless second, every cruel decision. Every moment of that recording is on Janine's phone. Plenty of time to regret it all microsecond by microsecondition. But would either of these women be capable of such introspection? I doubt it. After all, it takes a little bit of intellect to have a conscience. It's ironic. Ashley and Julian came to Georgia from New York, searching for a better life. A fresh start from the chaos of the projects and their tangled past. Antonetta and Daniel came for the exact same reason, even from the same state. But neither couple was truly in a good place. Your geographic location doesn't really matter much if the core of who you are is all fucked up. The trouble they tried to escape followed them across state lines, growing into an unstoppable force. When Daniel and Ashley started falling for each other during their night shifts at Floor and Decor, Daniel and Ashley found one another because they weren't happy in their own relationships. They wanted something more. And when a new town. A new house and a new life wasn't enough to fill the void. What they wanted was a new person to be with, not a change of scenery. Daniel was a man trapped with a woman he didn't like, bound by a sense of duty to their son. His affair with Ashley was a spark of hope in a life that felt dim and joyless. Every moment with her was electric, and Ashley felt the same. We all heard Daniel's sobs when she died. Who knows what they talked about in those quiet moments together? Maybe they dreamed of turning their affair into something real and long lasting. Maybe they even imagined leaving their partners and starting fresh together. But those dreams died the minute Daniel confided in his teenage sister. Janine was the little piece of the past that came down to Georgia that summer and threw gasoline on the fire. A child who didn't create the situation, but she surely made it go from bad to fatal and pretty fast. For Julian, for their son, for Daniel, and for all those who loved Ashley, one heartbreaking reality remains. Sometimes a fresh start isn't enough to leave the troubles of the past behind. And if you find yourself being miserable and you want to just patch it up instead of discovering and fixing the actual problem, well, then don't worry, because the problem will eventually find you. Episode 15 titled Burn of Sword and Scale Television is out now@sword and scale.com It's a harrowing tale of a couple teenagers that just wanted to buy some pot and bad things happen. State of the world these days. I swear, it's like parenting took a decade off once they invented the iPad. I'm going to go record some more. Maybe you should try being a mom.
- [74:23]
Julian Reyes
Use of flavored tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't. Addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Organ legislators can do something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me at flavors hookoregon kids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.