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Who is Russell Ashford? New name emerges in Antoinette Forbes missing case as family speaks out, ‘We are asking…’

A new name has emerged amid an ongoing search for PR executive Antoinette Forbes, who mysteriously disappeared from her home without her phone, wallet or car.

Published on: Sep 14, 2026, 15:41:22 IST
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A new name has emerged amid an ongoing search for PR executive Antoinette Forbes, who mysteriously disappeared from her home without her phone, wallet or car. Russell Ashford – a man with the same name and date of birth as the father of her child – has been taken into custody in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, officials said.

New name emerges in Antoinette Forbes missing case as family speaks out (GoFundMe)
New name emerges in Antoinette Forbes missing case as family speaks out (GoFundMe)

Who is Russell Ashford?

Not much has been revealed about Ashford. Beaver County Jail officials confirmed that Ashford is in their custody.

Ashford has not been publicly identified by D.C. police as a suspect or person of interest. Police have also not revealed whether the Pennsylvania arrest is connected to Forbes’ disappearance.

Also Read | Who is Antoinette Forbes? What to know about PR exec missing from DC home as family fears worst, ‘Shock and horror’

Forbes, 53, was last seen Friday afternoon, September 4, at her home in Washington, DC, a day before she FaceTimed her sisters about plans to get together in Florida to visit their mother for the holidays. They became concerned when she failed to respond to a planned catch-up online Sunday, September 6. The front door of her home was found unlocked with all of important personal items and her dog, Max, inside.

Forbes’ older sister, Aileen Forbes, said that the mom showed no signs of trouble, and would never up and leave her 10-year-old son.

According to Fox News, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department has classified the hunt as a critically missing person. Her home is being treated as an active crime scene, according to Aileen.

Antoinette Forbes’ family speaks out

Forbes’ family has not commented on Ashford’s arrest. However, they shared a statement with 7News.

Also Read | Antoinette Forbes update: Shocking Pennsylvania arrest deepens mystery as DC woman remains missing

“Antoinette has been missing since Saturday, September 5. She is a mother, a sister and a friend, and she would not walk away from her son by choice,” they said. “Last night Antoinette's friends and colleagues stood beside each other at National Presbyterian Church. The candles, the prayers, the GoFundMe, the flyers going up across the city, all of it is carrying the family forward right now. Thank you.”

The family added, “We are asking you not to stop. If you were near the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW the weekend of September 4, if you saw Antoinette, if you have doorbell or dashcam footage from those days, please call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text 50411. No detail is too small to share. We want Antoinette home.”

Police described Forbes as an Asian woman who is 5-foot-2 with black hair and brown eyes.

  • Sumanti Sen
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Sumanti Sen

    Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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