The Unsolved Disappearance of Ashley Summers: Cleveland, Ohio

**This article contains information obtained from the ‘Where are they?’ Podcast and other online sources as cited**

In 2007, Ashley Nicole Summers was a 14 year old girl beginning to test her limits. She was becoming defiant and rebellious- as many teenagers do for a time. Ashley was skipping school, dating an older boy, and even went and got a tattoo with this boy’s name on it- all at age 14.

Her mom, Jennifer, had had enough. After another argument at home, Ashley went to live with her Uncle Kevin.

As the story goes, Ashley attended a July 4th party at a relative’s house, and then left the party on foot.

No one has seen her since.

In fact, during the time frame she disappeared, there were some more disappearances of young women in the Cleveland area, most notably Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry in 2003 and 2004. Ashley Summers was often the third name mentioned when the media would cover the case of the missing young women. Amanda, Gina and Ashley were connected by location and age, though they weren’t thought to have known each other personally.

On May 6, 2013, Amanda Berry & Gina DeJesus were found alive after escaping captivity from the Cleveland home they had been kept in for over 10 years. Ashley was not with them. Ariel Castro denied ever having any contact with Ashley or knowing anything about her case.