Ashley Reeves was 15 years old who was groomed by her trusted teacher named Samson Shelton, she was attacked and later dumped at a Belleville park but was discovered after 30 hours. Currently, “Left for Dead,” Millstadt native’s story of survival is coming to cable television, it will premiere on Lifetime Saturday at 7 pm CT. 17-year-old Ashley Reeves, played by Anwen O’Driscoll. From IMDB, Left for Dead: The Ashley Reeves Story (2021) reads “17-year-old Ashley Reeves is left for dead in the woods following a brutal attack. After spending 30 horrific hours in the cold, gravely wounded, lying in the dirt, and paralyzed, the police find her alive.” It’s been directed by Gloria Kim and other cast members of the show are Sebastien Roberts as Steve Johnson, Steve Johnson as Mike Reeves, Jennie Garth as Michelle Reeves, Claudia Hamilton as Mia, David MacInnis as Mike Hundelt, and Adrian Spencer as Danny.
Ashley Reeves was born on January 1, 1983, which means she is 38 years old. On April 27, 2006, Ashley told her parents she had an interview in Fairview Heights, and around 3:30 pm she left for the interview in Jeremy’s car. She was 17 years old when her trusted teacher Samson Shelton strangled her and left her in the woods to die. But after 30 hours Ashley was discovered. Ashley is from Millstadt, a village in Illinois, and has a sister named Casey. In high school, Ashley had a boyfriend Jeremy. Ashley spent 30 horrific hours in the cold, gravely wounded, lying in the dirt, and paralyzed, when police find her alive. Now, her story “Left for Dead,” is based on the extraordinary true story of an ordinary teenage girl who had to fight for her life three times; first in the woods, then in the hospital, and finally in court.
Samson Shelton pleads guilty to first-degree attempted murder and he is eligible for parole in 2024. Anwen O’Driscoll, who plays Reeves in the movie said that “One of the things that drew me (to the story) was I could connect with the feeling of not being believed by people,” and added, “That was one of her huge struggles — not being heard and not being supported by a lot of people who were close to her.”
(Image Source: Medium)