Yesterday in Roseville, a community came together to honor Ashley Elkins, a Warren mother who has been missing since January 2. The vigil, punctuated by the release of green and purple balloons and the lighting of candles, saw friends, family, and residents gathering in silent solidarity outside the Hampton Court Apartments, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. These apartments are noted as her last known location where her phone last pinged, and also as the residence of her ex-boyfriend, Deandre Booker, who has been charged with lying to police regarding her disappearance.
Ashley Elkins, 30, was last seen on January 2 when she left her home to run errands and has not been seen since, the community that night expressed their deep concern and love for her. Wrapped in winter jackets, holding onto candles that flickered in the biting wind, the group was united in a shared grieving. "When I thought nobody cared at all, I see that everybody cares now," Monika Elkins, Ashley's mother, shared in a moment of both sorrow and gratitude during the vigil, beseeching those present for prayer in support of her struggle ahead, as detailed by ClickOnDetroit.
The vigil followed an extensive but unfruitful search of a landfill in Lenox Township, with more than a hundred individuals attending. They listened to speakers emphasize Ashley's bright spirit and her role as a devoted mother to her two young sons, ages 10 and 7. Ashley’s cousin, Taylor Redmond, implored everyone to help find her, saying, "We love you, Ashley," and vowed to continue the search, a sentiment echoed by her sister, Alexis Elkins, who called her sister her best friend. "She's a great spirit. Very loved. You see, people came for her," Alexis told the crowd, according to The Detroit News.
At the gathering, an idea was presented by Maurice Morton, the family's spokesperson, and Ashley Elkins’ uncle, for what he termed an "Ashley Alert" — a system for swift response to missing women, akin to the Amber Alert for missing children. "If there's a missing mother, whether it's due to domestic violence or the like, we need to make sure the police are on it immediately, the community is responding immediately, the media is reporting on it immediately," Morton said, as stated by The Detroit News.
Police and the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing the investigation. In the meantime, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Elkins' children, which, as of the day of the vigil, had collected over $11,800. The Elkins' plight, a tragic tale continuing to unfold, has brought together a community in vigil and the pursuit of elusive answers and solace, their united voices crying out for "Justice for Ashley," an echo that resonates hope amid a painfully uncertain search, as reported by Detroit Free Press.
