Layton Woman Identified As Tinder Murder Victim
May 25, 2020, 12:54 PM | Updated: 9:43 pm
Ashley Black, age 25, was killed after meeting a suspect identified as Ethan Hunsaker, age 24, soon after meeting on the Tinder dating application. (Photo courtesy Black family, via Layton Police Department.)
(Photo courtesy Black family, via Layton Police Department.)
LAYTON, Utah – Police have released the identity of the woman who was killed after being brutally choked and stabbed to death in Davis County.
The woman was identified as 25-year-old Ashlyn Black from Layton.
Investigators said 24-year-old Ethan Hunsaker called police to report he had killed someone at his home on Reid Avenue.
When officers arrived at the suspect’s home, they found Black on the floor. They said she had multiple stab wounds to the torso.
Hunsaker told officers he didn’t know the 25-year-old victim’s last name, and that he had met her just hours before on the dating application Tinder.
He also admitted to daily suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Black was violently choked, and then stabbed repeatedly when Hunsaker said he discovered she was not dead.
#JUSTIN: Disturbing details of tragic murder- Suspect told officers he strangled & stabbed 25yo woman hours after meeting on #Tinder. A first name is listed for the victim, we‘ve blacked it out & will wait for official ID by @laytonpolice out of respect for her family. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/DXUzvUYd4u
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) May 24, 2020
Also on Monday, advocates against domestic violence said they were disturbed by victim shaming and blaming being directed toward Black.
“Victim blaming and shaming is inappropriate and grossly unacceptable,” said a statement from the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. “In addition to perpetuating myths about abuse, assault, and violence, victim blaming wrongly excuses the perpetrator’s behaviors.”
“Victim blaming and shaming is inappropriate and grossly unacceptable”@UtahDv says some reaction to this weekend’s murder in Layton is similar to the type of comments made after last year’s murder of Mackenzie Lueck. MORE at 6pm on @KSL5TV @kslnewsradiohttps://t.co/3lEUPEqtCA pic.twitter.com/j6UElr9tJV
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) May 25, 2020
The coalition said some reactions to the murder were similar to the type of comments made after last year’s murder of University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck.
“In the last year, there have been two homicides of Utah women who met the perpetrator through an online dating/social networking app,” the statement said. “In both cases, several people have resorted to placing the responsibility of preventing the homicide on the homicide victim.”
A spokesperson for the coalition said after such a horrific tragedy, the focus should be on violence the victim experienced and the grief of the victim’s family and friends.
“This is in no way the victim’s fault, and it’s important to remind people of that,” said Liz Sollis, spokesperson for the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. “It doesn’t matter how the victim met the perpetrator or where or when — the decision to commit the violent act was that of the perpetrator.”
The coalition reminded people that free and confidential help is available for victims and survivors of domestic or intimate partner violence through the 24-hour LINKline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or through the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
More information is also available at udvc.org
The victim’s family released a statement to the media late Monday night expressing their sadness following Black’s murder.
Police say #AshlynBlack was senselessly murdered by a man she met on Tinder the night of her death.
Her family just released this statement:@KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/lgRHYkHjTn
— Ashley Moser (@AshleyMoser) May 26, 2020
“A monster has taken away the life of our little girl in a crime as senseless as it was evil. Our hearts are broken and our lives are forever changed due to the despicable acts of another person. In just a few senseless and selfish minutes, a life of an amazing, fun loving young woman was taken, one who had a passion for being the voice of those who could not speak out for themselves. And a gift for working with those who have special needs. The lives of her friends and family are permanently altered. No time can fill the emptiness we feel, and the hole it has left in our hearts. We ask for privacy as we grieve and mourn our loss,” the statement read in full.
A GoFundMe account was created by Black’s family to assist with funeral and memorial expenses.
