Antoinette Forbes, a 53-year-old Eli Lilly executive and mother of a 10-year-old, was last seen Sept. 4 on Nebraska Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. A friend found her personal items and dog at home on Sept. 6 while her car remained parked outside, prompting concern. On Sept. 12, Forbes' former partner, Russell Ashford, was arrested in Pennsylvania on an out-of-state warrant tied to an alleged Maryland probation violation, but authorities have not linked him to her disappearance. Police are seeking tips and have provided Forbes' physical description and contact information for leads.
Missing D.C. Executive: Ex-Partner Arrested On Unrelated Warrant Eight Days After Disappearance
Antoinette Forbes.Credit: GoFundMe
Search efforts are intensifying for Antoinette Forbes, a 53-year-old Washington, D.C. executive and mother who was reported missing after she was last seen on Sept. 4 in the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW. Forbes, an Eli Lilly executive and mother of a 10-year-old boy, is believed by family and friends to be someone who would not leave without notice.
Timeline And Key Developments
On Sept. 6, a friend visited Forbes' home and found her keys, purse, phone and dog inside the residence, with no sign of Forbes; her vehicle was also located outside the house. Her family raised immediate concern and reported her missing to authorities.
Antoinette Forbes Missing Poster.Credit: DC Police Department/X
On Sept. 12, Pennsylvania State Troopers in Beaver County arrested 64-year-old Russell Ashford — identified by local outlets as Forbes' former partner and the father of her son — on an out-of-state warrant. Court records and police statements indicate the arrest was made under a statute that allows detention of a person wanted by another state (an "arrest prior to requisition") and was connected to an alleged probation violation in Maryland.
Legal Background And Investigation Status
Court documents show Ashford was convicted in 2021 of assaulting Forbes and received a 15-year sentence with 14 years suspended, leaving him on probation. Officials emphasize that Ashford has not been publicly named by authorities in connection with Forbes' disappearance, and investigators have not announced any link between the arrest and the missing-person inquiry.
Antoinette Forbes.Credit: GoFundMe
"She is 100% solid, upstanding, dedicated, responsible... I am 100% certain that there is something wrong," Forbes' sister, Aileen, told WUSA 9, calling the disappearance "suspicious."
Official Responses And Public Appeals
Eli Lilly told CNN it is "deeply concerned" and is cooperating with law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police and Beaver County officials have provided limited public detail about the arrest; local court dockets list the Beaver County Public Defender's Office on Ashford's docket but that office told PEOPLE it is not representing him because extradition is expected.
Forbes is described by police as an Asian female, 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. A GoFundMe has been established to help the family cover search efforts, legal assistance and emergency expenses.
How To Help
Anyone with information about Antoinette Forbes' whereabouts is urged to call the D.C. Police at 202-727-9099 or to text 50411. People experiencing domestic violence can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential, 24/7 support in more than 170 languages.
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