WASHINGTON (7News) — The ex-partner of a missing D.C. mother is due in court in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Wednesday afternoon to face an extradition hearing, possibly sending him back to Montgomery County, Maryland.
Russell Ashford was arrested in Pennsylvania over the weekend. A spokesperson for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed to 7News that Ashford was arrested in Pennsylvania on a Montgomery County warrant for an alleged probation violation. The spokesperson did not specify what Ashford is accused of doing to violate his probation.
Beaver County (PA) District Attorney Nate Bible provided 7News more insight into Ashford’s arrest and alleged probation violation.
“They worked out some agreement to transfer supervision to Beaver County, which is where he had lived. My understanding is him leaving the state to travel to Maryland or the D.C. area, where he was going, that’s what triggered the parole violation,” Bible said. “It was the use of LPRs – license plate readers – to pick up his truck, track his whereabouts.”
Ashford and Antoinette Forbes share a 10-year-old son. A source close to the case tells 7News’ John Gonzalez that their son was in the car with Ashford when he was arrested in Pennsylvania.
Forbes has been missing for more than a week. She was last seen at her Northwest D.C. home along Nebraska Avenue, near the American University campus.
A source close to the case tells 7News that the Homicide Major Crimes Unit is now leading the investigation and is treating Forbes’ disappearance as suspicious, with detectives having strong reason to believe she is dead.
Her sister, Aileen Forbes, sent out the following statement Tuesday on behalf of the Forbes family:
Eleven days ago Antoinette disappeared from her home on Nebraska Avenue NW near American University and did not come back. Her dog, Max, was still inside. Her phone, her wallet and her car were still there. Her son is ten years old, and he is waiting for his mother.Antoinette is a sister, a friend, a colleague, and above all a devoted mom. She is careful and she is reliable. She would not leave her family by choice. Something happened to her.We need the public’s help. If you live or work near the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW, please check your doorbell and security camera footage from Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6. If you drove through that neighborhood, walked the trails nearby, or were on the American University campus that weekend, please think back. If you have any information, please call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text 50411. You can remain anonymous. Something that seems too small to mention could be the thing that brings her home.We are asking everyone with a role in this case, investigators, prosecutors and the courts, to treat Antoinette’s disappearance with the utmost urgency and seriousness it deserves.Eleven days is too long. Please help us find Antoinette.
Her family and friends have said her disappearance is out of character, pointing to the fact she left behind her keys, wallet, both cell phones, and her car.
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Ashford has not been arrested or charged in connection with Forbes’ disappearance.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the search for the missing mother is ongoing, but they could not provide any updates.
However, Bible told 7News his office helped police from D.C. and Maryland over the weekend, when Pennsylvania authorities arrested Ashford.
“One of my assistant DAs was out all morning Saturday – in fact, most of the day Saturday – assisting the D.C. police and Maryland police, as well as our state police and our local Brighton Township Police, preparing search warrants for all different types of stuff,” Bible said. “As far as whatever search warrants we’ve helped execute, it’s just things they’ve asked us to assist them with, and we’re happy to do it.”
7News reviewed years of court records involving both Forbes and Ashford, which detail a contentious years-long custody battle over their child, as well as Ashford’s 2021 assault conviction that landed him on probation in the first place.
The court filings reveal Ashford was convicted of assaulting Forbes in 2021.
According to a statement of probable cause, Ashford told an officer responding to this incident he had “just beat up his ex.”
Forbes told detectives Ashford threw her against a staircase and onto the kitchen floor before repeatedly banging her head against the floor, with Ashford hitting her head at least a dozen times before she lost consciousness.
Their son was inside the home when this all happened before a neighbor took him away from the scene, according to the court records.
Forbes suffered fractures to her orbital bone, cheekbone, and upper jaw. She also had damage to her right eye, bruising, and a concussion. The court documents state Forbes now has a permanent injury to her right eye and hand from this assault.
A 2021 emergency custody order gave Forbes sole legal and physical custody of their son, barring Ashford from contact with Forbes and the child until further order of the court.
The custody arrangement changed in 2024, allowing Ashford unsupervised access and parenting time with their son, with rules for communication, custody exchanges, and discussions about the child.
However, Ashford and Forbes got into multiple conflicts over this.
Forbes’ lawyer sent Ashford a letter in January 2025, accusing him of repeatedly breaking the rules set forth in the custody order. Those accusations include Ashford entering Forbes’ home after she told him he was not allowed inside.
The letter demanded Ashford remain in his car during custody exchanges, and should not go to her home except for scheduled pickup and drop-off.
Pennsylvania State Police confirmed they have not filed any charges against Ashford in Pennsylvania.
Ashford is being held at the Beaver County Jail pending extradition.