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[The Horrific Murder of Ashley Young: A Tragic Case of Betrayal and Concealment]-[Episode 208: The Horrific Murder of Ashley Young]

Morbid · B2 · 2021-02-07

True crime
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📋 Summary

The Tragic Life and Murder of Ashley Young

Ashley Young, a 31-year-old woman described by her mother as a "literal treasure," was a person defined by her kindness and genuine desire to help others. Working in a group care home and later at a bank, she was a dedicated student with a deep interest in learning about different cultures and religions. Her mother, Christine, shared an exceptionally close bond with her, noting that Ashley always looked for the good in people, often viewing the world through "rose-colored glasses." This inherent trust, however, led her into the orbit of Jared Chance, a man with a long history of violence and instability.

The Violent History of Jared Chance

Jared Chance, who was 30 at the time of the murder, had a documented history of erratic and aggressive behavior. Between 2006 and 2016, he had 38 run-ins with the police, including assaults, domestic violence, and animal cruelty-like behavior involving a blowtorch. Despite his troubled past, Ashley believed he was simply a "troubled guy" who deserved a chance at redemption. Her trust proved fatal. After a brief period of estrangement due to theft, they reconnected, ignoring the warnings of her family and friends who recognized Chance’s dangerous nature.

The Discovery and Investigation

On November 29, 2018, Ashley disappeared after failing to meet her mother to sign a lease for a new apartment. When Christine contacted Chance, he engaged in a calculated web of lies, claiming Ashley had lost her phone and was working extra shifts, while even providing fake contact numbers for friends to deflect suspicion. The truth was revealed on December 2, 2018, when a neighbor reported a foul odor and blood leaking from a tarp in the apartment building's basement.

Upon investigation, police discovered a horrific scene: the dismembered torso of Ashley Young. Subsequent searches of Chance’s apartment and his parents' home in Holland, Michigan, uncovered body parts (arms and legs), blood-stained tools, including a skill saw, and various items purchased from a local party store to facilitate the cleanup. Notably, the victim's head, hands, and feet were never recovered.

The Role of the Chance Family

One of the most disturbing aspects of this case was the involvement of Jared’s parents, James and Barbara Chance. James, a retired police sergeant, and Barbara were found to have assisted their son in concealing the crime. They were charged with accessory after the fact and perjury, having hidden evidence—such as the saw used for dismemberment—under their couch. Despite the gravity of their actions, their legal consequences were minimal compared to the suffering they inflicted upon Ashley’s family by withholding information regarding the location of her remains.

Sentencing and Lack of Remorse

Jared Chance was ultimately sentenced to 100 years in prison for second-degree murder and mutilation of a body. Judge Mark Trussock condemned him as an "evil individual" and a "monster without any conscience," noting that Chance appeared to derive pleasure from the graphic testimony presented during the trial. To this day, Chance refuses to disclose the location of Ashley’s head, hands, or feet, or to provide a motive. His refusal to cooperate, coupled with his parents' continued silence, leaves Ashley’s family without the closure of a full burial, serving as a final, cruel act of torment in a case defined by incomprehensible brutality.

🎯Key Sentences

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📝Key Phrases

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the walls are closing in
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📖 Transcript

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