Age-progression picture of Ashley Summers as she would likely look now at 29 years old.Photo: Courtesy National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(Cleveland) - Ashley Summers went missing 15 years ago when she was only 14 years old. Her mother, Jennifer, is still holding onto hope that Ashley will someday come home.
WTAM's Tom Moore arranged through the Cleveland FBI to do a phone interview with Jennifer Summers, a week after the FBI and Cleveland Police released an age-progression picture of Ashley, done by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Jennifer says they did a good job with the picture. It was created using photos of Ashley, photos of her older sisters, and also of Jennifer herself, from about when she was Ashley's age. She says, "I think it's a real good picture of Ashley. I think that's how she'd do her hair." Jennifer says this is not the first age-progression picture of Ashley, but she says this one is the best.
When asked about the miraculous finding, ten years ago, of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight in a house on Seymour Avenue, Jennifer says this gave her hope that someday, it will be Ashley's turn to be found.
Jennifer is asking all of us, that if they have even the slightest tip about Ashley, to call police. As for what message she has for Ashley, Jennifer said she's been writing down a lot of things over the years, but it all boils down to, "Ashley, I love you. You're in my thoughts and prayers every day. I hope that she is okay, that she is strong and healthy, and I hope that one day I can put my arms around her."
At the time of her disappearance, Ashley was 5’5, 130lbs with long brown hair and blue eyes. She had a red heart outline tattoo on her upper right arm with the name “Gene” in a black ink ribbon across the middle.
Anyone with information on Ashley Summers' whereabouts is asked to call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678), the Cleveland Police Department at 216-623-5005 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI.
(Copyright 2023, iHeartMedia)
Listen to WTAM for news at the top and bottom of the hour