Ashley Turton

Ashley Turton
Born Elizabeth Ashley Westbrook
November 25, 1973
Greensboro, North Carolina
Died January 10, 2011 (aged 37)
Washington, DC
Nationality American
Occupation lobbyist, political staffer

Ashley Turton (November 25, 1973 – January 10, 2010) was a lobbyist for Progress Energy who was reportedly "likely involved with" the company's merger with Duke Energy.[1] She had been Special Assistant to Speaker of the House[2] Nancy Pelosi, chief of staff for Connecticut representative Rosa DeLauro and before that, aide to Missouri representative Dick Gephardt.[3] She was married to Dan Turton, the Obama administration's liaison to the House of Representatives.[4] They had three children.

On the morning of January 10, 2011 she had planned to drive to the airport for an air trip related to her work. Instead, a neighbor telephoned at 4:49 a.m. to report Turton's garage was on fire.[1] Inside the garage, firefighters discovered her body in her 2008 BMW X5 SUV.[5] Her death was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the city fire department, two BMW engineers, and the ATF.[6] The coroner's report found “acute alcohol intoxication” and said she died from “inhalation of products of combustion and thermal burns”.[4] According to authorities, there was no indication of foul play and there were "no obvious signs of trauma".[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Khan, Huma (2011-01-10). "Ashley Turton, Former Hill Aide, Wife of White House Staffer, Found Dead in Burning Car". ABC News. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  2. ↑ "Elizabeth Ashley Westbrook Turton (Ashley), Congressional Staffer - Salary Data". Archived from the original on 2011-01-13. Employing Office [...] House Office of the Speaker [from] 07/01/07 [to] 09/21/07 Special Assistant $28,246.51
  3. ↑ Gerstein, Josh; Bresnahan, John (2011-01-11). "Officials probe death of former Hill staffer Ashley Turton". Politico. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kondracke, Morton (2011-02-11). "Turton Autopsy Reveals Alcohol Intoxication". Roll Call. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  5. ↑ Morrissey, Aaron (2011-03-16). "Police: Ashley Turton's Death Was An Accident". DCist. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  6. ↑ Augenstein, Neal (2011-02-08). "Headlights focus in Ashley Turton fatal car fire". WTOP. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  7. ↑ Duggan, Paul (2011-02-11). "Crime Scene - Lobbyist drunk at time of death: Autopsy". Voices.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-07-22.