Christine Blackburn-Wiles, a 39-year-old mother from Belleview, Florida, was last seen in the early morning hours of April 21, 2007. On that day, she and her sister had been to several bars. Blackburn-Wiles's boyfriend, Billy Joe Ashton Sr., followed them. At approximately 1:00 a.m., Blackburn-Wiles requested that her sister pull over, and she got into the 1995 Chrysler New Yorker that Ashton was driving. This would be the last time she was seen.
Ashton later claimed that they had an argument and he dropped her off near her estranged husband's residence; however, her husband denied ever seeing her that night. Blackburn-Wiles was not immediately reported missing as her family initially believed she may have traveled to Texas. The report was filed in early May after she uncharacteristically failed to contact her daughter on the girl's sixteenth birthday. While Blackburn-Wiles had a history of issues with alcohol, her family stated it was unlike her to not be in contact with her child.
The investigation into her disappearance uncovered significant evidence suggesting foul play. On July 24, 2007, the Chrysler New Yorker she was last seen in was located at Wildcat Lake in Lake County, Florida, near a relative of Ashton's. Forensic analysis of the vehicle's trunk revealed the presence of Blackburn-Wiles's blood. A witness informed police they had seen Ashton burning items from the trunk of the car. When investigators excavated the burn site, they discovered fragments of clothing, including buttons from a pair of Faded Glory jeans, a brand that Blackburn-Wiles frequently wore. Shortly after her disappearance, Ashton was incarcerated on other charges and reportedly tore down missing person posters of Blackburn-Wiles that were displayed in the jail. An informant later told authorities that Ashton had admitted to elbowing Blackburn-Wiles in the face, knocking her unconscious, and using a towel to clean up her blood, which he then placed in the trunk. The informant also claimed Ashton stated he had "gotten rid" of her.
Billy Joe Ashton Sr. became the primary suspect in Blackburn-Wiles's disappearance. He had a documented history of violence, including a prior conviction for kidnapping and assaulting a former girlfriend, for which he served six years in prison. In June 2010, Ashton was sentenced to thirty years in prison for being a habitual offender in possession of a firearm. Within 24 hours of that sentencing, he was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Blackburn-Wiles's case. The case against him was largely circumstantial, relying on informant tips, DNA evidence, and witness statements. However, in February 2013, the murder charge against Ashton was dropped due to insufficient proof. Prosecutors cited the circumstantial nature of the evidence and the fact that Blackburn-Wiles's body has never been found as reasons for their decision. While the charges could be refiled if more evidence comes to light, Ashton remains incarcerated for the weapons offense. Foul play is strongly suspected in the disappearance of Christine Blackburn-Wiles.Last Seen: Apr 21, 2007
