On March 20, 2017, authorities responded to a call at 605 Palm Drive in Liberty Township, Ohio, where they discovered the bodies of 19-year-old female Ashley M. Sayarath and her cousin, 30-year-old male David Sayarath. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Investigations revealed that David had shot Ashley twice before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide. Ashley was a 2016 graduate of Findlay High School and was planning to pursue a degree in computer programming and game design at Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University. She had a passion for arts, water coloring, and computer animation.
The Hancock County Sheriff's Office reported that Ashley's mother owned the home where the incident occurred and was the first to discover the bodies. Authorities noted that Ashley and David were not only cousins but also good friends who shared a bond over video gaming. Despite their close relationship, the motive behind David's actions remains unknown. Sheriff Michael Heldman stated, "Everything indicates that he did shoot her twice, and then turned the weapon on himself... But, what provoked this to happen, nobody knows."
Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief over the tragedy, describing the neighborhood as a small, quiet community where such incidents were unexpected. One resident remarked, "It was really shocking, like I did not, I don't know, I didn't expect a murder or anything to ever happen in this subdivision." The family had recently moved into the area, and neighbors had not had much interaction with them prior to the incident.
In the aftermath, funeral services for both Ashley and David were held on March 25, 2017, at the Lehtomaa Funeral Home in Findlay, Ohio, followed by burial at Maple Grove Cemetery. The community mourned the loss of Ashley, remembering her as a talented and ambitious young woman with a bright future ahead.
