Ashtyn Prosser was a young man from Windsor, Ontario, described by his mother as a "brilliant, funny and colourful kid." The 19-year-old was known as a loving soul who cared for people and had a "crazy awesome smile." He was a talented artist who shared a love for drawing with his family, commemorated in a matching tattoo his mother and older brother got in his memory.
Ashtyn was a bright student who had been on the honour roll, but his life took a difficult turn during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
The shift to virtual classes in high school marked a significant change for Ashtyn. His grades, once excellent, began to decline, and he struggled to graduate. His mother, Kim Prosser, recalled that it was during this time, just before his 18th birthday, that he first expressed thoughts of suicide. Though he was accepted to a university in Toronto, the continued isolation proved too much, and he dropped out after a few months. He later moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario, but his mental health struggles persisted, and he was placed on waitlists for professional help. Despite his family's efforts to support him, including paying for some therapy out of pocket, the systemic help he needed was difficult to access.
On March 31, 2022, just a month before he would have turned 20, Ashtyn Prosser died by suicide. He had called his mother about an hour and a half before he was found, a call she later realized was his way of saying goodbye. His grandmother discovered a journal with his final messages and immediately called for help. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. His death was a devastating blow to his family, who remembered a "dynamic, amazing person" full of potential that was just beginning to unfold.
The investigation into Ashtyn's death soon connected it to a much larger, international case. Police discovered that Ashtyn had purchased sodium nitrite, a lethal poison, from Kenneth Law, a former chef from Mississauga, Ontario. Law operated a series of websites starting in late 2020, through which he sold the substance and other paraphernalia to vulnerable individuals worldwide. He is suspected of sending at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries, leading to numerous deaths. Law was eventually arrested in May 2023 and charged in connection with 14 deaths in Ontario, including Ashtyn's.
Initially, Law faced 14 counts of second-degree murder and 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide. In May 2026, he pleaded guilty to the 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide, and prosecutors indicated the murder charges would be withdrawn following his sentencing. The victims were between the ages of 16 and 36. Law admitted to shipping the lethal packages and even participating in online forums under a pseudonym to find customers.
For Ashtyn's mother, the legal proceedings have been an agonizing process. Hearing her son's name read aloud in court was incredibly difficult, and she has spoken about the three years of "uncelebrated birthdays" since his death. Kim Prosser has become a vocal advocate, not for retribution, but for a better understanding of the mental health crisis and for changes to prevent similar tragedies. She launched a GoFundMe and is working to create a non-profit in her son's memory to help young people in distress. As Kenneth Law's sentencing continues, the families of his victims, including Ashtyn's, are left to grapple with their profound loss and the devastating consequences of his actions.
