In the small town of Bellevue, Idaho, the morning of October 22, 2020, was shattered by a tragic event that claimed the life of 34-year-old Ashley Midby, a White female known for her vibrant presence in the community. Her life was cut short in a place she was well-known, an office next to the coffee shop she managed, a popular local gathering spot.
The circumstances of her death were determined to be a murder-suicide, an act of violence that also resulted in the death of her boyfriend.
The individual responsible for Midby's death was identified as 28-year-old Jared Murphy, who was a police officer with the Hailey Police Department and had also been a candidate for mayor of Bellevue. The couple had been in a relationship since 2018 and lived together. The tragic event was not without warning signs. Just three days prior to the fatal shooting, police had responded to a domestic disturbance call at their residence. During that call, Midby reported that she had been subjected to verbal and emotional abuse by Murphy.
In the wake of the domestic disturbance report, the Hailey Police Department placed Murphy on administrative leave. On the same day that he was fired from his position as a police officer, Murphy carried out the fatal attack on Midby before taking his own life. Both died from gunshot wounds. Investigators later concluded that Murphy's actions constituted a premeditated and intentional murder. Because the sole suspect in Midby's murder also died at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with her death, and the case was closed. The community was left to mourn the loss of a woman described as a "wonderful young lady" and a "beautiful ray of sunshine."
