In the winter of 2019, the life of a 48-year-old Caucasian woman, Christina Powell, was tragically cut short in her Spokane, Washington home. On the morning of January 24th, a confrontation inside her son's residence on East Cataldo Avenue turned fatal. Ashley Horning, the 25-year-old ex-girlfriend of Christina's son, Gregory Powell, had arrived at the home, leading to a fatal encounter.
The events unfolded when Horning entered the home and was met by Christina.
Gregory Powell, who was present at the scene, stated that his mother stood between him and Horning as he went to his room to get a weapon. Before he could return, a gunshot was heard. He emerged to find his mother collapsing, having been shot. Christina Powell died at the scene from her injuries.
Immediately following the shooting, Ashley Horning, armed with a silver revolver, fled the home. This prompted a manhunt by the Spokane Police Department. The search for Horning lasted for a couple of hours before she was taken into custody. Her arrest was facilitated by her new boyfriend, who, after she contacted him and expressed suicidal thoughts, convinced her to turn herself in.
The investigation into Christina Powell’s death quickly pointed to a history of conflict between Horning and Gregory Powell, primarily concerning the custody of their young daughter, who was present at the home when the shooting occurred. In the days following the incident, Horning was charged with second-degree murder, a charge that was later elevated to a first-degree murder investigation. During her initial court appearance, Horning appeared confused and claimed she was innocent, even stating that she had "blacked out" and had no memory of the shooting. Her defense attorney suggested that she needed psychiatric help. Following a psychological evaluation where she was diagnosed with several mental health disorders, she was ultimately found competent to stand trial.
In January 2023, Ashley Horning pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Christina Powell. She was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison.
