KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Her husband died while kidnapping a Knox County girl in February. Now Ashley Ahrens faces charges in the case as well.
A Knox County grand jury indicted Ahrens, of Ringgold, Ga., on June 5. She's charged in Knox County Criminal Court with facilitation of especially aggravated kidnapping and being an accessory after the fact.
She's due to be arraigned Friday before Judge Hector Sanchez, records show. She was booked June 13 into the Knox County jail on the presentment.
In late January, Knox County authorities say, Edward Ahrens, also of Ringgold, kidnapped an 11-year-old Halls girl after encountering her through social media.
Ahrens was a convicted sex offender. Records show the case dates to 2008 and involved sexual exploitation of children.
Early Feb. 2, Knox County and Catoosa County, Ga., officers tracked Ahrens, with the girl in his vehicle, to Hamilton County. He was on Interstate 75 heading toward Georgia, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Ahrens pulled off the interstate at East Ridge, Tenn. Authorities say he tried to hit the law officers with his vehicle. Some suffered injuries.
KCSO veterans David Amburn, Aaron Yarnell and John Sharp, as well as a Catoosa County lieutenant, fired at Ahrens in the car, striking him 16 times. He later died; the girl, in the front seat, was unhurt.
After Ahrens' death, the investigation continued, including into the alleged role of his wife, Ashley.
The indictment states that between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2 she knew that her husband intended to kidnap the child and helped in the commission of the crime. She also is alleged, after the kidnapping, to have helped him try to avoid arrest and prosecution.
A KCSO spokeswoman couldn't be reached for more specific details.
The TBI continues to investigate the shooting. Hamilton County District Attorney General Coty Wamp has cleared the officers of wrongdoing in the shooting.
