KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The wife of a Georgia man who kidnapped a Knox County girl in late January had her first appearance in court Friday.
Ashley Ahrens, 35, of Ringgold, Ga., is charged in Knox County Criminal Court with facilitation of especially aggravated kidnapping and being an accessory after the fact. In essence, the charges allege she knew of her husband's plan to kidnap the child and helped him after he did it.
She's being held in the Knox County jail in lieu of bond.
Judge Hector Sanchez appointed Rhonda Lee on Friday to represent Ahrens. Her next court date is Aug. 29.
In late January, Knox County authorities say, Edward Ahrens, also of Ringgold, kidnapped an 11-year-old Halls girl after encountering her online.
Ahrens was a convicted sex offender. Records show that 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 criminal investigation continued, including into the alleged role of his wife, Ashley.
Ashley Ahrens was booked June 13 into the Knox County jail.
