Former OnlyFans Model Ashley Esselborn Denied Parole Again as Prison Photos Show Dramatic Change in Appearance

Ashley Marie Esselborn, a former Hooters waitress and OnlyFans creator whose name became associated with a brutal Texas murder case, has been denied parole for a second time. The 25-year-old is serving an eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to tampering with physical evidence connected to the 2022 killing of Zachary Ryan Wood.

The case has drawn renewed attention following an episode of the true-crime series Lethally Blonde, which examined the investigation and Esselborn’s alleged role in the events surrounding Wood’s death.

A Murder Investigation in Wichita Falls

On May 20, 2022, police discovered Wood dead inside a home in Wichita Falls, Texas. Investigators described a violent scene, with evidence of bloodshed found in multiple rooms.

The investigation led authorities to four people, including Esselborn. According to court records and reporting by local media, the case involved allegations of a dispute over missing money and drugs.

Investigators alleged that Esselborn was present during the assault. Witness accounts cited in police reports said she encouraged the attackers, although accounts differed over whether she physically participated in the violence.

Esselborn was initially indicted on a murder charge. However, that charge was later dismissed after she pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence in May 2023. She received an eight-year prison sentence.

The other defendants accepted plea agreements related to Wood’s murder and received prison sentences.

Parole Denied for a Second Time

Esselborn first faced a parole review in November 2025, when her request for release was denied. Texas prison records indicate that she was reviewed again in September 2026 and was denied parole once more.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice listed several reasons for the latest decision, including concerns about her institutional adjustment, the violent nature of the offense and whether her release would pose a danger to the public.

Her next review is expected in 2027. Her projected release date is July 2030, although that date could change depending on her sentence and any future decisions by prison authorities.

How Her Appearance Has Changed in Prison

Esselborn’s physical transformation has become another focus of recent coverage. Reports comparing photographs from before her arrest with later court and prison images describe a noticeable change in her appearance.

A record from her 2022 arrest reportedly listed her weight at approximately 135 pounds. At a court appearance in December 2022, records reportedly listed her weight at 185 pounds.

The available reports do not establish the reasons for those changes, and photographs alone cannot explain someone’s physical or emotional health.

Before her arrest, Esselborn worked at Hooters and created content for OnlyFans. Her online profile and appearance helped bring public attention to the case after she became a murder defendant.

The Case Featured on Lethally Blonde

The Investigation Discovery series Lethally Blonde, hosted by Holly Madison, explores real criminal cases involving people connected to modeling, entertainment and the pursuit of fame.

An episode titled “Hooters Girl Gone,” which aired in July 2026, revisited the Wichita Falls case and the investigation into Wood’s death.

Despite the attention generated by the television episode and recent reports about Esselborn’s prison appearance, the central facts remain those established through the legal proceedings: she was sentenced for tampering with evidence, while the murder charge against her was dismissed under the plea agreement.

Esselborn remains incarcerated, and the parole board’s latest decision means she will have to wait for another review before she can be considered for release.

Sources: Daily Mai