New Court Audio Reveals Troubled History as Search for Missing D.C. Mother Antoinette Forbes Continues

The search for missing Washington, D.C. mother Antoinette Forbes has entered a new phase after police released additional evidence from her home and previously recorded court testimony revealed a history of domestic violence involving her former partner.

Forbes, 53, was last seen around 3 p.m. on September 4, 2026, near the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. She remained in contact with her sister the following morning, but later disappeared without explanation.

When friends went to check on her home, they found her phone, wallet, keys, car and dog still there. Her family has said she had no known plans to leave Washington and would not voluntarily abandon her 10-year-old son.

On September 17, FOX 5 DC reported that previously recorded court testimony involving Forbes and her former boyfriend, Russell Ashford, had been obtained and released. The testimony offered a look into the troubled history of their relationship and their years-long disputes as former partners and co-parents.

Ashford had previously been convicted of assaulting Forbes in 2021. Court records describe a serious domestic-violence incident that left Forbes hospitalized with multiple injuries, including facial fractures and other trauma. In later court testimony, Forbes described the impact of the assault and disputed claims that it was an isolated incident.

However, Ashford has not been named by D.C. police as a suspect or person of interest in Forbes’ disappearance. His current detention in Pennsylvania stems from a probation-related matter and separate firearms charges, rather than a charge involving Forbes’ disappearance. NBC Washington has also emphasized that he has not been charged in connection with her case.

Meanwhile, investigators continued working at Forbes’ Northwest D.C. home. FOX 5 and other local reports showed forensic personnel removing bags and other items from the property as investigators examined potential evidence. A homicide detective is reportedly leading the investigation, although authorities have not publicly disclosed what investigators may have recovered.

Source: People.com