It was supposed to be a peaceful Tuesday evening for Ashley Wasielewski. After attending a Christmas program at a nearby church on December 10, the 46-year-old mother went for her usual walk through the historic paths of Forsyth Park. But as she reached the edge of the park near Whitaker and West Waldburg streets, a shadow appeared behind her. Thinking it might just be someone passing by, Ashley turned around. In an instant, a stranger doused her with a liquid so corrosive it didn’t just burn her skin—it began to melt her clothing and even the car keys in her pocket.
The scene was nothing short of a nightmare. Witnesses described hearing blood-curdling screams as the unknown man, dressed in dark clothing, vanished into the night. Ashley was rushed to the Augusta Burn Center, where she is currently battling injuries that no one should ever have to face. Doctors say the acid covered more than 50% of her body, leaving her with severe third-degree burns on her face, scalp, hands, and legs. Her friend Connor Milam recalled Ashley’s first confused thoughts: “Why are you pouring water on me?” she had asked, before the agonizing pain truly set in.
The Savannah community has been rocked to its core by the sheer randomness of the violence. Mayor Van Johnson, who has spent three decades in public service, admitted he has never seen anything like this in the city. The FBI has joined the hunt, and the stakes are high. There is currently a $15,000 reward on the table for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction. Southern Cross Hospitality, which runs the local favorite Collins Quarter, stepped up with $10,000 of that total, while the FBI added another $5,000 to the pot.
In the days since the attack, investigators have been working around the clock. They recently identified a “person of interest” seen on security footage wearing a hoodie with a cartoon rabbit, though they haven’t officially named a suspect yet. Police are also still looking for the driver of a white SUV spotted in the area that night. Authorities are pleading with anyone who has doorbell camera footage from the night of December 10 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to come forward. Even the smallest detail could be the break they need to get this person off the streets.
For Ashley’s family, the emotional toll is just as heavy as the physical one. Her son, Westley, describes her as a woman who truly has no enemies—a “friend to everyone.” She’s a proud Christian woman known for a laugh that fills up a room, and now that room is a sterile hospital ward where she faces a grueling schedule of surgeries and skin grafts. Specialists say her recovery won’t just take weeks; it will likely take years of rehabilitation and occupational therapy to heal the physical and emotional scars left behind.
Despite the horror of what happened, the response from the people of Savannah and beyond has been a small light in a very dark time. A GoFundMe page set up for Ashley has seen an incredible outpouring of love, raising over $263,000 to help cover her mountain of medical bills. Friends say that despite everything, Ashley’s spirit remains strong. She has even asked that the public keep sharing the photos released by the police, hoping that keeping the case in the spotlight will eventually lead to justice.
As the search for her attacker continues, Savannah remains on edge but united. Local police have increased patrols in city parks to ensure people feel safe again in the spaces they love. For now, the focus is on two things: finding the man in the shadows and helping Ashley Wasielewski through the fight of her life. If you know anything—no matter how small it seems—the FBI and Savannah Police are waiting for your call.
