A family in Niagara is welcoming the news tonight of a killer who’s been locked up behind bars in British Columbia. They say it closes a chapter in the tragic story of their daughter Ashley Simpson who went missing years ago and was eventually found murdered. But they say the story isn’t over.
Cindy Simpson holds on to memories of her daughter Ashley at home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, including ashes with the image of a dragonfly that Ashley loved years after her daughter went missing.
READ MORE: Ashley Simpson’s remains have been located and RCMP have charged her boyfriend with murder
She welcomes the sentence for Ashley’s killer in B.C. but says it does not mean closure.
“I really don’t like when they say, ‘now you have closure.’ We don’t have closure. What we have is a chapter of that book is closed. Now we’re starting a new chapter,” Cindy said.
In British Columbia, Derek Favell was sentenced to life in prison last week for murdering Ashley eight years ago with no parole for 12 years.
Cindy says Favell should never get out of jail, but says the police and the courts did the most they could. “That’s the maximum. I was happy because I know no matter what, family members will make it there in 12 years to speak, to speak on Ashley’s behalf.”
Cindy says Ashley was fun-loving and known for her smile. She also loved the outdoors and that led her to Salmon Arm, British Columbia where she was living with Favell.
READ MORE: ID of missing St. Catharines woman found in B.C.
Ashley went missing in 2016. Her body was found in a remote area of the British Columbia interior in 2021. Her boyfriend was charged after he confessed to an undercover police officer and he eventually pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
Ashley’s mother remembers things like her daughter’s favorite music. “I’ve driven down the street, a song comes on the radio, I have to pull over, the one time I almost ended up in the ditch. So anything can trigger you and it’s hell but with this chapter closed I don’t think it’ll be as bad.”
She says this can happen to any family. “And when it happens it’s devastating and you think, the what if’s step in. And I learned the hard way. The what if’s should never step in. It happened, it happened. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
She says they’re looking ahead to the next chapter of the story, if Favell ever tries to get out of jail.
“Everybody deserves a chance. And that’s what he did. He took away Ashley’s chance to come home with her family.”
She says Ashley’s family will be there in B.C. in 12 years or any time he applies for parole.