Stepmom From Hell Turns a Custody Battle Into Pure Carnage

Stepmom From Hell Turns a Custody Battle Into Pure Carnage

Ashley Biggs was born on January 9th, 1987, and was raised in Akron, Ohio by her mother, Kimberly Biggs, and her grandmother, Maline Biggs. She had short, dirty blonde hair and was described as a goofy, easygoing person with a smile as big as the world. According to her girlfriend, Britney Dunson, once you got to know her, she was the most bubbly, goofy person you would ever meet.

Her favorite thing was playing with her daughter. Britney recalled, “She was my girlfriend. We were looking at rings, and we were about to be engaged. She was my everything, my life.” But sadly, the world isn’t always kind. Growing up, Ashley was bullied in high school because she tended to dress more on the masculine side, and up until that point in her life, she had primarily dated women.

When she was 17, around 2003, Ashley met Chad Cobb at a roller rink. He was a few years older than her, had graduated from high school six months earlier, and had served a brief stint in the Army. For reasons unknown, he was discharged early, and details regarding his discharge were never made public.

At first, the two were just friends. But as they spent more and more time together, their bond grew, and they soon began dating. In 2005, just two years after they first met, Ashley gave birth to their daughter, whom we will refer to as “G” for her privacy. Though she has been named by other publications, given that she was a minor at the time and has not spoken publicly as an adult, her identity remains protected here.

Chad’s mother, Cindy Cobb, described how becoming a father was Chad’s shining moment. However, his relationship with Ashley did not last long. Cindy recalled, “I know that Ashley started seeing other people, other girls. She kind of bounced back and forth between being with Chad or being with girlfriends.” However, there was much more to the story than that.

The parents initially agreed on a 50/50 custody arrangement. However, when Ashley later enlisted in the Army, full custody was awarded to Chad. The parents mutually agreed that once Ashley returned, G’s custody would revert to the previous arrangement. Ashley’s initial aspiration was to serve as a petroleum supply specialist (a 92F).

She briefly held that role after completing her training, but her asthma made it difficult to continue, forcing her to step away with a medical discharge. Six years after first joining the military, Ashley returned to her hometown of Akron to figure out her next steps.

After returning, she met Britney Dunson. Britney remembered, “I met her at my aunt’s house, and it was an instant click. She laughed, and I just knew.” The two became inseparable, eventually got engaged, and began planning their wedding. Meanwhile, Chad had also moved on. In 2006, he met a woman named Erica Lyons on MySpace.

Erica shared a lot in common with Chad; both were young single parents navigating early adulthood. In 2010, Chad and Erica married and went on to have two children together.

Even though Chad and Ashley seemed to have moved on with their respective lives, there was still one undeniable connection between them: their daughter, G. After her time in the military, Ashley sought to regain custody. However, Chad was not ready to let go. He blamed Ashley for her absence in G’s life, as she hadn’t seen her daughter in nearly two years—despite Ashley having been actively serving in the military. According to Ashley, when she tried to reach out after her discharge, Chad refused to cooperate.

In 2011, Ashley received a letter from the county Children’s Services Board stating that authorities were looking into G’s custody situation out of concern for her safety while living with Chad. For Ashley, this was not surprising. She had already experienced Chad’s violent behavior firsthand and had shared her fears with Britney.

Legal records show that Chad was arrested in 2005 and pleaded guilty to domestic violence against Ashley. Her family also noted that Ashley had acted distant during that period and was often seen covered in bruises. The last time Chad was violent toward Ashley was right before she left, and she was reportedly holding G in her arms when it happened.

This toxic environment was the real reason behind their breakup. Ashley had had enough, walked away from Chad, and enlisted in the Army. Britney later recalled that Ashley had obtained a protection order against him because she was terrified of what he might do.

Nevertheless, the letter from Children’s Services gave Ashley hope that she could finally bring her daughter home. She had strong legal arguments, and the law was leaning in her favor.

In October 2011, a local magistrate officially awarded custody of G to Ashley. Oddly enough, this decision was never communicated to Chad beforehand. At the time, G was in first grade. When Chad went to pick up his daughter from school, he was informed that she was no longer there. According to Cindy, Ashley had come to collect G that day accompanied by police officers, as G did not recognize her own mother.

A series of legal documents later surfaced, shedding light on the bitter custody dispute. These documents were posted online by Chad’s mother, Cindy Cobb, providing context regarding the ongoing conflict.

A document titled “What about G?” outlined Chad’s allegations: he claimed Ashley had abandoned G until she was six years old and then illegally removed her from school under false pretenses. He asserted that G was traumatized because she had not seen Ashley in years and did not know who she was.

Furthermore, at the time Ashley regained custody, she was living with Britney, Britney’s mother, and Britney’s brother—who was listed as a Tier 2 registered sex offender with a history involving young girls.

In a magistrate’s order dated April 11, 2012, Magistrate Bernett issued several unusual rulings directed at Ashley:

* Item 6 prohibited the parties from applying temporary tattoos on G in locations deemed provocative, including her lower back and ribcage.
* Item 8 prohibited the parties from disrobing or exposing G to nudity.
* Item 9 mandated that G have access to a cell phone at all times, which was not to be held by Ashley or Britney. During dinner or sleeping hours, the phone was to be kept in a central location, and Chad was to be notified of that location.

In a letter dated August 9, 2014, Erica wrote to the court alleging that G did not want to return to Ashley’s home and would cling to Chad’s leg begging to stay. She noted that G’s younger siblings were deeply affected by her removal from their home, and that the family had accumulated over $60,000 in legal fees fighting for custody.

Additionally, Chad and Erica expressed concern over Britney’s social media activity. On December 12th, Britney allegedly posted: *”Sometimes kids need to be hit. G is so ungrateful sometimes.”* In a court transcript, Britney was questioned about social media posts where she allegedly claimed she and Ashley drank and shot guns, as well as posts quoting Hank Williams lyrics about shooting someone, which Chad feared was directed toward G.

After leaving the Army, Ashley took on various jobs. She worked as a home health aide, where she became known for her warmth and dedication. Though she eventually left that role, her clients never forgot her kindness. Pat Height, whose late husband was cared for by Ashley for nearly a year, recalled, “She was very kind with him.”

Ashley later enrolled at Stark State College, aspiring to become a physical therapist. Balancing her education with the financial responsibility of providing for her daughter, she worked two jobs while studying: one as a janitor at Malone University and the other as a part-time delivery driver for Domino’s Pizza.

Meanwhile, Chad and Erica had managed to regain visitation rights with G, but that was not enough for them. They were desperate to have all four children under their roof. Furthermore, whenever Chad encountered Ashley, he displayed open hostility toward her, acting as though he wanted her out of the picture entirely.

Over the following months, Chad and Erica made repeated calls to child welfare authorities requesting wellness checks on G. However, each time authorities visited, they found no evidence of neglect. It became increasingly clear that Chad’s actions were driven by frustration over losing custody, and his behavior grew increasingly suspicious.

Ashley’s neighbor, Candace Andre, observed: “He’s been here a few times trying to get the layout of the apartment, camped out in the parking lot. I always told her, ‘If I see something suspicious, I’ll let you know.'”

By this point, Chad was growing impatient. The mounting legal costs were draining his finances. His mother, Cindy, remembered his desperation, stating that in one of his last conversations with her, he said he was thinking of giving up custody because he didn’t know what else to do.

On the night of June 20, 2012, Ashley was working her usual late shift at Domino’s. At approximately 11:42 p.m., an order came in for a half-pepperoni, half-mushroom pizza to be delivered to 647 West Turkeyfoot Lake Road. The call was made by a female.

The delivery address was a closed business with an empty parking lot in Akron. Ashley left with the pizza at around 11:59 p.m., but when she failed to return, her coworkers grew concerned. The delivery location was close to the store, making the delay unusual. By 12:45 a.m., her colleagues contacted the police to report her missing.

When officers arrived at the delivery scene, they immediately found signs of a struggle: drag marks across the pavement, traces of Ashley’s blood indicating she had been ambushed and fought back, taser parts, and scattered cash. However, neither Ashley nor her car was at the scene.

Britney contacted investigators to inform them about the bitter custody battle between Ashley and Chad, giving police an immediate prime suspect.

Around 4:30 a.m., officers located Chad’s Lincoln Navigator parked on his grandparents’ property. Inside the nearby property grounds, they found Erica and the couple’s four children hiding behind a barn. Chad was discovered shortly after in the woods nearby, dressed in camouflage.

Later that morning, a passerby spotted Ashley’s abandoned car in a cornfield in Chippewa Township, Ohio. Her body was found in the backseat; her arms, legs, and neck were bound with industrial-sized zip ties.

According to investigators, Erica claimed that Chad had come home around 1:00 a.m. and ordered her to pack up the children immediately. They drove to his grandparents’ house, where Chad got out of the car and told her he would return shortly.

Chad and Erica were taken into custody and questioned, but both denied knowing what had happened to Ashley. Although their behavior raised serious suspicions, police initially lacked direct physical evidence to hold them.

Desperate for a breakthrough, detectives searched Chad’s residence. They discovered a backpack containing incriminating items, several of which were stained with blood. Chad was swiftly arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated murder, making him eligible for the death penalty under Ohio law.

Seeking to avoid execution, Chad’s defense attorney, Don Malarcik, advised taking a plea deal. Malarcik explained: “It was a tough case. This wasn’t a case that we felt we could take to trial and do well on. Our number one goal was to avoid the death penalty. We discussed how old his kids would be if the state executed him. I told him, ‘Chad, you need to be there for your kids.’ That was the driving force.”

In February 2013, Chad pleaded guilty to all 10 counts against him—including aggravated murder, kidnapping, and robbery—in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Even with Chad behind bars, Detective Michael Hitchens knew unanswered questions remained: Who was the woman who placed the delivery call that lured Ashley to her death? And was anyone else involved?

When questioned, Chad remained silent about any accomplices, insisting he acted alone. However, Detective Hitchens suspected Chad was shielding Erica.

Records showed that the call to Domino’s was placed from a prepaid burner phone purchased at a local Walmart days prior and activated on the day of the murder. Surveillance footage from the store showed Chad purchasing the phone alongside Erica and their children.

Detective Hitchens monitored Erica’s social media and found a post featuring a picture of O.J. Simpson with the caption: *”99 problems and a bitch ain’t one.”* To investigators, this demonstrated a complete lack of remorse.

Shortly after Chad’s conviction, Erica became pregnant by Chad’s best friend, Mike Stefano. Cindy Cobb recalled: “Erica got together with Mike shortly after Chad went to jail. At first, she told me she didn’t know who the father was, but later we found out it was Mike. She wanted to stay married to Chad while keeping Mike on the side, but Chad refused.”

For Chad, this was a profound betrayal. He had taken full responsibility to shield Erica from prosecution, only for her to carry on a relationship with his best friend inside the home he had paid for.

The turning point came when Chad received a handwritten letter in prison from his daughter, G, detailing the abuse she was suffering at Erica’s hands.

G wrote that Erica was physically and mentally abusive, warning her not to tell anyone. In the letter, G recalled being locked in a cage, being pinned to the wall, and having Erica kneel on her throat and cover her mouth until she thought she would suffocate. She also revealed that Erica had forced her to eat dog feces mixed into yogurt out of sheer jealousy over G’s relationship with her father.

Furthermore, a friend named Mary Brinkman later testified that Erica made no secret of her hatred for Ashley, even admitting that she had hacked into Ashley’s accounts prior to the murder and had later gone to Ashley’s grave to desecrate it.

Devastated by the abuse inflicted on his daughter and the betrayal by his wife, Chad decided to break his silence. In 2017, he wrote to Detective Hitchens stating he was ready to confess the full truth.

Chad revealed that Erica was the mastermind behind the entire plot: she had chosen the location, placed the call, accompanied him during the crime, and helped secure the zip ties around Ashley.

To corroborate Chad’s statement, investigators obtained a crucial audio recording provided by Cindy Cobb. In the spring of 2014, Cindy had invited Erica to her home and secretly recorded their conversation. On the tape, Erica admitted her role, stating: *”Chad said this is what we’re going to do and this is your part in it, and I carried out my part… It wasn’t because he had a gun to my head. It was because he said this is your part, and this is what you’re going to do.”*

On November 11, 2019, Erica was officially arrested and charged with 12 counts, including aggravated murder, kidnapping, robbery, and abuse of a corpse.

Erica’s trial took place in 2020. Chad testified via Zoom due to pandemic restrictions, detailing how Erica orchestrated the fake pizza order to lure Ashley. Fifteen-year-old G also testified about the phone call she overheard and the ongoing abuse she suffered.

Dr. Lisa Kohler, the medical examiner, testified that Ashley had been severely beaten, tased, and strangled to death with a zip tie. Postmortem restraints were also applied to her legs to move her body.

Erica was initially convicted, but in July 2022, the Ninth District Court of Appeals overturned the verdict, ruling that Chad’s testimony via Zoom violated Erica’s constitutional right to confront witnesses in person. A retrial was ordered for January 2024.

During the 2024 retrial, Chad testified in person. Graphic photos of Ashley’s injuries were presented, causing Ashley’s mother, Kimberly, to collapse in the courtroom.

During her victim impact statement, Kimberly expressed her grief and anger, telling Erica: *”You took everything from me the day you took my only child. I can only pray that the courts will take everything away from you by giving you life without a chance of parole.”*

G also delivered an impact statement, addressing Erica directly: *”Erica, you killed my mother. Yet, you have shown absolutely no remorse for your actions… You are untrustworthy. You’re a liar. You’re sickening. But worst of all, you’re a killer. This world is safer with you locked up.”*

On January 31, 2024, the jury found Erica Stefeno guilty on all counts. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.The courtroom, packed with members of both families, erupted in cheers when Judge Jennifer Towell announced Erica’s sentence.

“With this, Mrs. Stefano, based upon the facts and circumstances, consideration of the relevant sentencing factors, and applying the minimum sanction I’ve determined will protect the public and punish you without imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local resources, I am analyzing all the factors I’m required to analyze—including the seriousness factors, the recidivism factors, and all other factors before the court, including the following: the testimony of all the witnesses, the testimony of your co-defendant, the testimony of the victim’s daughter, and your sworn testimony.

Also taking into account the fact that you took the life of a young working woman who was trying to support her only child. The fact that you took the life of a young Army veteran who served our country and put others before herself. Taking into account that you lured this young Army veteran mother into a dark parking lot late at night while in a car with four young children—and this is the most egregious part—which included the victim’s own daughter.

Also taking into account the secondary trauma that you’ve caused for individuals in the community, for jurors, for court staff, and everyone else who has had to review the pictures, the testimony, and everything that happened that night.

Uh, could you please stand? Mrs. Stefano, the court is sentencing you to a term of life in prison without the possibility of… Please maintain your decorum or you’ll be taken out of the courtroom. Understood? Thank you.

Again, the court is sentencing you to a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole until after serving 30 full years of imprisonment. As part of your sentence, you must obey all laws, refrain from any offensive conduct, and follow all the rules of the department. You are not allowed to use drugs and alcohol, and you may be tested for that. You must follow all the rules of the institution.”

Ashley was laid to rest in Akron, Ohio, following a chapel service that honored her life and the impact she had on those around her. Her funeral drew family, friends, and members of the community who remembered her warmth, kindness, and the joy she brought to others. Her obituary, published by Billow Funeral Homes, reflects the love and sorrow of her family and community: “She was our angel and will always be in our hearts.”

On a memorial page on ForeverMissed.com, her mother Kimberly wrote, “To my darling, my angel Ashley, my daughter, my life. My heart was given in my arms. God sent me an angel. I know you’re watching me and your daughter. We miss you so much. I don’t know how I go on not having you here with me. I love you, my girl. Can’t wait to see you. Your Mommy.”