By TRACY MCCUE – Sumner NewsCow
The Sumner County Attorney’s office has decided not to prosecute Ashley Pearson, 29, of Wellington, who had been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of her boyfriend Kyle Hill.
Hill died as a result of a stab wound that occurred at a residence at 315 North B Street on 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning in Wellington. Initially, Pearson declined to make a statement to Wellington police and suggested to the detective that he just take her to jail.
“She could have saved herself three or four days in jail had she talked to the detective that night,” Spencer said from his office today.
Based on evidence in the Wellington Police Department report, Spencer determined that Pearson was acting in self defense based on the actions of Hill of the night in question.
“On Sept. 17, Pearson provided a statement suggesting that she was acting in self defense,” Spencer said. “The investigation is ongoing. Primarily, Ms. Pearson’s claim fits within the definition of reasonable self-defense pursuant to KSA 21-5222.”
That statute states:
“A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent it appears to such person and such person reasonably believes that such use of force is necessary to defend such person or a third person against such other’s imminent use of unlawful force.”
Spencer said there are no other suspects in the crime and that he ordered Pearson’s release from the Sumner County Jail. She had been arrested Saturday.
Spencer said if further investigation changes his evaluation of the reasonableness of her claim of self defense, then the decision could be reviewed. A hearing in the case, set for Thursday, has been canceled.
In an interview Wednesday, Spencer said that the incident occurred after Hill had returned to the house after celebrating his birthday with his mother. Spencer said Hill was intoxicated.
The county attorney’s office did not release any details on the reason for the ensuing fight. The incident escalated to the point that Pearson had to defend herself, Spencer said.
“The information provided to us corroborates more with her story, than it does that she was being less than truthful,” Spencer said.
Spencer said Hill died of a single wound to the chest. Pearson had alerted a neighbor to call 911, he said. When authorities and rescue workers arrived on the scene she had been applying pressure to the wound of Hill.
“I cannot go into further details, because there is a possibility that this investigation will be re-opened,” Spencer said.
Hill and Pearson.
