In a tragic turn of events, a young woman’s plan to end her relationship turned into a nightmarish ordeal. Jedance Hale, 18, accompanied by her friend Lila Asher, a 19-year-old mother, intended to break up with her boyfriend, James Priddy, 21, in Kentucky. However, the situation took a deadly turn, culminating in a murder-suicide that claimed all their lives.
Hale had sought the company of Asher for emotional support during the breakup. As the day unfolded, Hale’s distraught mother, fearing for her daughter’s safety, placed a frantic call to 911. In the emergency call, obtained by WKYT, she conveyed the urgency of the situation, noting that her daughter had been trying to leave Priddy throughout the day.
The police quickly responded, locating Priddy’s red Chevy Cobalt and initiating a pursuit that stretched over half an hour. Despite their efforts to get him to stop, Priddy continued to evade capture until a collision with another vehicle occurred as officers attempted to corner him.
Upon reaching the crash site, authorities discovered a tragic scene: all three occupants of the car were found dead, each having suffered gunshot wounds. The incident has left the victims’ families and the community in shock, grappling with the senseless loss of young lives.
Authorities tracked down Priddy’s red Chevy Cobalt and pursued him for half an hour as he refused to pull over — before Priddy crashed into another vehicle as police tried to box him in.
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When cops approached the vehicle they found all three dead inside with gunshot wounds.
“All indications are that apparently James Priddy shot and killed Hale and Asher, then killed himself,” the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said.
Asher had recently given birth to a baby girl, according to her social media posts.
“They were two innocent girls. One was a mom to a baby girl and it’s just shocking to everybody,” Mackenize Watts, who was friends with both of the slain teenagers, told Lex 18.
A fundraiser said that the friends’ murders “has left their families and friends in shock, struggling to find the words and strength to move forward.”
“Lila and Jedance shared a deep bond, always wanting to be together, and their loved ones are determined to honor that wish by holding their funerals side by side,” said the fundraiser, which has collected more than $5,000 as of early Wednesday.
Shockingly, Priddy’s mother also launched a fundraiser for her accused killer son — calling him “a good kid” who “brought so much joy to our lives and to those around him.”
“He was the kind of person who would go out of his way to help others, and his smile could light up a room,” the fundraiser claimed. “Our family is struggling to cope with this loss, and we want to honor his memory in the best way we can.”
It sought $4,000 — but had raised just $50 from four donors as of Wednesday morning.
