Full Breakdown
Missing DC Executive: The Ongoing Search for Antoinette Forbes
By Drooid · · How we work
Disappearance and Immediate Response
Antoinette Forbes, a 53-year-old associate vice president of public affairs at Eli Lilly, was last seen on September 4 in the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. Her car was in the driveway; phones, keys, wallet, purse and her dog, Max, were found inside the home.
The family reported contact on September 5, after which communication stopped. A friend who entered the residence alerted police to the abandoned belongings. MPD has classified the case as a critical missing-person investigation and asks anyone with door-bell, dash-cam or surveillance footage from the weekend of September 4 to contact 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
Background: Custody Dispute and Prior Violence
Court filings show a custody battle between Forbes and the father of her 10-year-old son, Russell Ashford. Ashford was convicted in 2021 of assaulting Forbes, receiving a 15-month suspended sentence and five years of supervised probation.
Timeline
- September 4 – Forbes last seen near her home.
- September 5 – Family issues public statement confirming she is missing.
- Early September – Russell Ashford arrested in Pennsylvania on a Maryland probation-violation warrant; authorities have not linked the arrest to the disappearance.
- Mid-September – Friends hold a vigil at National Presbyterian Church; the church urges prayers and public assistance.
- Ongoing – MPD continues to request tips and has not identified a suspect.
Official Statements & Responses
- Eli Lilly: A company spokesperson told CNN that Eli Lilly is cooperating with investigators and asked the public to contact police with any leads.
On-the-Ground Reports
Friends who visited Forbes’s Spring Valley home said personal items were untouched and Max was alone inside. Investigators spent several hours speaking with neighbors; police have not disclosed new evidence. Friends have organized vigils, circulated flyers and maintain a GoFundMe page to support search efforts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Arrest Connection: While Ashford’s September arrest is confirmed, MPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office have not indicated any link to Forbes’s disappearance.
- Suspect Status: D.C. police have not publicly named a suspect or person of interest; the investigation remains focused on gathering information from the public.
Verbatim Quote
- “She’s my beloved sister, a beloved daughter and mother, colleague, friend. We want her to come home. Please come forward if you know anything,” — Aileen Forbes
