She was 18 years old, ready to close a chapter of her life, and smart enough to bring her best friend along. None of it was enough to save her.
Jadeance Hale, 18, and her best friend Lila Asher, 19, were both shot and killed on June 6 in Laurel County, Kentucky, by Hale’s boyfriend, James Priddy, 21, who then turned the gun on himself — in what authorities are calling an apparent murder-suicide.
According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, the tragedy began when the three left a home together, supposedly to grab something to eat. What their families didn’t know was that Hale had planned to end her relationship with Priddy that evening — and that Lila had come along specifically to support her friend through it.
Then came a detour nobody agreed to.
Lila called home and told her mother they were making a stop at Priddy’s house — a stop that was never part of the plan. A short time later, a mother dialed 911, sobbing, telling dispatchers she was terrified — her daughter was in a car with a man who would not let anyone leave.
“Possible domestic violence situation” — Laurel County Sheriff’s Office dispatch call, June 6
Police located the vehicle, but it refused to stop — sparking a high-speed pursuit from Knox County into Laurel County. When the chase finally ended, officers found all three occupants dead inside the car. There were no survivors. No second chances. No goodbyes.
Investigators confirmed Hale had been preparing to break up with Priddy. Lila Asher — her best friend — was there for moral support. Instead, she paid for it with her life.
What This Means: Domestic violence situations can escalate in minutes. Experts repeatedly warn that the most dangerous moment in an abusive relationship is the moment of leaving — and this case is a devastating reminder of exactly why. Two young women in the earliest years of their lives are now gone because one man refused to let go.
A GoFundMe has been created to help cover funeral expenses for both Jadeance Hale and Lila Asher. Their families are now left not only grieving — but planning burials for two girls who should have had decades ahead of them.
Lila went along to make sure her friend would be okay. That kind of loyalty is rare. It deserved a better ending than this.
If you or someone you know is in a dangerous relationship:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (call or text) — available 24/7
