Regional Roundup: Fire Displaces Family, Kidnapper Sentenced to Life in Prison and Names of Boating Accident Victims Released

Dacula Patch

The Red Cross was called to assist three adults and three children after an early morning fire heavily damaged an Auburn home.

Fire crews were dispatched to a house in the 2000 block of Blackberry Lane in Auburn at 3:36 a.m. after one of the residents reported the home was on fire. When firefighters arrived eight minutes later, the family was already outside the residence.

According to the GCFES press release, the fire caused heavy damage to the interior of the home. Fire investigators believe the blaze was accidental and may have originated from an electrical outlet.

– Douglasville Patch

Thad Ashley, 38, was sentenced to life in prison plus thirty-one years after being found guilty, on June 18, of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and criminal trespass, according to the  Facebook page.

In September 2011, Ashley grabbed a 7-year-old girl by the arm and pulled her out of her family vehicle, which was parked at her home in the Douglas Estates Mobile Home Community. She was able to free herself and run away but Ashley then reached into the van again and attempted to grab a 2-year-old girl.

Ashley admitted to pulling one child out of the van and reaching for the second child, but stated he was confused because he had been mixing methadone and Xanax.

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-- Loganville Patch

Recovery efforts for 13-year-old Griffin Prince, who is still missing after a boating incident at Lake Lanier Monday night will resume this morning, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The
9-year-old brother of the teen, Jake Prince, died at the scene.

A pontoon boat driven by Michael Prince, father of the two boys, and carrying 12 other people, including the boys’ mother, was hit by another boat at about 10:30 Monday night in Shoal Creek. The Prince family resides in Buford.

The operator of the other boat – Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming – was arrested by DNR Wildlife Resources Division rangers and charged with Boating Under the Influence.