MUSKEGON, Mich. — The man accused of shooting and killing a Muskegon mother of 4 has taken a plea deal.
Phillip Smith is accused of shooting and killing 30-year-old Ashley Ridge in her driveway back in October 2022 at her home near Laketon Avenue and Getty Street in Muskegon.
Ridge's family told 13 ON YOUR SIDE she was a wife and a mother of four. Police said Smith was Ridge's estranged former father-in-law.
Witnesses told police they had seen Smith and the victim arguing outside before he shot her in the head. An eyewitness attempted to intervene in the dispute prior to the shooting.
Smith has pleaded guilty to homicide and felony firearm charges in exchange for the prosecution dropping the assault and weapons charge.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke to James Ridge Sr., who was Ridge's father-in-law. He said Ridge had requested a Personal Protection Order against Smith but the request was denied due to a lack of evidence.
Documents show Smith denied committing the crime in a subsequent interview with investigators and that he had instead visited the home of a friend in Hesperia.
The friend later told authorities Smith had been emotionally distraught and appeared to have been intoxicated.
During the visit, Smith allegedly confessed to his role in the shooting. The suspect told his friend Ridge wasn’t telling him the truth.
Investigators later found a revolver and several spent bullet casings among the suspect’s belongings, the filings showed.
Reflecting on his daughter-in-law’s death, James Ridge Sr. said his entire family is hurting, adding that his son has no intention of ever returning to the home where the shooting happened.
“She left behind four kids, little girls, well, actually five because they're trying to get custody of one,” he said.
Ridge describes Ashley as “super friendly and happy all the time and loved her children and loved her husband.”
Smith will be sentenced in June.
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