James Adam Ashby
Meet James Ashby, or as his family calls him, Adam. Adam is a decorated Navy Veteran, former Police Officer, and loving father, son, uncle, and brother. He has devoted his life to public service on the national stage serving overseas and in local communities. Adam has a very interesting story to tell you. While the pictures above show a very happy man enjoying time with his beautiful daughters and enjoying his favorite hobbies, things have changed...
Adam now sits in a prison serving a term of 16 years for second degree murder. His daughters, family, pets, and hobbies anxiously await his return. We hope that you will take the time to hear his story and help bring him home. If you feel as strongly about his wrongful conviction as he and his family does, please leave feedback or reach out to us directly to learn how to help out. Thank you.
As mentioned in the Introduction page of this website, the media and courts have unfairly portrayed Adam as a horrible person. Throughout the lengthy court proceedings and resultant trial, Adam's character was slandered repeatedly. At the same time, the media showed pictures and covered "Justice for Jack" protests in an effort to further the narrative that Adam was a menace that followed an innocent kid into his home and shot him in the back. You will learn in subsequent pages the true facts of this case, but they didn't follow the narrative that the media sought to spread.
Jack's family and friends also took turns taking jabs at Adam. There was an incident where they confronted Adam's closest family members outside the courthouse during the trial. They were repeatedly shouting hateful things and trying to fight. Throughout the court proceedings, Adam's family and friends showed admirable restraint. They refrained from telling Adam's side of the story with the hopes that everything would be settled in court. They trusted the justice system, the system failed them.
We would like to start with some undeniable facts regarding Adam's life and character. Adam is an 8-year Navy War Veteran that served honorably in numerous operations including Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. Throughout his Naval service as an Aviation Mechanic Engineer Second Class (AME2), Adam was awarded several personal and unit commendations. He was the recipient of several Navy Achievement Medals (NAMs), the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), the Navy Unit Commendation (NUC), and Junior Sailor of the Quarter. He also worked as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) regeneration specialist for the highly sensitive STRATCOM command.
Even though Adam demonstrated a very promising career as a Naval engineer, he left service to return home and help his family through some tough times. Adam dropped everything to return home and take care of his sick father (who recently passed away), his disabled mother, and his sister who has down-syndrome.
Adam was a highly decorated and esteemed Police Officer that served in several communities. He was regarded by his previous employers as one of the most ethically sound and expertly trained Officers on the force. He was awarded the 2010 Officer of the Year, Distinguished Life Saver Award (pictured above) in addition to several other life-saving awards. He was qualified as an Advanced SWAT Sniper, and was trained in several disciplines including field craft, tactical environments, surveillance and Krav Maga. He was also an instructor in the disciplines of hand to hand combat, trauma medic, and use of force.
Even after being charged with murder, Adam exemplified courage as he continued with his community service commitments and outreach programs. He was the leader of a dirt bike charity through his church that was instrumental in providing mentorship to young men of the community.
While currently incarcerated, Adam has found other ways to help people in need. He has been creating artwork through his prison for an organization called "Wheels for the World" that provides impoverished children with bikes for Christmas. He also trains professional service dogs for the disabled. He has trained 7 dogs, 6 of which are working with War Veterans, diabetic and epileptic children, and others with various disabilities.
Adam was raised in a family of public servants. Several members of his family were in the Military and/or Law Enforcement. His family was a Foster Family for the state of Colorado. Throughout his childhood, his family took in hundreds of children and helped them in time of need. Adam, being the oldest, left a lasting impact on numerous children who called him their brother. His father was a life-long counselor that provided guidance and therapy to at risk youth and adult prisoners.
This is the MONSTER the media and courts would like you to know...
Adam now sits in a prison serving a term of 16 years for second degree murder. His daughters, family, pets, and hobbies anxiously await his return. We hope that you will take the time to hear his story and help bring him home. If you feel as strongly about his wrongful conviction as he and his family does, please leave feedback or reach out to us directly to learn how to help out. Thank you.
As mentioned in the Introduction page of this website, the media and courts have unfairly portrayed Adam as a horrible person. Throughout the lengthy court proceedings and resultant trial, Adam's character was slandered repeatedly. At the same time, the media showed pictures and covered "Justice for Jack" protests in an effort to further the narrative that Adam was a menace that followed an innocent kid into his home and shot him in the back. You will learn in subsequent pages the true facts of this case, but they didn't follow the narrative that the media sought to spread.
Jack's family and friends also took turns taking jabs at Adam. There was an incident where they confronted Adam's closest family members outside the courthouse during the trial. They were repeatedly shouting hateful things and trying to fight. Throughout the court proceedings, Adam's family and friends showed admirable restraint. They refrained from telling Adam's side of the story with the hopes that everything would be settled in court. They trusted the justice system, the system failed them.
We would like to start with some undeniable facts regarding Adam's life and character. Adam is an 8-year Navy War Veteran that served honorably in numerous operations including Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. Throughout his Naval service as an Aviation Mechanic Engineer Second Class (AME2), Adam was awarded several personal and unit commendations. He was the recipient of several Navy Achievement Medals (NAMs), the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), the Navy Unit Commendation (NUC), and Junior Sailor of the Quarter. He also worked as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) regeneration specialist for the highly sensitive STRATCOM command.
Even though Adam demonstrated a very promising career as a Naval engineer, he left service to return home and help his family through some tough times. Adam dropped everything to return home and take care of his sick father (who recently passed away), his disabled mother, and his sister who has down-syndrome.
Adam was a highly decorated and esteemed Police Officer that served in several communities. He was regarded by his previous employers as one of the most ethically sound and expertly trained Officers on the force. He was awarded the 2010 Officer of the Year, Distinguished Life Saver Award (pictured above) in addition to several other life-saving awards. He was qualified as an Advanced SWAT Sniper, and was trained in several disciplines including field craft, tactical environments, surveillance and Krav Maga. He was also an instructor in the disciplines of hand to hand combat, trauma medic, and use of force.
Even after being charged with murder, Adam exemplified courage as he continued with his community service commitments and outreach programs. He was the leader of a dirt bike charity through his church that was instrumental in providing mentorship to young men of the community.
While currently incarcerated, Adam has found other ways to help people in need. He has been creating artwork through his prison for an organization called "Wheels for the World" that provides impoverished children with bikes for Christmas. He also trains professional service dogs for the disabled. He has trained 7 dogs, 6 of which are working with War Veterans, diabetic and epileptic children, and others with various disabilities.
Adam was raised in a family of public servants. Several members of his family were in the Military and/or Law Enforcement. His family was a Foster Family for the state of Colorado. Throughout his childhood, his family took in hundreds of children and helped them in time of need. Adam, being the oldest, left a lasting impact on numerous children who called him their brother. His father was a life-long counselor that provided guidance and therapy to at risk youth and adult prisoners.
This is the MONSTER the media and courts would like you to know...
Below are some excerpts from various character reference letters submitted by Adam's family and friends. Keep in mind, these are the people that know him best. Their description of Adam should hold significant weight in helping you understand the type of person Adam is.
"Service over self. That is what I know about Adam". He loves his kids dearly and "spends every moment he can with them, and their needs come before his own". He had a "dedication to honesty and service to others". "Injustice has been perpetrated upon someone who has done nothing but serve his country and those who are in need". - Alexander Ashby (Cousin)
"Out of all the foster sisters and brothers I had growing up, Adam was the most accepting and compassionate". "He left a lasting impression on a young man that needed guidance". He showed me "how to be a young man and how to show respect and compassion towards others". "The way he cared for his family, friends and country made me want to be more like him". - Anthony Ashby (Brother)
"Adam is a great father, son, and brother". He "put his life on the line for a very long time for our country and the people in it. Not many people would do what he does and come home at the end of the day smiling". - Kelly Ashby (Sister-in-law)
Adam "always wanted to protect". "He made it to the rank of 2nd class petty officer (E-5) and had the opportunity to make 1st class (E-6), which is close to becoming a Chief, and there are very few AME Chiefs out there in the Navy. But he chose to come home due to medical issues with my father". "Adam is extremely caring, whether it be a child, adult, or animal. Him being the first to initiate aid in this unfortunate situation speaks miles to me. If he really wanted to 'murder' him, why would he try to save him?". - Matthew Ashby (Brother)
"He was never in trouble in school, earning good grades participating in track and field". "Never in trouble with the law". "I truly believe with all my heart, that in the line of duty, Adam was in an impossible situation faced with an extremely difficult decision that ended with an unwanted and tragic outcome for everyone". - Patrick Ashby (Uncle)
"I have always looked up to him and thought of him as an older brother". "I have never known or met anyone that comes close to how strong his morals and values are". "He's caring, understanding, fun, loving, and will always help his family or friends if he can". "He is a protector. Protector of his family, friends, animals, and even with the everyday person". He was "A protector of the people". - Aaron Rice
"Adam clearly cares about people and has always had the characteristic of being a protector". "He does not hesitate to place his life on the line for others". "Things went awry on the track and without hesitation, he wrecked his bike to save a kid from being terribly hurt or killed. Without his sacrifice, the kid would have been gravely injured. Adam sustained multiple severe injuries that required numerous surgeries and several months in a skilled nursing facility for recovery. Never once during his long recovery, or after, did he demonstrate any remorse for suffering such a set-back in his personal life and health. He knew he did the right thing, but he certainly paid for it physically." - Ginger Ryan
"We all helped out at the animal shelter and did community events together". "I know him to be a kind, caring person, a good dad to his girls, and a loving son". "I've known Adam and have never known him to be anything but a good person with only the best intentions, he would never cause harm to another person intentionally or out of anger". - Starr Graser
"James is the strongest person I have ever met. His mental, emotional, and physical strength is something to be envied". "He possesses a courageousness that is unmatched". "He is a man of strength, character, loyalty, and values". - Holly Kaiser
"I had the privilege of witnessing his graciousness and gentle nature by observing his interactions with his family's foster children". He had "a loyal and caring nature". "He upheld the obligation to the community in which he sworn an oath". - Kiel Petkoff (2nd Ltnt, US Army)
"Adam is and has always been a person of integrity and honesty". He has "received several commendations for his service to the community". - Dianne Petkoff
"He is a protector, sworn to protect". "You don't see very many younger people today with his ethics, integrity, and morals". - Don Pryor
"I feel people need to know how compassionate and caring Adam really is". "Those little girls love their daddy". - Rachael Bishop
"I know him to be an honorable and dedicated citizen to this country". - Brad Borchard
"He has shown himself to be a strong man with a passion to live life with integrity and commitment". - Rev. Douglas Cox
"He is a great man who took me under his wing and inspired me to join the Navy". "Adam treated me like a younger brother". "He was courteous to everyone". - Tony Dominguez
"Adam is a sweet natured human being and despite his outward appearance, he is hurt easily". "Adam epitomizes all of the values we were taught to believe and hold true". - Amanda Funck (Cousin)
"Service over self. That is what I know about Adam". He loves his kids dearly and "spends every moment he can with them, and their needs come before his own". He had a "dedication to honesty and service to others". "Injustice has been perpetrated upon someone who has done nothing but serve his country and those who are in need". - Alexander Ashby (Cousin)
"Out of all the foster sisters and brothers I had growing up, Adam was the most accepting and compassionate". "He left a lasting impression on a young man that needed guidance". He showed me "how to be a young man and how to show respect and compassion towards others". "The way he cared for his family, friends and country made me want to be more like him". - Anthony Ashby (Brother)
"Adam is a great father, son, and brother". He "put his life on the line for a very long time for our country and the people in it. Not many people would do what he does and come home at the end of the day smiling". - Kelly Ashby (Sister-in-law)
Adam "always wanted to protect". "He made it to the rank of 2nd class petty officer (E-5) and had the opportunity to make 1st class (E-6), which is close to becoming a Chief, and there are very few AME Chiefs out there in the Navy. But he chose to come home due to medical issues with my father". "Adam is extremely caring, whether it be a child, adult, or animal. Him being the first to initiate aid in this unfortunate situation speaks miles to me. If he really wanted to 'murder' him, why would he try to save him?". - Matthew Ashby (Brother)
"He was never in trouble in school, earning good grades participating in track and field". "Never in trouble with the law". "I truly believe with all my heart, that in the line of duty, Adam was in an impossible situation faced with an extremely difficult decision that ended with an unwanted and tragic outcome for everyone". - Patrick Ashby (Uncle)
"I have always looked up to him and thought of him as an older brother". "I have never known or met anyone that comes close to how strong his morals and values are". "He's caring, understanding, fun, loving, and will always help his family or friends if he can". "He is a protector. Protector of his family, friends, animals, and even with the everyday person". He was "A protector of the people". - Aaron Rice
"Adam clearly cares about people and has always had the characteristic of being a protector". "He does not hesitate to place his life on the line for others". "Things went awry on the track and without hesitation, he wrecked his bike to save a kid from being terribly hurt or killed. Without his sacrifice, the kid would have been gravely injured. Adam sustained multiple severe injuries that required numerous surgeries and several months in a skilled nursing facility for recovery. Never once during his long recovery, or after, did he demonstrate any remorse for suffering such a set-back in his personal life and health. He knew he did the right thing, but he certainly paid for it physically." - Ginger Ryan
"We all helped out at the animal shelter and did community events together". "I know him to be a kind, caring person, a good dad to his girls, and a loving son". "I've known Adam and have never known him to be anything but a good person with only the best intentions, he would never cause harm to another person intentionally or out of anger". - Starr Graser
"James is the strongest person I have ever met. His mental, emotional, and physical strength is something to be envied". "He possesses a courageousness that is unmatched". "He is a man of strength, character, loyalty, and values". - Holly Kaiser
"I had the privilege of witnessing his graciousness and gentle nature by observing his interactions with his family's foster children". He had "a loyal and caring nature". "He upheld the obligation to the community in which he sworn an oath". - Kiel Petkoff (2nd Ltnt, US Army)
"Adam is and has always been a person of integrity and honesty". He has "received several commendations for his service to the community". - Dianne Petkoff
"He is a protector, sworn to protect". "You don't see very many younger people today with his ethics, integrity, and morals". - Don Pryor
"I feel people need to know how compassionate and caring Adam really is". "Those little girls love their daddy". - Rachael Bishop
"I know him to be an honorable and dedicated citizen to this country". - Brad Borchard
"He has shown himself to be a strong man with a passion to live life with integrity and commitment". - Rev. Douglas Cox
"He is a great man who took me under his wing and inspired me to join the Navy". "Adam treated me like a younger brother". "He was courteous to everyone". - Tony Dominguez
"Adam is a sweet natured human being and despite his outward appearance, he is hurt easily". "Adam epitomizes all of the values we were taught to believe and hold true". - Amanda Funck (Cousin)