Ashley Wadsworth’s family is headed to the U.K. on Thursday to bring her body home.
Melissa Locke, a cousin to the 19-year-old who was killed on Feb. 1 while on an extended vacation, said Wadsworth’s dad and stepmom are on their way to Chelmsford, Essex, and to meet with a detective tasked with her case.
“It’s the biggest relief to know we are one step closer to bringing her home to her family,” Locke said. “Every step closer is important to us.”
Getting Wadsworth home was a complicated and costly endeavour and a family friend had put together an online fundraiser to help.
This week, WestJet also made an offer to the family, although details have yet to be released.
“We can confirm that we did reach out to offer assistance to the family to bring Ashley home,” a WestJet representative said in an email, adding they’d prefer to leave details to the family to share.
Locke said she’s not entirely sure what the offer entails, but knows the family appreciates the generosity.
The online fundraiser, which had collected $34,000 as of Thursday evening, also reflected the development.
“With all the uncertainty and unknowns to get our Ashley home from abroad this GoFundMe was created to help ease the financial strains. As it turns out, we have help we never could’ve imagined,” the latest update on the site reads.
“Our family would like to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, WestJet Airlines for stepping up to help to make this happen. They truly have gone above and beyond to help get our Ashely home to her family.”
The young woman’s family will fly home with her remains next week, and once she is laid to rest, anything remaining funds will be used to set up a scholarship in her name, the update says.
“We would also like to make a donation to a charity in her name on behalf of others who have fallen victim of domestic violence.”
Wadsworth travelled to England in November to be with her boyfriend, Jack Sepple, 23.
On Feb. 1, she was killed in the Chelmsford home she’d been sharing with him. He was arrested at the scene and charged with murder a day later.
He remains in custody, with his court appearance set for March 7 for a preliminary trial and preparation hearing.
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