Ashley McArthur was a crime scene technician who seemed to have a happy marriage with her husband, Zachary McArthur, a deputy sheriff in Escambia County, Florida. But behind the facade of their relationship, Ashley was hiding a dark secret: she had murdered her best friend, Taylor Wright, a private investigator who had trusted her with $34,000.
How Ashley McArthur Killed Her Best Friend
According to Ready Steady Cut, Taylor Wright had recently divorced her ex-husband, Jeff Wright, and was living with her girlfriend, Cassandra Waller. She had withdrawn $100,000 from the joint bank account she shared with her ex-husband and gave $34,000 to Ashley McArthur, who promised to keep it safe for her.
However, Ashley McArthur had other plans. She used the money to fund her lavish lifestyle and her secret affair with another woman. When Taylor Wright demanded her money back, Ashley McArthur killed her and buried her body in a remote farm owned by her family.
On September 8, 2017, Taylor Wright went missing after spending the day with Ashley McArthur. She stopped responding to her girlfriend’s text messages and never returned home. Ashley McArthur lied to Cassandra Waller and the police, claiming that Taylor Wright was stressed and needed some time alone.
How Ashley McArthur Was Caught and Convicted
Ashley McArthur’s lies soon unraveled as the police investigated Taylor Wright’s disappearance. They found out that Ashley McArthur had access to Taylor Wright’s bank account and had made several withdrawals and transfers. They also discovered that Ashley McArthur had a secret lover, who confirmed that Ashley McArthur had confessed to killing Taylor Wright.
The police searched Ashley McArthur’s family farm and found Taylor Wright’s body buried under a concrete slab. They also found a bullet casing that matched the gun that Ashley McArthur owned. Ashley McArthur was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
During the trial, Ashley McArthur’s husband, Zachary McArthur, testified against her. He said that he had no idea about his wife’s affair or crime and that she had been acting strange in the days leading up to Taylor Wright’s disappearance. He also said that he had filed for divorce from her after she was arrested.
Ashley McArthur was found guilty of killing her best friend and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. She is currently serving her sentence at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida.
How Ashley McArthur’s Husband Is Moving On With His Life
Zachary McArthur was devastated by the betrayal and the tragedy that his wife had caused. He had trusted her and loved her, but she had lied to him and killed her best friend. He had to cope with the loss of his marriage and the public scrutiny that followed.
According to Hollywood Mask, Zachary McArthur worked for the US State Department in 2019, but the exact nature of his role is unclear. There is no information on whether he has found a new partner or remained single. It is likely that he wants to live his life away from the media attention and move on from the horrific ordeal that his wife had put him through.