As a proud mom, April says she loves posting photos of her adorable twin daughters on social media for everyone to see.
Never did she think a total stranger would allegedly be stealing those photos and posting them online as if she was the 4-year-old girls’ own mother. But April and her husband Nathan say that’s exactly what has happened.
“After I had the twins, I joined a Facebook group for moms of multiples,” April explains. “I did upload some photos here and there because I was proud of them.”
When the twins turned 1, April says someone sent her a private message claiming that another woman was taking her photos and posting them on her own blog.
“When I went to this lady’s blog, it said that her name was Ashely. She basically took my photos offline and made up a complete life of her as their mom, and has a story to go along with every single picture with my girls,” April says, adding that Ashley also gave the girls different names – Adaya and Kamberlin.
“I realized at that time, my daughters had been digitally kidnapped,” she adds.
Nathan says they called the police, but were told there was nothing they could do as no crime had been committed.
“We felt helpless,” he says.
April and Nathan hired a private investigator, who they say then “friended” Ashley on social media and soon thereafter told April and Nathan that not only had Ashley been stealing photos of their twins for years, but she even went as far as to post photos of the twins in picture frames inside her own home, as if they were her own children.
“My girls are in picture frames all over her house – above her bed, above her nightstand, on her TV, on her dresser, on the end of couches,” April claims.
Nathan says Ashley would slightly alter the photos at times, often blurring out April in the background, or blurring out the girls’ names on their shirts.
Ashley insists she has no idea who April and Nathan are, and she says she has never stolen any photos of their daughters.
“I have never even seen pictures of the children,” Ashley says. “I have no idea why they think that.”
Ashley says she does have twin daughters of her own, who she says were born in 2012, around the same time as April and Nathan’s girls.
“I have two twin daughters that are almost 4 years old. Their names are Adaya and Kamberlin,” Ashley says. “They are my pride and joy.”
However, Ashley says she has not seen her twins since they were 3 months old.
“I lost custody of them. I had gone to prison because of the mistakes I was making,” she says, explaining that she was charged with committing burglary and forgery.
Ashley says the girls had been with their grandmother on their father’s side, however she says she lost contact with them when they were 7 months old and has no idea where they are now.
“I do think this is totally bizarre,” she says of April and Nathan’s photo-stealing claims. “Being accused of something I didn’t do has totally thrown me for a loop.”
Still, April and Nathan claim they know Ashley has stolen the photos of their daughters and they say they are scared – not only because of what they claim Ashley has done, but what they say they fear she might do next.
“My family is in turmoil. We are scared for our children,” April says. “My biggest concern is she is going to fulfill the fantasy that she’s been living for four years, and she’s going to break into my house and steal my children.”
On Wednesday’s Dr. Phil, April and Nathan come face to face with Ashley. Can Dr. Phil get to the bottom of this? And, what happens when he checks Ashley’s social media accounts while she’s sitting on the stage? Watch more here.
Plus, in part two of the interview on Thursday, will Ashley change her tune? Check here to see where you can watch.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.