On April 16, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in La Presa, California, where 35-year-old Ashley Bird, a social media strategist and mother, was murdered during a Zoom call for work. The incident was confirmed by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Her estranged husband, 39-year-old Christopher Bird, is believed to have committed the act before taking his own life, leading to a suspected case of murder-suicide.
Around 10:25 a.m., deputies arrived at Ashley’s home following a 911 call indicating a possible break-in. They found her suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Despite immediate intervention, Ashley was declared dead at the scene.
Allison Saefong, Ashley’s sister, shared the chilling account with NBC San Diego. Ashley had excused herself from an ongoing meeting after hearing noises that suggested a break-in. “She was always so composed, so when she said she thought someone was breaking in, we knew it was serious,” Saefong stated. “She even told her colleague on the Zoom call, ‘Give me a second. Somebody is trying to break into my house.’ And then she never returned to the call.”
The sequence of events took a turn when authorities discovered Christopher Bird’s lifeless body inside his car at Calafia Beach Park, San Clemente. This discovery concluded a search involving several law enforcement agencies and exposed an ongoing conflict between the estranged pair, who were in the process of divorcing.
Despite the emotionally charged split, Saefong disclosed that Ashley never anticipated Christopher resorting to physical violence. “She denied any physical abuse,” Saefong said. “Even with the volatile emails and texts, she believed he wouldn’t physically harm her.”
Further investigation revealed that Christopher had recently been served court documents pertaining to child and spousal support, potentially escalating the tension between the couple. The couple, who were married for over ten years, were in the middle of finalizing divorce and custody arrangements for their nine-year-old son, William.
William was in school during the incident and was later safely placed with relatives. The family has since established a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs and ensure William’s future. The campaign page pays tribute to Ashley, describing her as a “kind, warm-hearted, generous soul,” whose untimely loss has deeply affected the community.
“Ashley was taken from us too soon in life and she will be dearly missed by all her friends and family,” the fundraising page reads. “She had such an impact on everyone around her.”
As the community continues to process the tragic event, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is persisting with its investigation into the circumstances leading up to the deaths. Further details are anticipated from the ongoing police investigation and the findings from the Orange County Coroner’s Office concerning Christopher’s cause of death.
