The Mysterious Death of Ashley Fallis: Murder or Suicide? New Year's Eve True Crime Case
New Year's Eve 2011 began with celebration at the Phas home, where Ashley and Tom hosted friends and family for a night of festivities. What appeared to be a joyous gathering quickly turned tragic when a gunshot rang out just after midnight, leaving guests scrambling and emergency responders rushing to the scene. Ashley was found unresponsive with a fatal wound to the back of her head, while Tom claimed he wasn't in the room when the incident occurred.
The couple's history revealed a complex relationship that had weathered numerous challenges. After meeting in 2007 and quickly building a family together, they faced strains including Ashley's job loss, mental health struggles, and caring for a child with hydrocephalus. Their relationship had nearly ended in 2009, but they chose to continue working through their difficulties. Hours before the party, Ashley had received disappointing news that she wasn't pregnant, despite her hopes and having stopped her anxiety medication in anticipation of a positive result.
Key Takeaways
What began as a New Year's celebration ended in tragedy when Ashley Phas suffered a fatal gunshot wound under mysterious circumstances.
The investigation revealed conflicting accounts between Tom's statement and neighbor testimony, raising questions about the events leading to Ashley's death.
Despite initial suspicions from investigators and Ashley's family, her death was officially ruled self-inflicted after just four days, leaving many unanswered questions.
The Shattered Moments of Celebration
Ashley's Last New Year Celebration
New Year's Eve 2011 began as a festive gathering at the Phas home. Ashley, the vibrant host, moved through her home with a smile that masked her inner turmoil. Friends and family filled the space with laughter and music, creating an atmosphere of joy that contrasted sharply with the morning's disappointment.
Earlier that day, Ashley had discovered she wasn't pregnant, despite an initial positive test result. This news was particularly crushing since she had already stopped taking her anxiety medication in anticipation of the pregnancy. The couple had been discussing reversing her sterilization procedure, both expressing desire for another child.
Despite her emotional state, Ashley participated fully in the celebration—dancing, drinking, and engaging with guests. Her parents later recalled that she appeared as spirited and resilient as always, giving no outward indication of her struggles.
The Tragic Aftermath
Just after midnight, the celebration was shattered by a single gunshot from the bedroom. The joyous atmosphere instantly transformed into confusion and panic as guests rushed toward the sound. When emergency responders arrived, they found Ashley unresponsive on the floor with Tom as the only other person present.
Tom claimed he wasn't in the room when the gun discharged, insisting Ashley's death was a tragic accident. However, investigators quickly noted concerning details:
Scratches visible on Tom's chest and neck
A neighbor's report of hearing Ashley shout "Get off me" moments before the shot
The location of the gunshot wound to the back of Ashley's head, making self-infliction questionable
During his three-hour interrogation, Tom maintained his innocence and requested forensic testing to prove he hadn't fired the weapon. Despite these unresolved questions, authorities ruled Ashley's death self-inflicted just four days later—before laboratory tests were even completed.
Ashley's parents, unconvinced by the official ruling, suspected Tom's position as a corrections officer might have influenced the investigation's outcome. Their concerns led to the involvement of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to ensure proper handling of the case.
Exploring Ashley and Tom's History
The Early Days of Their Connection
Ashley and Tom first met in spring 2007 through an online dating service. Ashley's energetic personality immediately drew Tom in, and their relationship progressed rapidly. She already had two daughters from a previous marriage when they met. Within just one year of dating, they welcomed a son together. Their commitment to each other was strong, and they married merely two weeks after their son's birth.
Family Formation and Commitment
In 2010, Tom legally adopted Ashley's daughters, cementing their family unit. Their household now included two girls, aged 6 and 9, and a three-year-old son who faced health challenges. The youngest child had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, requiring multiple surgeries and specialized care. This medical situation placed significant stress on the family, particularly on Ashley who managed most of his care needs.
Ashley later found purpose in conducting speaking engagements where she shared her experiences raising a child with hydrocephalus. These talks allowed her to support other parents facing similar challenges while finding meaning in her difficult circumstances.
Struggles and Growing Tensions
By late 2011, the couple's relationship showed signs of strain. Ashley lost her position at North Colorado Medical Center, officially for insubordination and aggressive behavior. Though she contested this decision and won a settlement, the ordeal added to her mounting stress.
Mental Health Challenges:
Experienced up to 5 panic attacks weekly
Received prescription medication for anxiety
Stopped medication briefly due to a false pregnancy
Ashley briefly reconnected with a former high school boyfriend during a particularly difficult period, further complicating her marriage. Old divorce papers from 2009 were later discovered in their bedroom, revealing they had previously considered ending their marriage due to conflicting work schedules.
In the weeks before the New Year's Eve incident, Ashley believed she was pregnant despite having undergone sterilization. When this proved to be a false positive on December 31st, both she and Tom were emotionally affected, especially as they had been discussing the possibility of reversing her procedure to have more children.
That evening, while hosting their New Year's party, witnesses observed Ashley appearing happy and engaged, drinking and dancing with guests. However, Tom later claimed that beneath this exterior, she was struggling emotionally. A disagreement between them allegedly escalated during the evening, with conflicting accounts about what truly happened in the moments before the fatal gunshot.
The Night Before the Tragedy
Ashley's Mental State and Medical Treatment
Ashley's life had become increasingly complex in the months leading up to December 31, 2011. Following her departure from North Colorado Medical Center in 2010—a dismissal she successfully contested in court—she began experiencing frequent panic attacks, sometimes up to five per week. Medical professionals prescribed anxiety medication to help stabilize her mood, though these treatments provided only limited relief. Her son's hydrocephalus diagnosis had resulted in multiple surgeries, creating additional emotional strain as she balanced his medical needs with caring for her two daughters, aged 9 and 6. The family dynamics were further complicated by relationship challenges, including a brief reconnection with a former high school boyfriend that had occurred earlier in 2011.
Emotional Setback and Pregnancy Disappointment
On the morning of December 31, 2011, Ashley received devastating news that would significantly impact her emotional state. Having previously taken a home pregnancy test that showed positive results—surprising since she had undergone sterilization after her youngest son's birth—she had immediately stopped taking her prescribed anxiety medication. However, that morning she began her menstrual cycle, and a second test confirmed she was not pregnant. Both Ashley and Tom had been discussing the possibility of reversing her sterilization procedure, as they shared a desire to expand their family. The confirmation that she wasn't expecting hit Ashley particularly hard, especially after she had already stopped her medication in anticipation. Despite this emotional blow, Ashley maintained a cheerful exterior during the New Year's Eve gathering, drinking and dancing with friends and family who later reported she appeared as "lively and strong as ever." Her parents, Joe and Jenna, saw no outward signs of the internal struggle she was experiencing as she navigated this disappointment.
The Investigation and Interrogation
Initial Police Concerns
When first responders arrived at the Phas residence after the New Year's Eve shooting, they immediately noted several concerning elements. Tom Phas, the only person present with Ashley when the gun discharged, had visible scratches on his chest and neck that raised immediate red flags with investigators. During questioning, Tom attributed the chest marks to shaving irritation and suggested the neck scratches might have been caused by stress. These explanations did little to satisfy detectives who were piecing together the events of that night.
Officers also observed the peculiar position of the gunshot wound at the back of Ashley's head, a location that made self-harm highly unlikely. This physical evidence contradicted Tom's narrative that Ashley had taken her own life. As the investigation progressed, law enforcement began interviewing party guests and neighbors to establish a more complete timeline of events.
Witness Statements at Odds
A crucial testimony came from a neighbor who reported hearing Ashley shout "get off me" just moments before the gunshot. This statement directly challenged Tom's version of events, suggesting a physical altercation may have preceded the shooting. When confronted with this information, Tom vehemently denied any such interaction, insisting he had never forced Ashley to do anything against her will.
Family members offered conflicting perspectives on Ashley's state of mind that evening. Her parents, Joe and Jenna, maintained that despite recent disappointments—including a false pregnancy test earlier that day—Ashley had appeared lively and resilient at the party. Tom, however, described his wife as struggling internally while maintaining a cheerful facade for guests.
The discovery of old divorce papers in their bedroom, dating back to 2009, added another layer to the investigation. Although the couple had chosen to remain together, these documents hinted at longstanding marital issues that investigators couldn't ignore.
Forensic Testing and Results
Tom repeatedly requested forensic testing to prove his innocence, specifically urging authorities to check both his and Ashley's hands for gunpowder residue. This would determine who had actually fired the weapon. Despite his cooperation throughout three hours of intense questioning, investigators remained skeptical due to the physical evidence and witness statements that contradicted his account.
In a controversial development, just four days after the shooting, the medical examiner officially ruled Ashley's death as self-inflicted—a determination made before laboratory tests had even been completed. This premature conclusion outraged Ashley's parents, who suspected that Tom's position as a corrections officer might have influenced the investigation's outcome.
To address concerns about potential bias, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was brought in to review the case. However, questions remained about whether proper protocols had been followed, particularly regarding the timing of the medical examiner's ruling and the thoroughness of evidence collection at the scene.
Aftermath and Legal Resolution
Medical Examiner's Determination
The investigation into Ashley Fallis's death took a decisive turn just four days after the New Year's Eve incident. The medical examiner officially classified her death as self-inflicted, despite the fact that laboratory tests had not yet been completed. This determination shocked Ashley's family, particularly given the suspicious circumstances surrounding the gunshot wound to the back of her head. The timing of this ruling raised significant questions, as it seemed to contradict physical evidence and witness statements collected at the scene.
The hasty conclusion came amid ongoing debates about the positioning of the wound and whether it was physically possible for Ashley to have inflicted it herself. Tom had requested gunpowder residue testing on both his and Ashley's hands during his interrogation, seemingly confident that forensic evidence would support his innocence. However, the speed with which officials closed the case left many wondering whether all proper investigative protocols had been followed.
The Family's Pursuit of Answers
Ashley's parents, Jenna and Joe, refused to accept the official ruling of suicide. They firmly believed the investigation had been compromised, possibly due to Tom's professional connections within the correctional system. Although Tom worked in a separate law enforcement division than the investigating detectives, Ashley's family suspected his background influenced how quickly and decisively the case was closed.
Their concerns prompted the involvement of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to ensure proper handling of the case. The family pointed to several troubling elements that seemed overlooked:
A neighbor's report of hearing Ashley shout "Get off me" moments before the gunshot
The unusual location of the wound at the back of Ashley's head
The visible scratches on Tom's chest and neck noticed during his police interview
The emotional turmoil Ashley experienced after learning she wasn't pregnant earlier that day
Despite the official suicide ruling, Ashley's parents remained steadfast in their commitment to uncover what they believed was the truth about their daughter's final moments. Their persistence highlighted the painful reality that for grieving families, official conclusions don't always bring closure when significant questions remain unanswered.
