Ashley Mueller
👤 PersonPodcast Appearances
I would tell her how much I miss her and that I love her.
I would tell her how much I miss her and that I love her.
You're thinking about your friends, and you're questioning your friends. You're never asking them, hey, did you do something to Lauren? But you're wondering in your mind.
You're thinking about your friends, and you're questioning your friends. You're never asking them, hey, did you do something to Lauren? But you're wondering in your mind.
I know. I mean, who do you trust? You can't really trust anybody. And that's terrifying.
I know. I mean, who do you trust? You can't really trust anybody. And that's terrifying.
It's slow, relaxing. Everyone here is welcoming.
It's slow, relaxing. Everyone here is welcoming.
You never meet a stranger, I guess, in the South. That's what makes it so wonderful and comforting.
You never meet a stranger, I guess, in the South. That's what makes it so wonderful and comforting.
You're thinking about your friends, right? And you're questioning your friends. You're never asking them, hey, did you do something to Lauren? But you're wondering in your mind.
You're thinking about your friends, right? And you're questioning your friends. You're never asking them, hey, did you do something to Lauren? But you're wondering in your mind.
No. I mean, who do you trust? You can't really trust anybody. And that's terrifying.
No. I mean, who do you trust? You can't really trust anybody. And that's terrifying.
When we found out we both were from the North, we just instantly connected on that.
When we found out we both were from the North, we just instantly connected on that.
Really no one could vouch for him because we were all doing our own thing. We were all studying.
Really no one could vouch for him because we were all doing our own thing. We were all studying.
Essentially that she thought someone was trying to break into her house on a night prior.
Essentially that she thought someone was trying to break into her house on a night prior.
She was infectious. I mean, you couldn't be around her for more than five minutes and not already be having a good time.
She was infectious. I mean, you couldn't be around her for more than five minutes and not already be having a good time.
It was completely blocked off. News reporters were there. Sheriff's office was there. Crime scene was there.
It was completely blocked off. News reporters were there. Sheriff's office was there. Crime scene was there.
He was trying to make it seem like he was this innocent bystander and a friend of Lauren.
He was trying to make it seem like he was this innocent bystander and a friend of Lauren.
I would tell her how much I miss her and that I love her. and that she's the reason why I am who I am today. I would tell her thank you.
I would tell her how much I miss her and that I love her. and that she's the reason why I am who I am today. I would tell her thank you.
Always. She basically was Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, so we always kind of jibed her for that.
Always. She basically was Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, so we always kind of jibed her for that.
She always had people kind of infatuated with her. That's how she was.
She always had people kind of infatuated with her. That's how she was.
Lauren was a flirt. I mean, she liked attention.
Lauren was a flirt. I mean, she liked attention.
I said, are you ready for whatever we're going to see when we walk in there?
I said, are you ready for whatever we're going to see when we walk in there?
Absolutely. But first... It was everybody's kind of last hurrah.
Absolutely. But first... It was everybody's kind of last hurrah.
Eventually, we just all kind of decide we're going to go to sleep now. I mean, mind you, there was alcohol involved, so... Surprise, surprise. Right.
Eventually, we just all kind of decide we're going to go to sleep now. I mean, mind you, there was alcohol involved, so... Surprise, surprise. Right.
I did not see Lauren that morning. I didn't see Joe that morning either. We just kind of assumed they were in the room together.
I did not see Lauren that morning. I didn't see Joe that morning either. We just kind of assumed they were in the room together.
Really, you kind of just go into this hole and study constantly and don't really have any contact with anybody.
Really, you kind of just go into this hole and study constantly and don't really have any contact with anybody.
I said, are you ready for whatever we're going to see when we walk in there? Because at that point in time, you just have this almost sort of dread.
I said, are you ready for whatever we're going to see when we walk in there? Because at that point in time, you just have this almost sort of dread.
I didn't know who to trust. This happened to Lauren. Who's next?
I didn't know who to trust. This happened to Lauren. Who's next?
Her sister contacted me over a message on Facebook.
Her sister contacted me over a message on Facebook.
When she didn't answer, I didn't think anything of it. I assumed she was running. I assumed she was studying somewhere.
When she didn't answer, I didn't think anything of it. I assumed she was running. I assumed she was studying somewhere.
But then a few hours later... Her sister contacted me again and said, hey, this is an emergency. We've been trying to call her and she still is not answering.
But then a few hours later... Her sister contacted me again and said, hey, this is an emergency. We've been trying to call her and she still is not answering.
I said, are you ready for whatever we're going to see when we walk in there? Because at that point in time, you just have this almost sort of dread.
I said, are you ready for whatever we're going to see when we walk in there? Because at that point in time, you just have this almost sort of dread.
We had to walk pretty far back in the apartment to find a light to turn on. Searched her bedroom, she's not in there.
We had to walk pretty far back in the apartment to find a light to turn on. Searched her bedroom, she's not in there.
Her purse, her keys, her cell phone, her ID, all on the couch, her laptop on her bed.
Her purse, her keys, her cell phone, her ID, all on the couch, her laptop on her bed.
No her. And Butterbean, her dog, had been at home with her parents in Maryland. So the fact that Butterbean wasn't even there wasn't concerning to us. The fact that she wasn't there hours later, you know, that's when it became real.
No her. And Butterbean, her dog, had been at home with her parents in Maryland. So the fact that Butterbean wasn't even there wasn't concerning to us. The fact that she wasn't there hours later, you know, that's when it became real.
Nothing was packed in boxes, but it definitely looked like she was getting her stuff together to be able to pack it.
Nothing was packed in boxes, but it definitely looked like she was getting her stuff together to be able to pack it.
I mean, that was supposed to be the plan. That was Lauren's plan.
I mean, that was supposed to be the plan. That was Lauren's plan.
Joe immediately went to the law school to search the law school for her.
Joe immediately went to the law school to search the law school for her.
The Zaxby's was, at that point in time, four days old.
The Zaxby's was, at that point in time, four days old.
She encountered all sorts of people. You know, she would visit the jail often.
She encountered all sorts of people. You know, she would visit the jail often.
She had thought someone had been stalking her, but we didn't really pay much attention to it because of who Lauren was.
She had thought someone had been stalking her, but we didn't really pay much attention to it because of who Lauren was.
Essentially that she thought someone was trying to break into her house a night prior. I think she referred to the person being a hoodlum, making hoodlum.
Essentially that she thought someone was trying to break into her house a night prior. I think she referred to the person being a hoodlum, making hoodlum.