SCARBOROUGH — It’s been 12 years since their friend Ashley Ouellette’s death, but Angie Presby-Hilton and Christina Barber still think about her every day.
The two are holding a dance in May in Ouellette’s honor, to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.
The event, said Presby-Hilton, will be a night of remembrance, a “celebration of her life.”
Fifteen-year-old Ouellette was found dead by a passing motorist at 4 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 10, 1999 on Pine Point Road in Scarborough. Her clothed body was lined up in the middle of the road. Ouellette was a Saco resident and Thornton Academy student. Her murder has never been solved.
Presby-Hilton described Ouellette as a “social butterfly,” very sweet, caring, happy and fun ”“ and Barber agreed.
Presby-Hilton remembers the last time she spoke with Ouellette. It was in the cafeteria at lunch time at Thornton Academy. The two hadn’t spent time together in a while and they promised each other they’d hang out again soon.
Barber said when she moved to Saco in eighth grade, Ouelllette was one of her first friends. Presby-Hilton and Barber said they’ve wanted to do something to honor Ouellette for several years. Presby-Hilton said she wants the event to be special.
“There were a lot of things she missed out on,” she said.
“She was only 15,” said Barber. Ouellette never got her driver’s license, or the opportunity to go to a prom, or get married or have kids, or even the chance to buy a lottery ticket, she said.
Both women said they are hopeful that some day Ouellette’s murder will be solved, and they hope that this event brings Ouellette’s story back to the surface, and maybe more information will come forward.
Presby-Hilton said they spoke with Ouellette’s mother to come up with an idea for the event and decided holding a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish foundation would be a good fit, since Ouellette loved children.
The two said they go to Ouellette’s grave and Pine Point Road every year on the anniversary of her death, and go to her grave on her birthday, March 29. This past year, they released 28 balloons in honor of what would have been her 28th birthday.
The fundraising dance organized by Barber and Presby-Hilton will be held on May 7 from 6-10 p.m. at The Landing at Pine Point in Scarborough. The event will feature D.J. Roger Grenier, and there will be light snacks, a cash bar and raffles. Attendees must be 21 or older.
There will also be a slide show set to music, with photos of Ouellette.
Tickets are $25 at the door or $22.50 online at www.thelandingatpinepoint.com.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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