Tampabay: Angry wife pummels, runs over husband, police say

CLEARWATER -- After catching her husband of 25 years in his Ford Explorer with another woman near the docks Monday night, Nadine Ashley confronted him, punched him and slammed a metal wastebasket against his vehicle.

Then Ashley got into her red 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier and rammed it into the side of his Explorer.

And when he got out of the vehicle, she ran him over.

Clearwater police say that's what happened during the 9 p.m. domestic disturbance at the Seminole Docks at 190 Seminole St. in Clearwater.

The incident landed Nadine Ashley, 50, in jail on a charge of aggravated domestic battery with a motor vehicle. Her husband, James C. Ashley, 52, was hospitalized with serious internal injuries.

The confrontation began when Nadine found James in what she thought was a sexual encounter with the other woman.

"Nadine was incensed to find her husband in the truck with another woman," police spokesman Wayne Shelor said. "She wasn't happy about it one bit. She thought he was engaged in conjugal conduct.

"Nadine lost her temper," Shelor said.

Police said the 5-foot-1, 133-pound woman started beating her 5-foot-9 husband, who is about twice her weight.

"She beat on him while he was in the vehicle," Shelor said. "She beat him pretty badly."

She also grabbed a wastebasket that was near where the Explorer was parked. She began slamming it against the vehicle, police said.

"Some of her actions were clearly the product of fury," Shelor added. "She was mad."

Nadine got back in her car and rammed the driver's side door of the Explorer, police said. James climbed out.

Police say Nadine then struck James with her car. He was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

"He was so seriously injured that the initial rescue personnel thought the injuries were life-threatening," Shelor said.

Police who arrived at first thought it was a traffic accident. Then they realized it was something more and summoned detectives.

"They realized that it appeared to be intentional," Shelor said.

Nadine told police she was angry with her husband and admitted to battering him; but she said she did not intentionally run him over, an arrest affidavit states.

But Shelor said investigators determined Nadine did intentionally strike her husband, though she did not mean to kill him and therefore was not charged with attempted murder.

James was listed in serious condition at Bayfront Tuesday. He was not available for an interview because he remained in the intensive care unit.

Nadine made a first appearance in court Tuesday, where her bail was set at $50,000. She remained at the jail Tuesday evening. More charges against her are possible, police said.

The couple, who live at 2025 Rogers St., were married on June 2, 1975, in Hillsborough County, according to state records. James Ashley was married once before. It is Nadine Ashley's first marriage.

Nadine was arrested in 1997 for domestic battery, a charge to which she pleaded guilty. She was ordered to complete family violence counseling. James also was arrested in 1998 on a charge of domestic assault and burglary, but prosecutors later dropped that charge.

Police wouldn't release the name of the woman who was in the car with James Ashley because she is a witness in the case. There was no evidence any sexual activity was occurring when Nadine confronted her husband, police said.

Shelor would not classify their relationship other than to say they were acquaintances.

"They had met before, but I wouldn't call them close personal friends," he said.

-- Times researcher Kitty Bennett contributed to this report. Chris Tisch can be reached at 445-4156 or tisch@sptimes.com.

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