Ashley Fish: DeRidder Man Convicted of Murder in 2022 Shooting That Left Four Children Without Their Mother

on


In March 2024, Tyler Neil Derochowski was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2022 shooting death of his girlfriend, Ashley Fish, inside her DeRidder home. 

He was eventually sentenced of life in prison without parole, after prosecutors proved he killed Fish while her children were inside the house. 

One year later, an appeal court upheld that conviction, and rejected Derochowski’s claim that the shooting was an accident, which means that he will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.






On April 7, 2022, the police responded to a shooting at a home on North Ridge Drive in DeRidder. 

When officers arrived at the residence, they were met by Fish’s oldest daughter, who directed them inside.

When they entered the bathroom, they found Fish dead on the floor with her head surrounded by blood. 

A semi-automatic firearm and its magazine were found on the bathroom vanity, and a gun holster was located on the bed nearby.

While the officers were working at the crime scene, Derochowski himself called 911 and told the dispatcher he had shot Ashley Fish and needed to turn himself in.

Officer Gladys Santiago, a dispatcher with the DeRidder Police Department, testified that Derochowski did not ask for medical help or request an ambulance but instead, he focused on surrendering.

In the 911 call, which can be found in video below, Derochowski told dispatchers he had shot Fish about 10 minutes earlier and that she was “not breathing” when he left her in the bathroom.





After his arrest, Derochowski claimed that the shooting was an accident. He told police he and Fish had a heated argument and that she pulled a gun on him. He said the both of them struggled before the weapon went off, and mistakenly killed her.

But crime scene investigators said the evidence did not support that story.

Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective Douglas Cooley testified there were no signs of a struggle in the bathroom or bedroom. 

Also, Derochowski had no defensive injuries and medical examinations further contradicted his claims.

Dr. Christopher Tape, who performed the autopsy, testified that Fish died from a contact gunshot wound behind her right ear. 

He said that he found a star-shaped pattern on her head, which suggests that the gun was pressed directly against her skin when it fired. Additionally, experts told the court that contact wounds are not accidental.

In March 2024, a unanimous jury found Tyler Derochowski guilty of second-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison at hard labor, without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

“Four young children are left to grow up without their mother because of the actions of this man,” said Beauregard Parish District Attorney Jimmy Lestage. “I hope the knowledge that he will be sentenced to serve out his natural life in prison brings some closure for them and for the rest of Ashley’s family,” Lestage added.

Tyler Derochowski 


Derochowski later appealed his conviction, arguing that the shooting was accidental and that he never intended to kill Fish. He also challenged the court’s decision to allow jurors to consider evidence that he fled the scene.

However, The Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal rejected his claims, according to Beauregardnews

Judges pointed to his own 911 call, where he admitted to shooting Fish and said he committed a crime. They also noted that Fish was right-handed and was holding her phone in her right hand when she was found crime scene investigators, making his version of events unlikely.

“This court notes the jury could have found that it is not likely that a struggle over the gun could have inflicted a wound on the right side of her head,” the panel wrote.

The appeals court ruled there was enough evidence to support the guilty verdict beyond a reasonable doubt.

With the appeal denied, Tyler Derochowski’s life sentence will stand, closing a painful chapter for Ashley Fish’s family, though the loss remains permanent for her children.

For more true crime stories and updates on other high-profile cases, sign up for our free newsletter here. 



Comments

Post a Comment