A candlelight vigil will be held to commemorate the death of a young Vernon woman in the U.K. one year ago.
The vigil in memory of Ashley Wadsworth will be held Wednesday at Kin Beach, starting at 5 p.m.
Wadsworth's death made international headlines in early 2022 when the 19 year old was murdered in suburban London by a man she had travelled across the globe to meet.
Her body was discovered after police were called to a home in Chelmsford, Essex, on Feb. 1. She had been stabbed multiple times.
Sadly, the tragedy came just days before she was to return home.
Ashley was one of the younger members of the well-known Wadsworth family in Vernon, which for decades operated Waddy's Restaurant on 32nd Street.
Jack Sepple pleaded guilty in September to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He will serve a minimum 23 1/2 years in jail.
Shortly before hear death, Ashley texted friends back in Canada saying she needed help and wanted to leave.
"We hope to see you all there to remember our beautiful angel," the family said in announcing the vigil.
The family has used Ashley's death as a reminder about the dangers of domestic violence as a way to keep her memory alive.
"Ashley was a very special part of our family, and there are no words that can describe our grief at this time," the family said after her death.
Her mother, Christy Gendron, urged others in partner violence situations to intervene, "even if they say it's fine and OK now, if something doesn't feel right, it's probably because it's not right."
