A quiet evening walk near one of Savannah’s most visited parks turned into a nightmare when a woman was suddenly doused with a corrosive substance, leaving her with devastating injuries and triggering a multi-agency investigation that has gripped the city.
Police say the attack happened just after 8 p.m. Wednesday steps away from Forsyth Park. Officers with the Savannah Police Department responded after emergency calls reported a woman screaming in pain following what authorities later described as a chemical assault.
The victim, identified by family as Ashley Wasielewski, had gone to Forsyth Park to walk laps after attending a Christmas program at a nearby church, according to her son, Westley Wasielewski.
He told The Associated Press that his night took a sudden turn when he received a phone call from a stranger who had rushed to his mother’s side.
Westley said he could hear his mother crying out as the bystander tried to help her in the moments after the attack. Emergency medical services and police were quickly dispatched to the scene.
“She immediately ran across the street and EMS and police were called by someone in the area and we responded,” Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther said.
First responders found an adult woman suffering from severe chemical burns to her skin. Authorities said her clothing had been eaten away by the substance, and even her car keys showed signs of melting from exposure.
She was treated at the scene before being transported to Memorial Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
Police said the victim did not know her attacker. Investigators believe an adult male approached her and assaulted her using what was described as a “liquid chemical.” The suspect fled the area, and no arrests have been made.
“We don’t know who did it,” Westley Wasielewski told the outlet. “She doesn’t have any enemies. She is a friend to everyone.”
Detectives said surveillance footage from the area shows a man wearing a black hoodie and dark jeans walking nearby around the time of the attack.
Savannah police released images from closed-circuit television on social media as part of their effort to identify the individual. Authorities stressed that the man has not been named a suspect.
“Our first priority is the well-being of the victim, and our detectives are working around the clock to determine exactly what happened,” Gunther commented.
“While this was a disturbing incident, we want to reassure our community that we are actively investigating and have increased patrols in our parks out of an abundance of caution.”
Gunther said officers have stepped up their presence in city parks as a precaution. He added that investigators have not uncovered information suggesting the public faces an ongoing danger.
“Right now, we have no evidence that the public faces an ongoing threat,” he said.
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The FBI has joined the investigation to assist with chemical analysis, according to Neil Penttila, Savannah’s public safety communications manager.
Authorities have also launched a digital tip line where residents can submit photos or video that may help piece together the suspect’s movements that night.
Wasielewski’s injuries were described as extensive. She has since been transferred to a burn center in Augusta, where she is receiving treatment for second- and third-degree burns to her scalp, face, hands, and legs.
According to a GoFundMe created by family friends, she suffered burns covering more than 50 percent of her body.
“Ashley experienced a life-altering tragedy from a malicious and unprovoked acid attack that resulted in unimaginable pain,” wrote fundraiser organizer Kristen Oddi.
“This horrific act has not only altered the course of her life physically, but has placed an extreme and unforeseen emotional and financial burden on her.”
Oddi said Wasielewski faces emergency medical treatments, including skin grafts and multiple surgeries, as doctors work to manage the damage caused by the chemical burns.
As the search for the attacker continues, law enforcement and local businesses have offered financial incentives to encourage witnesses to come forward.
The FBI’s Atlanta office announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. A Savannah restaurant group added a $10,000 reward of its own.
Sasha Nasrabadi, director of events with Southern Cross Hospitality, said the goal is to remove the person responsible from the streets.
“We were thinking about the person that may know something and how they might be feeling,” Nasrabadi said. “They might be scared to come forward and [we were considering] what could potentially help alleviate or at least push them to give them that nudge to come forward..
“At the end of the day, this person’s still out there. We want to do what we can to help keep Savannah safe,” Nasrabadi added.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson publicly condemned the assault, calling it “absolutely horrific,” and said police are treating the case with urgency.
On Tuesday, he confirmed that investigators had identified and were interviewing a person of interest seen in widely circulated images following the attack.
Johnson said the individual came forward voluntarily and is not considered a suspect.
“It’s important to note the difference between a suspect and a person of interest — person of interest can be a person that might have been in the area, could be a person that was a witness, it could be a person that has relative information. It could be a suspect,” Johnson said. “And so I wanna make sure that we’re not demonizing someone, just someone we wanna talk to.”
He added that the person is not detained and that investigators are still gathering information. Johnson said the police department has been working the case nonstop as it has drawn attention far beyond Savannah.
“Although I know there is a desire for people to know, know, know, we do not and will not jeopardize the integrity of the investigation,” Johnson said.
“We recognize this has been a large story, achieved national attention, but we wanna make sure that the most important thing remains the most important thing.”
Johnson said he has spoken with Wasielewski’s family and described her as being in “remarkably good spirits” despite the severity of her injuries.
Later in the day, Johnson revealed that the person of interest that police interviewed on Tuesday has been released and is not a suspect.
Community members have also mobilized in response. While some residents have avoided Forsyth Park since the attack, local organizer Helena Chavez planned a group walk to honor Wasielewski and shift attention from fear to awareness.
“I mean I’ve talked to several women who are afraid to go out at night,” Chavez said. “But I don’t think we need to be afraid. I think we need to be aware, but I don’t think we need to be afraid. And I think we can walk together and show Ashley that we’re here for her and that we support her.”
The walk is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection where the attack occurred.
Chavez said she has invited city officials, police officers, and regular park visitors to take part as investigators continue working to identify the person responsible.
