Episode 13: Fatal Secrets: The Twisted Saga of a Tax Attorney’s Vengeance

Tax Crime Junkies

This episode unveils the twisted saga of a tax attorney’s vengeance that resulted in not one, but multiple murders. Ashley Pallow was a tax attorney from St. Lucie, Florida who had a bit of a reputation for being aggressive and for pushing the boundaries of the law. Incredibly, Ashley himself had been charged with murder prior to his own, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Ashley seems to be a magnet for murder! Just six months before ending up dead and wrapped in an acid-covered rug in his storm cellar, a man named John Wilson attempted to murder Ashley for having an alleged affair with his girlfriend. After the police find Ashley’s body, they investigate two of his tax employees, Thomas Bard and Michelle Lockridge who had been the last people thought to see Ashley alive. In response to her arrest, Michelle discloses that she was having a paid sexual relationship with Ashley and that his death had been accidental, but later she changes her story to blame Thomas. To make matters even more confusing, another witness, Christopher Higgins, has a different story for what happened to Ashley, sending the investigation in a new direction.

Talking Points:

• Who was Ashley Pallow and what was he like according to his family and employees
• What Ashley’s tax office at home was like
• In 2000, Ashley is charged with 3rd degree murder and charges are dropped
• January 2010, Ashley is arrested on charges of organized dealing in stolen property and 2nd degree grand theft
• Jane Hoffman, a former employee, calls in a welfare check on Ashley and the police discover that he is missing. The sheriff’s office offers a $50,000 reward provided by Ashley’s father for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the person or persons responsible
• Ashley’s body is discovered in a storm cellar on his own property wrapped in a rug, covered in acid
• Another person by the name of John Wilson had been arrested six months earlier for trying to kill Ashley. He was convinced his girlfriend was having an affair with Ashley. Earlier that day, he murdered his own mother and so he was in jail at the time of Ashley’s murder
• Police investigate two long time employees of Ashley’s, Thomas Bard and Michelle Lockridge. They provide conflicting stories of their last time seeing their boss
• Michelle had a prior tax crime history for embezzlement
• Michelle is arrested and afterward her children go to live with her dad. Her 10 year old daughter is then murdered and found wrapped in a white dress in the woods near their home. The prime suspect is Michelle’s 15 year old son
• March 2016, the brother admits to shooting his sister but gives three different versions of the story
• Michelle claims she had a sexual relationship with Ashley and that he paid her and several of her friends for sex. She says that he wanted her to choke him and that the asphyxiation was accidental. She claims Thomas helped her hide the body
• Later, Michelle changes her story and says Thomas killed Ashley
• Another witness, Christopher Higgins, has a different story. Tune in for Part 2 to see how it changes the investigation!

Quotes

• “Yeah that might be a little uncomfortable for me…he sounds just like a typical tax pro.“ (4:09-4:43 | Dominique)
• "As more information surfaces, Ashley's story becomes even more unbelievable. It turns out that he had once been charged with murder himself!" (8:03-8:16 | Tom)

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