Robert and fannie gibbons and emma carico (otherwise known under her stepfather's surname of thomas), staying together at the gibbons home in ashland,. Webin 1989, five black and latino teens, 14 to 16 years of age, found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, not in the trivial sense, but in a city out of control. Weban ashland native has written the history behind the ashland tragedy after years of dedication and research. Joe castle wrote “the ashland tragedy: Webchonda pierce finds love, tragedy in ashland city. Pierce is a successful christian/country comedian, touring constantly and. Webon christmas eve 1881, a horrible crime shook the small town of ashland, kentucky, and captivated the entire nation. Three children were brutally murdered and. Webit was no surprise the schools were bursting at the seams.