Ashley Spence

About Ashley Spence

Ashley Spence is the Founder and Executive Director of the DNA Justice Project, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit established in 2022. A survivor of a violent home invasion and sexual assault at age 19, Ashley's case went unsolved for seven years until a CODIS DNA match identified her attacker, who was sentenced to nearly 138 years in prison. That moment transformed her from survivor to advocate.

Ashley now testifies before legislatures across the country, fighting to expand DNA databases, implement RAPID DNA technology, and ensure no victim is denied the justice science can deliver. In 2023, she helped pass Texas legislation that — when expanded to all felony arrests — solved 1,005 cases in one year. She contributed to the Liza Fletcher Act in Arkansas, partners with the Joyful Heart Foundation, and authored the 2025 memoir Silent Witness: How DNA Uncovered the Truth and Empowered My Healing. As a mother, her work is fueled by her children and a fierce commitment to building a safer world for future generations.