Posted on 09/26/2005 11:41:50 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So
Ashley Smith frank about her flaws in new book She gave Brian Nichols meth to put alleged killer at ease
By JENNIFER BRETT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/27/05
Ashley Smith, the woman held hostage for hours after the March 11 Fulton County Courthouse shootings, reveals in a book released today that she gave alleged gunman Brian Nichols drugs on the night he held her captive.
Smith, 27, was thrust into a national media spotlight after talking her way out of Nichols' captivity and then calling police. In "Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero," Smith shares details of her seven-hour ordeal as a hostage in her Duluth apartment, and for the first time tells of giving Nichols drugs.
Nichols asked her for marijuana, she writes, but she had only a small amount of crystal methamphetamine. She thought offering him the drug might curry favor, but she says she refused to take the drug with him.
"I was not going to die tonight and stand before God, having done a bunch of ice up my nose," she writes.
Today, Smith will talk to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about her book, her drug battles and her life since her hostage ordeal. A full interview will run in Wednesday's Living section.
Smith's book, the 272-page "Unlikely Angel" (co-written with Stacy Mattingly), goes on sale today. Publisher William Morrow reports a first printing of 400,000 copies, an ambitious number for a memoir by anyone who is not a celebrity or a national politician.
Smith is scheduled to appear on Oprah Winfrey's talk show Wednesday and then will begin a publicity tour that will bring her to Atlanta on Oct. 10, for a book signing at Chapter 11 bookstore at Peachtree Battle Shopping Center.
Here are a few excerpts from "Unlikely Angel":
•On Brian Nichols:
"He was bare-chested underneath his blazer. His pecs were rippling in between the black lapels; and seeing where the jacket seams hit his shoulders, I could tell just how broad those shoulders really were. I know I'm in good shape, but man, if this guy comes at me, I'll never have a chance to fight him off."
•On what she said to Nichols:
"Nobody else needs to get hurt, dude. And if you don't turn yourself in, somebody else will get hurt. You'll keep going and you'll kill more people and you'll probably die too."
•On what Nichols said to her:
"You know, Ashley, I wish I would've met you at a different time and under different circumstances. We could've been friends."
•On her battle with drugs:
"I haven't touched drugs since walking out of my apartment on March 12. . . . . Initially I did not volunteer the information about the drugs [that she gave Nichols]. . . . I was afraid. Later I came forward and shared the details about the drugs with the appropriate authorities, but I regret not having done so at the very beginning. I remember what Jesus said: The truth will set you free. That's how I want to live my life — I want to be an honest person and experience the freedom that goes with it."
•On her faith:
"Instead of running away from God's voice, now I seek it and try to learn from his words. . . . I still pray all the time for the friends I knew in the drug scene. . . . I pray that what has happened in my life will impact them in some way. I want them to know that God loves them no matter what they've done."
I found this while getting the Braves story.
If it is, it shows how we reject what God teaches us at first, but later we listen and use what he tells us. Very interesting.
isn't this the woman who touted "a purposeful life" ?
No bashing from here. I hope she has honestly turned her life around. She is responsible not only for herself but for her child.
She grew up around here, she has a very troubled past. Hopefully she has gotten her act together.
She comes from a pretty well to do family, she was a good high school athlete and went to private schools part of her life.
She just has a little hell raisin' streak in her.
The book itself teaches each one of us to be open and honest with Him, even if it's something sinful and regretful as having meth stashed in the house. The fact that Ashley revealed this info to the rest of the world in the book, God is probably smiling down upon Ashley and pouring His love all around her even more.
It doesn't surprise me that somebody beginning a spiritual walk is involved with drugs or an addiction of some kind. God is more patient than we are.
Ever read Pilgrim's Progress...spiritual maturity is not an overnight event.
Shared a little "meth" with him? The whole St Ashley story is bogus.
That she was no saint was apparent from the beginning when it was revealed that her daughter was not living with her. Nevertheless, she acted very bravely, cleverly, and heroically to get a murderer to turn himself in.
Duh, she's from Georgia, you didn't have to add that........ ;^)
As I recall, there were some FReepers here, myself being one, who were chastised and castigated for opining that 'Saint Ashley' wasn't being forthcoming about what transpired between her and the killer that night. (Actually, I think we might have been skinned alive, and hung drawn and quartered by some FReepers if they could have physically got hold us!)
I wonder where the Saint Ashley crowd is now??
Any comments from the peanut gallery?
Yep. Since she isn't perfect she needs to be denigrated and destroyed. After all, "he who is with sin must be stoned."
Nice attempt to avoid the subject, but that liberal trick won't fly here.
Ashley was NOT UPFRONT in March with the American public, (even with the authorities). She hid behind the Bible and "The Purpose Driven Life".
When some of us called her on it, we were crucified by Kool-Ade drinking FReeper supporters of the popular book.
Ashley never really passed the smell test with me...
Michael, thanks for your reply. My 'peanut gallery' comment is directed toward all those who attacked me and others for stating the same thing about 'Saint Ashley' at the time of the incident.
I note they are absolutely silent on this now.
Wait a second... I detect the sound of crow being eaten... Yep, that's what it is, and it's coming from the peanut gallery!
You're so full of yourself that you can't even see what a fool you sound like.
I don't know why I was pinged. I made no comment about this incident that I can remember. Been really busy lately.
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