Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Rags to Riches To Rage’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders’ delves deep into the feud between Derricka Harwell and Ashley Grayson, which nearly turned fatal for the former. Derricka, a successful businesswoman, has been known for helping up-and-coming entrepreneurs, but one such connection led to a deceitful murder-for-hire plot. Fortunately, the authorities intervened and saved Derricka’s life.
Derricka Harwell Was a Target of Ashley Grayson’s Murder-for-Hire Plot
In 2021, Derricka Harwell of Southaven, Mississippi, was operating an online business when she had a falling-out with another entrepreneur named Ashley Grayson, who ran an internet-based business. Ashley suspected Derricka of criticizing her business using fake social media profiles. The following year, Derricka was one of the three individuals who became the target of Ashley’s murder-for-hire plot. She hired Olivia Johnson to carry out the killings of Derricka, her former husband, and a Texas woman who had criticized her on social media. Olivia was reportedly offered $20,000 for each murder and was provided with the targets’ personal information, photographs, and addresses.
Around the same time, Ashley also filed a lawsuit against Derricka, claiming that she made a “false, defamatory and injurious” comment on her Facebook post. In the complaint, Derricka was also accused of stalking and harassing Ashley. However, in September 2022, Olivia recorded a FaceTime video call, wherein Ashley talked about the murder plot in detail and told Olivia that she wanted Derricka killed as soon as possible. After pretending to have carried out an attack on Derricka, Ashley demanded $10,000 for the attempt. She then submitted the video call recording to the authorities, which resulted in Ashley and her husband, Joshua Grayson, being indicted for use of an interstate facility in the commission of murder-for-hire.
Derricka Harwell is a Well-Established and Successful Business Coach
Derricka Harwell is a self-made multi-millionaire who started small businesses and turned them into highly successful, multi-million-dollar companies. Using her experience and knowledge, she has coached many entrepreneurs and helped them become 7-figure business owners. Besides being a business coach, Derricka has also served as a professor in the 3E programs for first-year college students and high school seniors at Howard University, Yale University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Having worked as a financial consultant for several years, Derricka brought positive changes to educational infrastructure in the communities that were otherwise deprived of opportunities.
Given her contributions and impact, she has been the proud recipient of multiple awards and accolades, including the Top 40 Under 40 Award from Memphis Urban Elite and the 2022 Presidential Lifetime Award from the 46th president of the United States, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris. In 2023, Derricka also received the Official Barack Obama 44th Presidential Legacy Lifetime Award, presented by Georgia State Representative Billy Mitchell and International Ambassador & Founder of TIUA.
Dr. J. Mohair. The recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from TIUA also has two proclamations to her name, one in Shelby County, Tennessee, and the other in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with May 17th and August 9th declared as Derricka Harwell Day. The self-made, multi-millionaire woman published ‘Beautiful Credit for a Beautiful You’ in 2016 and ‘Beautiful Credit: Insider Secrets to Establishing a Perfect Credit Score’ in 2017. Dr. Derricka is currently the CEO of BeautifyCredit and Derricka Harwell Enterprises and has featured in many magazines and publications, including Yip Global, Yahoo Finance, and Black Enterprise.
Derricka Harwell Prioritizes Her Husband and Children
On the personal front, Derricka is a devoted wife to her longtime husband, Antario Harwell, and a doting mother to her seven children. She has been with Antario since around 2006, and the love they share has only blossomed more and more with each passing day. In May 2026, they celebrated their 15th marriage anniversary. Describing him as her best friend, safe space, and love of her life, Derricka wrote on a social media post, “I still smile thinking about when we were dating as teenagers… how I swore I’d never have children. And you, so calmly, so confidently, told me I would be an amazing mother. And somehow… God allowed us to create SIX beautiful lives together. Six. And I have loved every single moment of being their mother.”
She also added, “You provide, not just materially, but emotionally and spiritually. And one thing about you… you may be laid back, but you sit up real quick about your wife!💪🏾 And I’ve always loved that about you. Together, in the middle of a world that doesn’t always get it right, we built something phenomenal.” On her social media, Derricka, who resides in Memphis, Tennessee, constantly raises awareness on multiple topics and imparts knowledge to help her followers make financially sound decisions.
Ashley Grayson is Currently Incarcerated at a Texas Prison
More than a year after the Grayson couple’s indictment, in March 2024, Ashley Grayson was found guilty of the charges against her, while her husband Joshua was acquitted. Several months later, on October 31, 2024, her sentencing hearing took place. The acting US Attorney stated, “The defendant tried to hire someone to murder a woman over things that happened exclusively on the internet. Fortunately, no one was physically hurt in this case, but the victim and her family still felt a severe and emotional impact as the result of the defendant’s actions. The proactive response from the investigating agencies and our prosecutors prevented an even more serious crime from occurring.” Ashley was ultimately sentenced to ten years in prison and three years of supervised release for the murder-for-hire conspiracy. As of today, 37-year-old Ashley is serving her sentence at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, with her release date scheduled for November 2032.
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