Shivangi Sinha
In 2015, while investigating the murder of Tahereh Ghassemi, police made a key breakthrough that moved the case forward. They discovered that her ex-husband, Hamid Ghassemi, had been in contact with a 20-year-old man named Tyler Ashpaugh despite having no obvious connection to him. This discovery ultimately uncovered a murder-for-hire scheme involving not only Tyler but also two others, namely, Skyler Williams and Daniel Richter. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Ultimate Betrayal’ covers the investigation in detail and explores how all three men were connected to the crime.
Records of a Phone Call Led the Police to Tyler Ashpaugh
Tyler Ashpaugh was originally from Wisconsin and relocated to Baton Rouge, California, after dropping out of school. With some close family living in the area, he hoped that a new environment would be a positive change at age 20. On the night of April 11, 2015, Tahereh Ghassemi vanished from her home in Baton Rouge. As police began scrutinizing her ex-husband, Hamid Ghassemi, they uncovered a critical cell phone record. Just after midnight, which was around the time Tahereh was believed to have gone missing, a 17-second call was made from Hamid’s phone to Tyler’s.
There was no known connection between the two of them, which immediately raised suspicions for the investigators. The police subpoenaed Tyler’s phone records and accessed his Google Maps history. On the same night as Tahereh’s disappearance, and shortly before the call from Hamid, Tyler had driven to a remote area in St. Helena Parish. When officers followed the GPS location, they discovered Tahereh’s remains wrapped in a comforter and buried in a shallow grave. Tyler was promptly brought in for questioning. Initially, he denied any involvement, but after some pressure, he confessed and provided a detailed account of what had occurred that night.
Tyler Ashpaugh’s Confession Led to the Arrest of Skyler Williams and Daniel Richter As Well
According to Tyler, he and his 17-year-old friend, named Skyler Williams, had been recruited by 33-year-old Daniel Richter. The latter was a mechanic at Hamid’s car dealership, Import One. Tyler claimed that Richter instructed them to kill Tahereh. He further alleged that Hamid wanted both his ex-wife, Tahereh, and his son, Hamed Ghassemi, dead for financial reasons. The latter had also been a target that night, but he wasn’t home. Tyler recounted that the three of them used a Chevrolet Tahoe taken from the dealership to drive to Tahereh’s residence. He added that he and Williams waited outside until she came out to retrieve something from her car; that’s when they ambushed her and forced her back into the house.
Tyler claimed that at this point, Richter entered the house and injected Tahereh with insulin, which rendered her unconscious. They allegedly grabbed a blanket from the home, wrapped her in it, and placed her in the trunk of her own car. The group then drove to a wooded area, but when they opened the trunk, she was still moaning. Tyler said that’s when he shot her with a .22 caliber gun. Since Richter hadn’t brought his phone, he reportedly used Tyler’s to call Hamid and request the payment. Afterward, the three of them went to the latter’s house, where they were given the agreed-upon $10,000 and some extra money to buy gasoline so they could burn Tahereh’s vehicle.
Tyler Ashpaugh is No Longer Alive, and Skyler Williams and Daniel Richter Are Serving Their Sentences Today
Tyler Ashpaugh’s confession proved to be a turning point in the investigation, allowing police to press charges formally. In May 2015, Tyler, along with Skyler Williams and Daniel Richter, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities offered Tyler a plea deal in exchange for his testimony against Hamid Ghassemi, which he accepted. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter and received a 40-year prison sentence. Initially incarcerated at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, Louisiana, he was transferred in January 2021 to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish.
On the morning of January 27, 2023, correctional officers found him unresponsive in his cell. He was taken to the infirmary, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was later determined to be fentanyl poisoning. In 2018, Richter initially pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, but he later changed his plea in 2021. Following Tyler’s death, authorities approached Richter to testify against Hamid, and he agreed. In June 2023, he formally entered a guilty plea to manslaughter, and in August 2023, he testified in court. During his testimony, Richter described how he had been hired for the murder and claimed that Hamid instructed him to ensure the body would never be found, prompting him to bury the remains.
In September 2023, Richter was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The 43-year-old remains incarcerated at the David Wade Correctional Center in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. Details regarding his parole eligibility or potential release have not been made public. In March 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in August 2023. Now 27 years old, he is currently in custody under the Louisiana Department of Corrections. However, specific details regarding his facility location and parole eligibility have not been made publicly available.
Read More: Heather Rangeley: Where is Hamid Ghassemi’s Ex-Girlfriend Now?
