Police are searching for a suspect who randomly attacked 46-year-old Ashley Wasielewski in Savannah’s Forsyth Park Wednesday evening after she attended a church Christmas program. According to family members and friends, the victim was approached by a stranger who poured corrosive liquid over her head while she was walking laps in the park.
Wasielewski suffered severe second- and third-degree chemical burns across her scalp, face, hands, legs, and torso. She described hearing a blood-curdling scream as the chemicals burned through her clothing and melted her car key fob in her pocket. Her close friend Connor Milam recounted that Wasielewski initially questioned why water was being poured on her before her skin began to burn intensely.
The victim’s son, Westley, reported she was rushed to the Augusta Burn Center after a good Samaritan alerted him. Westley described hearing his mother’s agonized cries over the phone as emergency responders worked to stabilize her injuries. “She doesn’t have any enemies,” Westley stated. “She is a friend to everyone.”
Savannah police released a photo of a person of interest wearing a black hoodie with a cartoon rabbit design, but emphasized that the individual is not currently under investigation. Assistant Chief Robert Gavin noted they are seeking someone who was in the area at the time and could provide critical information about the attack. Authorities confirmed Wasielewski had no prior relationship with the assailant and described the incident as “heinous” due to its random nature against an innocent victim.
Federal agents from the FBI and ATF are assisting investigators, but police have not yet identified the perpetrator. The attack marks one of several recent chemical assaults in the United States, according to local law enforcement.