On May 8, 2025, Maple Grove Police Officers were dispatched to a known residence located in Maple Grove, Hennepin County, Minnesota, on a welfare check of two boys. A neighbor had called 911 to report that the boys stated that were hit by their mom and refused to go home. Upon arrival, officers spoke to the boys, ages 10 and 12, who reported that they were struck multiple times by their mother, ASHLEY CHRISTINE PANKEY, a defendant herein, and their step-father, JAMES TYRONE OGDEN JR., a defendant herein.
Victim A, the 12-year-old, reported that Defendant Pankey grabbed him by the shirt and hit him in the nose. Both victims reported that they get pushed, hit, choked, and punched on a regular basis. Victim A was interviewed at CornerHouse. He reported that Defendant Pankey punches him in the chest and has used a hangar and spatula before to strike him. Victim A reported that Defendant Ogden also hits him and his brothers and that Defendant Ogden slammed Victim B to the ground one time. Victim B was also interviewed at CornerHouse.
He described how Defendant Ogden pulled him to the ground by the back of his shirt and was yelling at him. Victim B stated that he observed Defendant Pankey hit Victim A in the chest and that she had hit him before with a spatula. He also stated that Pankey hit Victim A with a belt. During the investigation, Officers located a video purported to have recorded the defendants punishing the victims. The video doesn’t show much visually but the audio captures Defendant Pankey yelling and swearing and striking one of the children multiple times while Defendant Ogden encourages her.
The audio also captures the child [NAME REDACTED]. The video is from December 12, 2024. The defendants are not currently in custody.
