Ashley Jones is a model and the widow of late socialite William Foster. She was traumatized after her son Michael, who suffered homelessness and drug addiction, died in front of her while she was in the hospital. She was initially believed to be the intended victim when Michael seemed to have died from poisoning. Ashley brought up her stepchildren, Miles and Hillary Foster, contesting her inheritance, as they argued that she manipulated William to change his will during his health decline and also constantly cheated on him.
Michael was eventually revealed to have died from infected bone grafts, which left Michael contracting ovarian cancer. Ashley was devastated when the surgeon who gave Michael the bone grafts, Dr. Adam Vaughn, was acquitted at trial. (L&O: "Remains of the Day")