A woman from Georgia is confronting medical bills that could spiral into millions of dollars after a shocking and random acid attack left her with life-altering injuries.
A Walk in the Park Turns to Horror
Ashley Wasielewski, 46, was walking near Forsyth Park in Savannah on 10 December when an unidentified man ran up and doused her with a corrosive liquid. The Savannah Police Department reported that she immediately fled across the street, screaming in agony until emergency services were called.
Wasielewski was initially treated at the scene and rushed to Memorial Hospital before being transferred to a specialist burn centre in Augusta. Photographs from after the incident reveal the severity of the assault, showing her hair melted away, her face severely burned, and her arm heavily bandaged.
The Long Road to Recovery and Mounting Costs
Wasielewski's best friend, Connor Milam, told local media that she was on the phone with her mother when she sensed someone following her. "She turned around to think she was going to have to push them, they poured water on her," Milam recounted. It was not water, but acid.
Milam explained that Wasielewski suffered burns to more than 50 percent of her body. The financial burden of her recovery is immense, with costs expected to pile up into the millions of dollars. A GoFundMe campaign, organised by friend Kristen Oddi, states the attack caused "unimaginable pain".
In a 24 December update, Oddi noted that Wasielewski had recently undergone skin graft surgery. "The scalp - where the initial contact occurred - remains the most severe of the affected areas," Oddi wrote.
An Ongoing Investigation and a Family's Resilience
Law enforcement continues to search for the perpetrator, whose identity remains unknown. Police previously released an image of a man in connection with the case but have since confirmed they made contact with him and he is not a suspect.
The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and is appealing for doorbell or security camera footage from homes near the park. Savannah Police confirmed on Friday that the investigation is ongoing with no significant updates.
Wasielewski's son, Westley Wasielewski, said his mother initially believed someone had thrown water on her. "I think shortly after she realized that any liquid was even on her, parts of her coat, her leggings were beginning to disintegrate. Then I think the burning set in," he told reporters.
He described his mother as "hanging in there", facing a combination of mental and physical trauma with fluctuating good and bad moments. "We've got a long road ahead of us," he said, acknowledging the lifelong care she will now require.
