Las Vegas shooting victim’s parents: Daughter lived in ‘constant fear’
The parents of a woman slain at a Summerlin law firm said Monday that their daughter was living in fear of her ex-husband while fighting him in court for custody of their two children.
“Ashley lived in constant fear for her safety and that of her children,” said Julie Page, whose 30-year-old daughter, Ashley Prince, was killed in the April 8 shooting. “She battled relentlessly, and unfortunately all of our fears became a reality.”
The family of that ex-husband, Dylan Houston, whose father, Joseph Houston, killed Ashley and her husband, Dennis Prince, in Dennis Prince’s law offices, said he is only interested in his children’s well-being.
“Our hope is that through the darkness, despair and grief, we can focus on the needs of the children,” said a statement issued by the Houston family Monday through a spokesperson in response to the Pages’ press conference.
“That focus extends to refraining from rebuttals and public accusations. Dylan is a dedicated father and is singularly committed to the welfare of his children. We are hopeful that Dylan and his children will be together soon and we all can begin to heal.”
Ashley Prince’s parents, Paul and Julie Page, spoke publicly for the first time about the killings in a news conference Monday at a northwest Las Vegas law firm.
The Pages alleged that Dylan Houston had subjected Ashley to verbal and mental abuse and threats, including threats in text messages, over the past two years amid a contentious child custody battle over their two young children.
The two children were in the temporary custody of Ashley’s sister Lexie, 27, who also was sitting with her family members at Monday’s news conference.
‘Relentless harassing death threats’
Paul Page alleged that Dylan Houston subjected Ashley to “relentless harassing death threats and threatening verbal abuse, including up to 70 text messages a day at times.”
The father then read aloud what he said were text messages from Dylan to Ashley, including one he quoted as saying: “I don’t want to see you unless you’re in a casket.”
Joseph Houston, 77, shot and killed Ashley and Dennis Prince during a deposition at the fifth-floor law offices at 10801 W. Charleston Blvd., east of the 215 Beltway, the Metropolitan Police Department has said.
After killing the couple, Joseph Houston turned the gun on himself, police said.
Julie Page also said Ashley was granted what she called a restraining order against her ex-husband at one point.
In an April 2022 court filing, the judge in the case, Bill Henderson, ordered Dylan Houston to remain at least 100 yards away from Ashley’s home, work and her parents’ home.
She said that because of what the Houston family alleged was the threatening nature of Dylan Houston’s text messages, the court ordered Dylan and Ashley to communicate only via a court-approved messaging app that allowed the court to monitor the communications.
“Dylan, however, did not stop the abuse and threatening messages, but never faced any consequences from the court,” Julie Page said.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s attempts to reach Dylan Houston via phone and text messages were unsuccessful Monday evening.
Julie Page also alleged that because of what she said was Dylan Houston’s problems with alcohol abuse, he had been required to use a device that would monitor his alcohol levels during his time with the two children.
Paul Page also explained why the Page family said they now fear for their lives.
“Why do we fear for our lives? We have witnessed years of threats and abuse,” Paul Page said. “We always knew something bad would happen. We didn’t expect Joe Houston. We always expected it to be Dylan. And now we know what his family is capable of.”
‘We, too, are shocked’
The Houston family, in its statement Monday, also said:
“We cannot begin to imagine the devastating sense of loss felt by the Page and Prince families. We understand their shock and anger,” the statement said. “We, too, are shocked. None of us ever could conceive of our loving father doing something so egregiously out of character.”
Joseph Houston, a Las Vegas attorney, had been representing his son. Dennis Prince had been representing Ashley, with whom he shares a baby daughter.
Dylan Houston, who is also an attorney, wasn’t at the deposition.
The decision by both veteran attorneys to represent a loved one in an acrimonious child custody dispute, even though there are no rules against that, was something that other local attorneys questioned.
As recently as last week, Dylan Houston was listed as a partner at Resnick & Louis’ Las Vegas offices’ website, but his name was no longer listed on the website Monday. A link to his bio page returned a “page not found” error.
Ashley Prince’s brother, Bryce Page, 26, said his sister was the happiest she had ever been after the recent birth of her baby daughter.
“Ashley was the most confident, thoughtful and charismatic mother, daughter, and sister,” Bryce Page said. “Her passion was interior design. Everything she touched she made beautiful.”
Another sister, Madison Page, 21, was also at the press conference.
‘Would have never given up the fight for her children’
A statement from the law firm of the Pages’ attorney, Dana A. Dwiggins, said the Princes were “fighting for sole custody of Ashley’s two oldest children” when the shooting happened. Julie Page on Monday said “we are determined to carry on her legacy and fight to ensure the long-term safety of our grandchildren.”
Dwiggins told reporters that the Pages intend to file a guardianship petition over the children.
“She would have never given up the fight for her children,” Julie Page said of Ashley.
The Pages spoke at the law offices of Solomon Dwiggins Freer & Steadman, LTD, at 9060 W. Cheyenne Ave.
Contact Brett Clarkson at bclarkson@reviewjournal.com.