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Savannah Park Chemical Attack
A Georgia woman is recovering from severe burns after being attacked with a corrosive chemical during an evening walk in Savannah’s Forsyth Park, as police and the FBI search for those with information.
Connor Milam/APIn this photo provided by Connor Milam, her friend Ashley Wasielewski sits with bandages in a hospital bed in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after witnesses she suffered severe burns when an unknown attacker poured a corrosive chemical over her head at a public park in Savannah. Connor Milam/AP
A Georgia woman is recovering in a burn center after police say she was attacked with a corrosive chemical while walking at Forsyth Park in Savannah on the night of Dec. 10.
The victim, 46 year old Ashley Wasielewski, suffered second and third degree burns and is being treated at a burn center in Augusta, her son, Westley Wasielewski, told the Associated Press. He said the burns cover roughly half of her body, including her scalp, face, hands and legs.
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Westley Wasielewski said his mother had gone for a walk after attending a Christmas program at a nearby church and was walking laps at Forsyth Park when the attack occurred. He said he learned about the incident through a phone call from a bystander who stopped to help his mother and that he could hear her screaming in pain over the phone. “We don’t know who did it,” he said. “She doesn’t have any enemies. She is a friend to everyone.”
From her hospital bed, Wasielewski told family and friends that she was walking along the sidewalk near the edge of the park when she noticed a shadow coming up behind her, close friend Connor Milam said. As she turned around, the person poured a liquid over her head. “She was instantly like, ‘Why are you pouring water on me?’ And then her skin started to burn,” Milam said. “She looked down, and her pants were starting to burn off her body. She started screaming.”
Savannah police spokesman Neil Penttila said detectives are working with the FBI to identify the chemical used in the attack. Westley Wasielewski said investigators told the family the substance was so corrosive that it melted the key fob in his mother’s pocket.
As Wasielewski remains hospitalized far from home, friends and family have been coordinating travel and hospital visits, packing essentials for extended stays near the burn center often relying on durable gear such as large waterproof travel bags like the 5.11 Tactical Duffel Bag Backpack to transport clothing, medical supplies and personal items during long hospital stays.
The Savannah Police Department has asked for the public’s help in identifying possible witnesses to the Dec. 10 aggravated assault near West Walburg Street and Whitaker Street. Police said two potential witnesses have already been interviewed, but investigators are still trying to identify the driver or passengers of a white SUV or crossover that was traveling on Whitaker Street around 8:15 p.m. that night. Authorities said those individuals are not suspects and are being sought only for information.
Police have also released an image of a man they want to identify in connection with the case, stressing that he is not a suspect.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said the attack has deeply shaken the community but emphasized there is no indication of an ongoing threat. “Let me be clear: this kind of violence has no place in Savannah,” Johnson said in a statement. He said police have increased patrols in city parks out of an abundance of caution and urged residents to stay aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity.
Police Chief Lenny Gunther said detectives have been working around the clock and are reviewing video, following leads and interviewing witnesses.
A fundraising page noted that money raised will go toward burn unit care, surgeries, rehabilitation, wound care, skin grafts and adaptive needs. A friend provided a medical update saying most of Wasielewski’s burns have been diagnosed as third-degree and cover more than 50% of her body. The friend said it is unlikely hair will grow back on her scalp and that doctors are closely monitoring whether her body will accept cadaver skin following recent surgery before moving forward with skin grafting procedures.
The friend said Wasielewski has asked for continued public attention on the case and wants people to share the image of the person of interest released by police. “The more the photo circulates, the more likely someone will come forward with information,” the friend wrote.
The FBI’s Atlanta branch announced a $5,000 reward on Monday for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the attack. The FBI and Savannah Police Department have established a digital tip line for photos and videos that may aid in the investigation.
Editor’s Note:
This article contains details of a violent attack that may be disturbing to some readers and reflects an ongoing investigation into a serious assault that has deeply affected the Savannah community.
