Nichols was reported missing by her mother who said Ashley left one day from her apartment in her vehicle and began driving to California, leaving her apartment and all her belongings. No motive or reason was explained to her from Ashley. Ashley's mother began explaining that she had contact with Ashley in the past months via phone but advised it was a wifi only phone, so conversation and contact was hit or miss. She received multiple phone calls from Ashley while she was located in Costa Mesa, CA. Ashley was last heard from on Aug 27 when a voicemail was left to her mother's phone. She advised the voicemail was confusing and contained lots of mumbling, but she believed it was in fact Ashley calling from a hospital. No further contact has been made with Ashley since this point.