Step-Parent’s Cruel Plot Ends Pizza Driver’s Life

A Late-Night Order Turns Deadly

The night of June 20, 2012, began like any other in Akron, Ohio. For Ashley Biggs, a 25-year-old US Army veteran, it meant working a late shift at Domino’s to support herself and her fight for custody of her young daughter, Grace. She was a dependable employee, known for her seriousness and responsibility. Her manager considered her his best worker. But that night, a simple pizza delivery would end in unimaginable violence.

A call came in for a half mushroom, half pepperoni pizza to a commercial property on West Turkeyfoot Road. The order seemed ordinary, just one last run before closing. Ashley, driving her own car, headed to the address. She was expected back at the store within 10 minutes. When she didn’t return, concern grew. After 20 minutes, her manager, Matthew Travis, drove to the delivery location himself.

A Scene of Horror

The parking lot was dark and silent. Instead of a pizza delivery, Matthew found a large pool of blood. It was a shocking sight, signaling a violent struggle. He immediately called the police. Officers arrived shortly after midnight and confirmed his fears. This was no ordinary missing person case. Signs of a struggle were everywhere: blood on the pavement, scattered cash, and pieces of a taser. Ashley and her car were gone. A trail of blood led away from the scene, stopping abruptly, suggesting she was overpowered and forced into a vehicle, likely her own. Distinct tire marks indicated a swift escape.

The Custody Battle and a Bitter Rivalry

Ashley Biggs was a dedicated mother, a US Army veteran, and a kind-hearted individual. Her life had been complicated by a past relationship with Chad Cobb. Their relationship was volatile, and after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence, Ashley obtained a protective order. They had a daughter, Grace, born in 2006. Due to Ashley’s military service and a transitional phase in her life, Grace was initially in Chad’s custody, with his parents providing significant support. Ashley, however, was determined to regain custody and was working at Domino’s to fund her legal battle.

By 2011 and 2012, Ashley was actively seeking full custody. Meanwhile, Chad had moved in with Erica Lion, later Erica Stfanco. Their household was already full with Erica’s two children from a previous relationship and two children they had together, in addition to Grace. Chad often worked manual labor and relied on family support. Ashley, now in a relationship with Brittany Dunen, believed Grace would be better off with them. This led to an increasingly bitter custody dispute. While Ashley saw it as fighting for her daughter’s welfare, Chad and Erica viewed it as a battle for control, with Ashley seen as a persistent problem.

A Grim Discovery and a Shocking Confession

As police investigated Ashley’s disappearance, Brittany Dunen quickly became their focus, but she was soon cleared. Detectives learned about Chad Cobb’s history with Ashley. The search for Ashley and her car expanded. Shortly after sunrise, her car was found abandoned in a cornfield about 20 minutes away. Inside, officers found Ashley’s body in the back seat, bound with zip ties, her face purple, indicating strangulation. The taser wires were still attached. The car interior was soaked in blood, with the Domino’s bag on the seat, a stark reminder of her last moments.

The evidence pointed to a planned ambush. Ashley had been lured to the parking lot, tased, restrained, and strangled before being dumped in her own car. Police went to Chad Cobb’s grandparents’ home, where he was staying. He was nowhere to be found, but a search of the property yielded a bag of industrial zip ties matching those found on Ashley. Behind the house, officers found Chad hiding in the bushes. His clothes were covered in Ashley’s blood.

Faced with overwhelming evidence, Chad confessed. He admitted to luring Ashley with a fake pizza order, tasing and strangling her with a zip tie, binding her, and then dumping her and her car in a cornfield. In 2013, Chad Cobb pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including aggravated murder and kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Voice on the Phone: Erica’s Role Uncovered

Despite Chad’s conviction, detectives still had a nagging question: who made the fake pizza order? The voice on the phone was female, and Chad’s confession claimed he acted alone. Investigators focused on Erica. Witnesses had described her hostility towards Ashley and her deep involvement in the custody battle. Chad, however, maintained he acted alone.

Erica divorced Chad and remarried two years after his sentencing. Her new husband was Mike Stfanco, one of Chad’s childhood best friends, whom she had been having an affair with while still married to Chad. Meanwhile, Grace, Ashley and Chad’s daughter, was living with Erica. Reports emerged of Erica’s severe abuse towards Grace, including forcing her to eat dog feces mixed with yogurt. This information reached Chad in prison.

Enraged, Chad sent a letter to Detective Michael Hitchings, confessing Erica’s involvement. He stated she placed the Domino’s order using a burner phone, drove him to the parking lot, and picked him up afterward. Investigators needed more than Chad’s word, even with his motive for revenge against Erica. They found it through Chad’s mother, Cindy Cobb.

The Secret Recording and a Mother’s Vengeance

Cindy, furious about Erica’s abuse of Grace, secretly recorded a conversation with Erica in 2014. In the recording, Erica chillingly detailed her role: placing the order, dropping Chad off, and picking him up. She mentioned Chad’s disturbing talk of keeping Ashley’s skull as a trophy and admitted her own fear whenever she heard sirens, thinking they were coming for her. This recording became crucial evidence.

In November 2019, nearly seven years after Ashley’s murder, Erica Stfanco was arrested. Her first trial began in late 2020. The prosecution presented the secret recording, along with testimony from Grace, who was now a teenager. Grace recalled Erica making the fake pizza call using a different name and remembered being in the car that night. She also testified graphically about Erica’s abuse, including being forced to eat feces. Chad Cobb also testified against Erica, not for leniency, but seemingly out of pure hatred for her actions.

Justice Served, Then Challenged, Then Reaffirmed

Despite Erica’s attempts to portray herself as a changed person, evidence of her cruelty surfaced, including an admission that she had urinated on Ashley’s grave. After three days of deliberation, a jury found Erica Stfanco guilty in connection with Ashley’s murder. She was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 30 years.

However, in 2022, Erica appealed, and her conviction was overturned, leading to a retrial. In January 2024, a new jury found Erica guilty again of aggravated murder, and her life sentence was upheld. Chad Cobb remains in prison for life without parole. Erica is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 30 years.

Remembering Ashley

Ashley Biggs is remembered as funny, driven, loyal, and a loving mother. She was a veteran who simply wanted to build a better life for her daughter. Her ordinary future was stolen, leaving Grace to grow up without her mother, her father, and under the shadow of immense trauma. Ashley’s mother, Kim, delivered a powerful statement at Erica’s sentencing, expressing her hope for Erica’s future suffering. This case serves as a chilling reminder that sometimes the most dangerous people are those closest to us, driven by jealousy, resentment, and a desire for control.

Source: There's Something Wrong with Erica (YouTube)