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Laura Asbury flips through a stack of photographs. Her long, manicured nails graze dozens of smiley faces, inspiring deep dimples in her own.

Each shows the 32-year-old juvenile detention officer embracing a different girl. In one, Asbury wraps her slender arms around the broad shoulders of a girl who looks like any other happy 17-year-old — aside from the prison-issued uniform. In another, Asbury gently cups the belly of Grace Stokes, who at the time was 17 years old, eight months pregnant, and incarcerated. "I love my girls," Asbury says.

For more than seven years, she didn't simply work at the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center, better known as Dan Street. She lived and breathed her job, and was dedicated to helping any girl who would accept it.

There was no such thing as 9-to-5 or sick days. Asbury was the girls' guardian 24/7, often answering their calls in the middle of the night and carting them to the hospital to deliver babies. She was the one who handed them GED applications, the one who threw them pizza parties when they collectively read 100 books. She ensured that many never returned to Dan Street and that the ones who did weren't forgotten when sent off to prison.

Their gratitude is expressed in a stack of letters. "Thank you for all the outings and appointments you took me to," writes one former inmate. "You have been someone I look up to . . . I look at you and think, 'Damn! That's how I want to be — strong, independent.' You will always be in my heart."

"[You] mean the world to me," writes another. "[You] gave me a reason not to give up."

They refer to her as "Miss A" — as in "Miss A would give you the world, if she could." But even as Asbury sifts through her mementos, her smile fades.

While the inmates appreciated Asbury's dedication, her bosses did not. Last year, Asbury was fired. Don Ursetti, spokesman for the Summit County Juvenile Court, claims she was let go because of her "noncompliance with court policy," though he refuses to translate this from bureaucrat-speak.

But her firing may have been motivated by another reason. Asbury had a habit of calling out anyone who didn't act in the kids' best interest.

A single mother who prefers shopping at Gabriel Brothers to Dillard's, Asbury has a girlish physique and straightened mane that make her appear much younger than her 32 years. But when she opens her mouth, she speaks with the cadence of a woman who knows exactly where to score weed among the empty row houses of East Akron. It's not so much what she says; it's how she says it — with a nonchalant, streetwise twang that leaves no room for flourish.

Asbury first entered Dan Street not as a twentysomething detention officer, but as a 13-year-old inmate.

She rattles off the things that led her to this place — the self-hate that comes from teenage fat, the relatives more dedicated to addiction than family. She often ran away, preferring to spend her time getting high at metal shows. "I was all about the Monsters of Rock and experimenting with drugs," she says. "I used to use my family's dysfunction as an excuse to act out. I'd highlight it when it was convenient."

The first time Asbury ended up at Dan Street, she was arrested for running away. It was a quick overnighter before Mom picked her up.

The second time wasn't so easy. Asbury was caught bringing a joint to school. In exchange for having the charges dropped, police wanted her to rat out the dealer. She found a better option in running away again.

When she was finally caught, she spent a week in detention. "I continued downhill from there," she says. "I stopped going to school in my sophomore year. I went the first two days, then just started skipping."

The woman next door gave her pot in exchange for baby-sitting. They'd spend afternoons getting drunk on Black Velvet.

She finally ran away to Virginia at 16, before returning to Summit County to serve her last stretch in detention. She was tired of getting in trouble — tired of causing her family so much trouble. She got a job as a waitress, enrolled at the University of Akron, and gave birth to her only son. Her lone goal was to land a job working at Dan Street. "I just knew exactly where those girls were coming from," she says. "And I knew I could help. I just knew it."

In 2000, she took a part-time job as a group counselor. One of her first girls was Grace Stokes, 14 at the time. The startlingly curvaceous beauty fought with her mother incessantly. She first ended up at Dan Street for threatening to kill her mother's dog.

While Stokes fancied herself a hardass, able to hold her own in the Brunswick High cafeteria, she was terrified of the girls at Dan Street. They were a different breed of tough — girls who weren't locked up for threatening dogs, but for attempted murder, felonious assault, and hard-core drug use. Stokes was especially scared of Asbury.

After her first night in detention, Stokes awoke to find Asbury screaming for her to get out of bed. "To be honest, at first I thought she was a total bitch," Stokes says.

She remembers Asbury dressing her down, reminding her that she was just "a cupcake from the suburbs."

"They'll eat you alive in here," the counselor told her.

Asbury always gave first-timers the worst of her "professionally paid bitch" routine, hoping they wouldn't come back. Most didn't. But Stokes would become a Dan Street fixture. "That first week was rough," she says. "I had to earn my frequent-flyer miles before she warmed up to me."

Write Your Comment show comments (46)

  1. People elect the government they deserve.

    Comment by John — May 4, 2008 @ 01:45PM

  2. Laura Asbury? A model Detention Officer? Is this a joke? Actually, it’s not even funny…It’s just sad. Asbury was the last thing from a model employee and hearing her name again makes me sick to my stomach. Having worked at Summit County Juvenile Detention for about four years full time, she had accumulated and burnt through months and months of paid leave and then still managed to take leave without pay almost every other week because she didn’t have paid time left to use when she called off. How can someone who refuses to show up for work be considered a model employee? However, she wasn’t just a horrible employee she was a manipulative and mean person by nature.
    Sure, she picked a couple of girls to “kick it” with, but she wasn’t a good influence, to say the least. I hardly consider someone who comes to work hung-over (maybe even still drunk) from the night before and makes a point to brag to the teens about this previous night’s adventure (and how she vomited in her car on the way to work) as a good role model. She doesn’t have a moral line. She probably didn’t tell you how she convinced the girls in her unit to side with her against a teacher and encouraged them to assault that teacher. She probably didn’t mention that she openly referred to the youth that she didn’t care for as “cunts” and “bitches.” She considered herself as “cool,” and yes some of her little inmate friends thought of her as “cool,” also, when she would “keep it real” with the group by picking a victim and putting their private issues (including medical issues) out in the open for the whole group to hear. Also, about this teenager by the name of Hooks, I was a personal witness to Asbury talking about this youth to another youth about Hooks (without Hooks being present) in an attempt to make an alliance to help her “gang up” against juvenile Hooks. After Asbury was fired she made a point to call several juveniles from detention at their homes to tell them Hooks had gotten her fired. To this day I hear from teenagers in detention how they don’t like Hooks and want to beat her up because of the distorted story they received from Ms. Asbury. Unfortunately, Hooks was only one of Asbury’s many victims.
    One time a Target card worth $20.00 that was given to a youth in our facility came up missing. Asbury, of course, was the one who realized it was missing and then, of course, immediately began pointing fingers of whom she felt should be blamed. Sure enough, later, when the youth (that the Target card had belonged to) revisited detention she openly admitted she made a deal with Asbury to give over the Target card and then they would claim it missing and the detention facility would have to provide another card. Did she happen to mention how she “faked” a fall and submitted a workers comp. claim? Her fraud, however, didn’t work as planned because a couple of employees that she had told her plan to before hand came forward. Asbury caught wind of this and withdrew her claim. She wasn’t ever written up for being extra helpful with these kids, she was written up for things such as allowing a male sex offender into the girls unit to hang out with the girls and swearing at a teacher in front of the girls during class.
    Something I always thought was strange is when she came to work giving out pricey video games and claimed the Battered Woman’s Shelter (that she had a second job with at the time) just gave them to her. Which reminds me…Did you happen to ask Ms. Asbury how many other jobs she has been fired or “let go” from? Did you ask how many write-ups she has accumulated from these other employers? Summit County Juvenile Court wasn’t the first and won’t be the last.
    When Asbury was fired many co-workers gave a sigh of relief. Finally all the trouble, drama, and nonsense was gone for good. Yes, just like any place of work, I admit my place of employment is not perfect. However, I can’t deny how much easier it is to go into work knowing the poison is gone and we can all get back to working together as a team to help these troubled teenagers the right way!

    Comment by John Doe — May 7, 2008 @ 09:33PM

  3. All that crazy sh*t that you had to say about that woman with nothing to back it up! Mind your business John Doe - We know you still work there!! You would have to be a "John Doe" in order to say such, off the wall crap about her. I worked with Laura for a few years and you are making a ton of crap up. Get back to your job before you are next to get fired!! We won't put your "Real" name out there......

    Comment by Michelle — May 7, 2008 @ 10:47PM

  4. Yeah, you would be a John Doe making statements like that! Since we all know that information isn't true: Maybe if Miss A finds out who you are, she can clean up on a Slander Law Suit!! She deserves it!

    Comment by Gary Davis — May 7, 2008 @ 11:08PM

  5. Dear John Doe,
    You are a "FRAUD"! I am an Attorney and I took the time this morning to check Miss A's Workman's Compensation Claim and the allegation that you previously stated. Her claim was never revoked or cancelled. Her Medical Bills were paid and she returned to work. Get your facts straight before you get online making a fool of yourself!
    Hey Miss A, if you discover who John Doe really is you better take them for every dime the have!!
    Keep up the Great Work Miss A!!

    Comment by Michael — May 8, 2008 @ 09:37AM

  6. as a former co-worker of miss asbury, i can say jane doe is not making things up. while i no longer work there, i can say that a number of john doe's claims are not far fetched. miss asbury did in my view of the time i was there do many of the things mentioned by john doe. it does seem to me that the scene did print a very slanted story.

    Comment by chuck — May 8, 2008 @ 11:49AM

  7. How do all of you know that what john doe said is not true. I had a friend who worked at the same place and came home with some of the same situations as were mentioned by john doe. It seemed as though whenever there was trouble or issues miss asbury was always in the middle of it. so for those of you who claim slander may need to get the whole story not just one side and claim slander. Also who is the lawyer ...must not be a good one if he/she has time to look through all of this stuff. a good lawyer would have better things to do than investigate this stuff.

    Comment by Joan Smilt — May 8, 2008 @ 02:56PM

  8. As a friend and past co-worker of Asbury's I wish all of you, evil/hate filled individuals the absolute best in your lives. I hope that your find the LORD or at least some type of Higher Power. As her life moves on into a way more positive direction with wonderful things in her future I hope one day you all can find happiness and inner peace.

    Comment by Karen — May 8, 2008 @ 06:13PM

  9. nice try karen...there is nothing in my comments that are evil/hate just what i seem to remember what the truth is....if things are going so well why does she need the scene magazine to make a point? you know there are 2 sides to every coin but name calling people who do not agree with you or her is not LORD like to me!

    Comment by chuck — May 8, 2008 @ 09:23PM

  10. The article states that The Scene Magazine did contact the Court for their opinion and they spoke only a couple words. That is their choice! Again good luck to all of you and your futures!!

    Comment by Karen — May 8, 2008 @ 11:05PM

  11. Judge Teodosio should of gotten rid of her sooner. I am surprised it took so long!

    Comment by Jill — May 9, 2008 @ 01:57PM

  12. Dear Ms. Asbury, I know nothing about your employment situation, but I do know more about my daughter's situation at the time of her death than you did. Talk about half truths. None of the references regarding Jaclyn were really the way you portrayed them to be and to make the insinuation that Jaclyn's death was in any way caused by any of the Judge's decisions just goes to show how little you really knew about my daughter's situation. I think it is very wrong of you to exploit my daughter's memory and upset our family for your own personal gain. I feel you have over stepped your bounds and you have definitely made misleading statements and half truths in regards to my daughter. You have no right to use my daughter's name and personal information in this way and I hope you will have enough respect for my daughter's memory, for me and for our entire family and will not continue to do so without my knowledge.

    Comment by Colleen Billings — May 9, 2008 @ 05:08PM

  13. dear ms. billingsley...i am sorry about your daughter and i pray things are getting better for you. may god bless you....shame on ms.asbury!!!!

    Comment by chuck — May 9, 2008 @ 09:09PM

  14. dear ns. billings...sorry i did not spell your name in my last comment....please accept my apology.

    Comment by chuck — May 9, 2008 @ 09:12PM

  15. First, I want to clear up some issues about this model ex worker. Where most would focus on who specifically fired them Miss A has taken her fight to Myspace and now to the WWW through the help of godaddy.com She has helped to slander other people and their families without any regard for possible fallout or damage. Why not fight the fight in court with just the Administration and why you feel they fired you wrongly.

    Secondly, as Government employees Miss A and others who worked at court are "at will" which basically means they can be let go at any time. In fact as part of the policies and procedures manual and employee handbook that was passed out and gone over each employee had to sign a sheet that acknowledged that fact. So unless I am misunderstanding that signed statement anyone in an administrative position at court can dismiss an employee with the Judges approval.

    Now a few last things that I would like to go over please note that the information that is listed in MYSPACE, impeachjudgeteodosio.com and in the scene article are to be taken as entertainment only. In fact a lot of the stories have been streched to make them more interesting and even somewhat like a soap oprea. So like reading the newspaper, getting the TV news etc. you must get your facts from reputible sources and also check out the info so it is true.

    Thanks for your time and I hope that not all of you will stoop to the level of belittling others to make yourself feel better.
    JD

    Comment by Johnny Doe — May 9, 2008 @ 10:58PM

  16. You people act like Asbury has come up with all of this on her own, when she surely has not. Did you actually read the Article? Miss Asbury was not the only one who was interviewed. As far as the web site goes, I think it is very well written! Entertainment? I guess?? Is it entertaining to see the covers get pulled of off Teodosio and all of her soldiers by actual court case numbers, pictures, and/or dates? Your lack of knowledge is more entertaining! Miss Asbury's case is being handled in Court as well as many others. And, for those of you who are keeping track Miss Asbury's case is still pending with the EEOC! Good for you Asbury! We miss you!!

    Comment by Kim — May 10, 2008 @ 08:13AM

  17. You people act like Asbury has come up with all of this on her own, when she surely has not. Did you actually read the Article? Miss Asbury was not the only one who was interviewed. As far as the web site goes, I think it is very well written! Entertainment? I guess?? Is it entertaining to see the covers get pulled of off Teodosio and all of her soldiers by actual court case numbers, pictures, and/or dates? Your lack of knowledge is more entertaining! Miss Asbury's case is being handled in Court as well as many others. And, for those of you who are keeping track Miss Asbury's case is still pending with the EEOC! Good for you Asbury! We miss you!!

    Comment by Kim — May 10, 2008 @ 08:13AM

  18. You people act like Asbury has come up with all of this on her own, when she surely has not. Did you actually read the Article? Miss Asbury was not the only one who was interviewed. As far as the web site goes, I think it is very well written! Entertainment? I guess?? Is it entertaining to see the covers get pulled of off Teodosio and all of her soldiers by actual court case numbers, pictures, and/or dates? Your lack of knowledge is more entertaining! Miss Asbury's case is being handled in Court as well as many others. And, for those of you who are keeping track Miss Asbury's case is still pending with the EEOC! Good for you Asbury! We miss you!!

    Comment by Kim — May 10, 2008 @ 08:13AM

  19. Dear Ms. Asbury, I know nothing about your employment situation, but I do know more about my daughter's situation at the time of her death than you did. Talk about half truths. None of the references regarding Jaclyn were really the way you portrayed them to be and to make the insinuation that Jaclyn's death was in any way caused by any of the Judge's decisions just goes to show how little you really knew about my daughter's situation. I think it is very wrong of you to exploit my daughter's memory and upset our family for your own personal gain. I feel you have over stepped your bounds and you have definitely made misleading statements and half truths in regards to my daughter. You have no right to use my daughter's name and personal information in this way and I hope you will have enough respect for my daughter's memory, for me and for our entire family and will not continue to do so without my knowledge.

    Comment by Colleen Billings — May 9, 2008 @ 05:08PM

    Comment by Robert Barker — May 10, 2008 @ 12:07PM

  20. I have seen all of the comments and the only one who makes any sense is Ms. Billings. Funny how all of miss Asbury"s supporters (KIM) do not seem to have a comment for her. All who support MS. Asbury are exploiting Jaclyn's death as well. God bless Ms. Colleenn Billings and shame on all of you who support Ms. Asbury!!!!!

    Comment by stan — May 10, 2008 @ 05:51PM

  21. Is this whole thing a joke? It would be a cold day in hell before I would call a big time drinker and weed smoker a model for these young girls. The Scene must be crazy for believing this garbage and running this as a feature. What is the world coming to?

    Comment by greg — May 11, 2008 @ 12:18PM

  22. Drinkers and weed smokers - yeah, those are all in the Article and on the web site with court docket information - that is why the Scene picked that crazy court as the feature!

    Comment by Jane Doe — May 11, 2008 @ 05:14PM

  23. Hi,
    I am a Liscensed Social Worker,and have known Laura for over 10 years,both professionally and personally and I know that she genuinely cares for those girls. She has given alot of herself to the kids that she tried to reach out and help. Not everyone is perfect, and she like everyone of us has flaws, but please understand that she is trying to do whats in the best interest of the kids. I am a former high school worker, and I had the pleasure of knowing Shawrica Lester, if you want to talk about injustice do your research, and see why Judge Teodosio didn't sentence anyone to jail for her death? Maybe it was the fact that she let gang members into the court room to intimidate the witnesses so they wouldn't testify? Someones child was killed, and no one was charged, eventhough there were witnesses? What doesn't add up? Then most recently, a Tallmadge HS football player was charged with raping another player and gets a slap on the wrist? Are you serious? If we want the crime to go down in Akron, maybe we should start actually sentencing these criminal. Vote for Katrina Cook!!

    Comment by Maria — May 12, 2008 @ 11:15AM

  24. It has been speculated that I was the Dan St. employee that spoke anonymously to this articles writer.

    Well it wasn't. Feel free to call the author & ask them or better yet come to me & ask me , I don't bite.

    If anything was to be said by me, I wouldn't hide beind the thin veil of anonymity. If I have anything to say I say it. I thought that after almost 5 years on the job , that was a well known fact, Jacki has a big mouth.

    Yes I still keep in touch with Asbury. By e-mail occasionally. I haven't spoken with her on the phone in months. It is a casual aquaintance if anything, not this big secretive conspiritors frienship as many think.

    I don't know why I have to feel the need to defend myself for anything.

    I have no clue as to what actually happened in detention seeing as I am just a cook & don't have any access to any info. Frankly I don't care what happened, all I know is I am caught in the middle of a silly little quarrel between those who are out for blood & those who want the truth to be out .

    I talk to everyone at Dan St. I even talk to those who have treated me like I was beneath them & not worthy of any respect because I am 'Just a cook".

    Have I ever done anything to any of you or lied to any of you to make you feel like this about me? I tell it like it is. So if any Dan st. current or former employees have any problem with who I talk to or don't talk to outside of work, please by all means tell me when you see me. It won't hurt my feelings any.

    I didn't know it was against the rules to be nice to everyone. Isn't that what we try to teach our kids?

    Jacki Edmond- or as the kids call me Miss Jacki - I work for Canteen Corrections -Dan st.

    Comment by Jacki Edmond — May 12, 2008 @ 01:50PM

  25. Jacki, I am sorry that you are getting all the credit for the Female Detention Employee's comment in the Scene's article, when all along it was me. Those losers!! They will never figure out who it really was. I haven't even talked to Asbury since she left. But when the Scene Reporter contacted me, I was more than happy to tell the truth about that situation! Of course I couldn't identify myself because I knew I would lose my job very quickly!
    I am proud of you Laura. You know who I am!!

    Comment by You wish you knew...... — May 12, 2008 @ 07:22PM

  26. Do something about the eyebrows..looks like a 80 year old who lost her hair and drew them on with eyeliner.yuk..is this how they look in Ohio..scary

    Comment by Kyle — May 12, 2008 @ 11:22PM

  27. The title of this article should be, "why didn't Judge Teodosio fire Ms. Asbury sooner?" Ms. Asbury has nothing to do better with her time than write nonsense about people she use to work with... because she doesn't have a job!!! Get off your ass Ms. Asbury and try to find something new to do with your time. I dont know.... instead of trying to further corrupt minors so you can be "cool" and get high with them, trying staying off the drugs for a few months so you can pass a drug test and get another job. Or are you that worthless to society?!?!

    Comment by Sammy — May 13, 2008 @ 10:05AM

  28. Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself- Exactly what I was thinking...get a Job, get off the dope and support your family! Court records show she can't pay her bills but there's plenty of time for MySpace. What a waste.

    Comment by dave — May 13, 2008 @ 10:54AM

  29. Dear sammy---------shows what you know, "Miss A" is and has been working for awhile now. Sounds like you have nothing better to do than to spend your day making things up about her - "Miss A". So, if you have a job? You had better at least act like you are working!

    Comment by Connie S. — May 13, 2008 @ 03:33PM

  30. I have been working with Laura since January and we believe her to be a wonderful asset to our organization - we take random drug tests. So, get your information straight!! Maybe you need to volunteer or get a job yourself in order to entertain yourself. Sounds like you are the ones with all the fee time.
    So, she has some debt and a couple speeding tickets - bet that is all you vultures found on her!!

    Comment by Margie — May 13, 2008 @ 03:40PM

  31. Keep commenting on her and reading this article!! You guys are giving her great publicity!!!!!!!

    Comment by Maria — May 13, 2008 @ 03:52PM

  32. Boy o boy you people sure have great creativity when it comes to making a bunch of bull up on one person.

    Comment by Jane Doe — May 13, 2008 @ 06:03PM

  33. Nice try!!!!

    Comment by Anne — May 13, 2008 @ 07:38PM

  34. I noticed a few comments in some of the other stories that Miss A is connected to. One involving a couple from court who were involved in inapropriate activities. If that is true I am glad to know that the female has M.S. now and is being punished. Hopefully she will not be able to work for much longer. Also I hear she and the "guy" had a child together and hopefully the child is stricken with some terrible disease as well so that the sins of her father will be passed on to her. I also know that this famous attorney in Stow has had a head trauma that caused him to have brain surgury so It really goes to show that when you go against what is truly the right way, god will get you.

    Comment by Satisfied — May 13, 2008 @ 08:35PM

  35. hey margie....hat organization do you work for that would hire ms. asbury? must not be to important and besides it sounds like that she has not gotten to you yet!!!!!!!

    Comment by stylin — May 13, 2008 @ 10:24PM

  36. maria....publicity....not sure this is what she would want....half - baked truths and a very slanted story....some publicity!!!!!!

    Comment by stylin — May 13, 2008 @ 10:27PM

  37. Dear satisfied - you appear to know the "REAL" Deal!!

    Comment by Jane Doe — May 13, 2008 @ 10:41PM

  38. You're right! Laura has NEVER cared about the TYPE of attention she has gotten. She just loves attention!

    Comment by Bob — May 13, 2008 @ 10:51PM

  39. Miss Asbury... you are pathetic.

    Comment by Sammy — May 14, 2008 @ 09:34AM

  40. Miss Asbury... You are pathetic!

    Comment by Sammy — May 14, 2008 @ 09:36AM

  41. And... Congratulation on your publicity. You look like a crackhead!

    Comment by Sammy — May 14, 2008 @ 09:38AM

  42. Miss Asbury... You are pathetic!

    Comment by Sammy — May 14, 2008 @ 09:39AM

  43. Miss Asbury... You are pathetic!

    Comment by Sammy — May 14, 2008 @ 09:42AM

  44. Read all the comments...very obvious that Ms. Asbury is writing a lot of these herself...adding to the oh so WONDERFUL publicity she is receiving. Now that's pathetic! Also, there is no job Ms. Margie.

    Comment by Collin — May 14, 2008 @ 11:18AM

  45. Okay, whatever you say! I am sure you know it all!

    Comment by Margie — May 14, 2008 @ 04:30PM

  46. Dear Satisfied,
    You are a sick individual. But you're right- what goes around comes around. We all have comfort in knowing you will also have your day with the brain surgeon.

    Comment by Miss T — May 16, 2008 @ 10:55PM

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