Convicted rapist fatally shot 25-year-old woman, then killed himself in Boston hotel, police say

BOSTON — Investigators on Thursday identified the victims of a murder-suicide who were found in a room at a popular hotel in Boston in late February.

Officers responding to the Moxy Boston Downtown at 240 Tremont Street in the Theater District shortly before 12:30 p.m. on February 26 found a woman and man suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the Boston Police Department.

Aanya Vinay, 25, of Brookline, and Keith Ashby, 43, of Boston, were both pronounced dead in a room on the 13th floor, where a hotel worker found their bodies.

Police said an investigation into their deaths revealed that Ashby fatally shot Vinay before turning the gun on himself. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Vinay’s death a homicide and Ashby’s death a suicide.

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Moxy Hotel investigation

According to the Sex Offender Registry Board, Ashby was registered as a Level 3 offender at the time of his death after being convicted of three counts of aggravated rape, kidnapping, and assault while in possession of a machine gun in 2007.

In that case, Ashby’s ex-girlfriend told police about the brutal attacks and how he threatened, “I’m going to kill you if you don’t stay with me.” Police also found an AK-47 and dozens of rounds of ammunition in his apartment, court documents showed.

The victim told police that they started having problems but Ashby’ would not move out of her apartment.

“Ashby told her she had a choice to make and if she had the wrong choice he would kill her,” the documents showed. At one point, Ashby is said to have fired his weapon when the victim tried to grab the barrel of the gun.

“Ashby had his finger on (sic) the trigger when the Victim grabbed the gun, and a volley of gunfire erupted,” the report stated.

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Keith Ashby mugshot

Ashby was sentenced to 15 years for that crime and was then registered as a sex offender. Most recently, his address was 39 Boylston Street in Boston, the St. Francis House homeless shelter. Although his other address was where Vinay lived at an apartment in Brookline.

Court documents indicated that Vinay had also posted bail for Ashby in the past.

Boston police reminded the public that emotional support resources like the Boston Neighborhood Trauma Team are available 24/7.

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