Family of Las Vegas mother shot dead alongside her new husband by her ex-father in law reveal the sick messages sent to her before the vicious killing amid child custody battle

The family of a woman who was gunned down by her ex-father-in-law have blasted a family court judge for ignoring brutal text threats.   

Dennis and Ashley Prince were fatally shot during a deposition involving Ashley's ex-husband, Dylan Houston, last week. Prince was representing his wife in the case. 

Houston was represented by his father, 77-year-old Joseph Houston II, who opened fire during the proceedings before turning the gun on himself. 

Prince, 30, was fighting for sole custody of her two oldest kids during the deposition, while Houston was representing his son Dylan. 

At a press conference on Monday, Ashley's parents Julie and Paul said Dylan Houston would threaten her with text messages, as many as 70 a day. 

These included threats like: 'I don't want to see you unless you're in a casket', 'I will chisel you down to a weaker and worthless sack of bones' and 'I'll crush you in way you don't even comprehend', the family said. 

Dennis and Ashley Prince, seen here, were fatally shot during a deposition involving Ashley's ex-husband, Dylan Houston, last week

Ashley was married to Dylan Houston, another lawyer (left). His father Joseph (right) killed her, her new husband and then himself 

Ashley with her ex-husband, Dylan Houston, at their wedding. The pair were entangled in a bitter custody dispute over their two young children 

Her parents say their daughter's court battle had failed her as she tried to get protections in place for herself and her children. 

Clark County District Court Judge Bill Henderson had handled the case, with a spokesperson for the court telling 8newsnow: 'The court cannot comment due to related pending matters.'  

'Our daughter Ashley was a devoted and fierce protector of her children,' Page said, choking back tears as she told reporters that her daughter 'would have never given up the fight for her children.' 

The outlet reported that five days before the shooting, Dylan Houston, who is also a lawyer, emailed Dennis Price. 

In documents seen by the 8newsnow, Houston said: 'You have no idea what's coming do you, all your cards are on the table and I haven't played one.'

At a press conference on Monday, Ashley's parents Julie and Paul, seen here, said Houston would threaten her with text messages, as many as 70 a day

Paul and Julie Page speak to reporters in Las Vegas on Monday, April 15, 2024, while a photo of their daughter Ashley Prince is projected behind them on a screen

Houston himself was not present at the deposition, but the documents note that a private investigator had recorded 'concerning information regarding Plaintiff's drinking and dangerous behavior' a month earlier.

The investigator allegedly observed Dylan driving home from a bar on March 29 while swerving around the road.

Dylan, who is a partner at Resnick & Louis in Las Vegas, filed for divorce from Ashley in October 2021 following four years of marriage.

According to social media posts, the pair were together for several years before they wed, with Ashley announcing that she and Dylan were moving in together in 2014.

Clark County District Court Judge Bill Henderson, pictured here, had handled the case

Prince was representing his wife in an ongoing custody case involving her ex-husband, Houston's son Dylan

She was identified as Ashley Prince in court records as recently as last month. 

A divorce decree issued in November 2021 granted the pair joint custody of their children, a son and daughter aged 5 and 4 - however, this remained in dispute.

Divorce filings allege Dylan grappled with substance abuse while he had custody of their children.

Another one of Ashley's lawyers, John Jones, made reference to 'a positive drug test for cocaine' as well as 'a positive alcohol test during his custodial time' as well as 'a missed alcohol test'.

Records show Dylan was arrested on a DUI charge in October 2020, but later pleaded it down to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge.

Following his no contest plea in February 2022, Dylan was ordered to complete community service and DUI classes. 

Within hours of her death, Ashley's lawyers filed an emergency motion requesting that sole custody of the children be given to her sister. The motion was granted.

In that document, LoBello alleged Dylan 'knew or must have known of the intentions of his father prior to the commission of these heinous acts.'

Gunshots broke out during a deposition Monday morning, with Houston pulling out a handgun and shooting Prince in the chest four times

Dylan Houston was not present at the deposition, but records show Ashley had filed for sole custody of the pair's young son and daughter the very morning of the shooting

She cited an attempt to pick up his children 'in the middle of the school day, despite the details as to (Ashley's) status of dead or alive not being made public at this time'.

Dylan hit back at the accusations in a response. 

'The motivation of the tragedy of April 8, 2024, is unknown to anyone but Joseph W. Houston himself. The Defense's suggestion that this was a 'planned attack' with the Plaintiff is insulting and quite speculative,' he wrote.

He asserted that his actions were 'not indicative of a co-conspirator as the Defense callously would like the Court to believe, rather that of a concerned father wanting to protect, console, love and support his children from any unnecessary discussion regarding this tragedy'.

According to Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, gunshots broke out at around 10 a.m. inside the Prince Law Group's Summerlin office.

Court documents filed hours later detailed the moments preceding the senseless violence.

Five minutes after the deposition began, Houston 'stood up, had a very glazed and rattled look in his eyes, pulled out a handgun and shot Prince four times,' the documents state.

Prince was recognized as the Nevada Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2016 by the Nevada Justice Association and tried more than 100 cases to jury verdict at the time of his death.

He and Ashley had also recently welcomed a child together.