David Howard Thornton proposes with heirloom ring at Huntsville expo

David Howard Thornton proposed to Jada Christie at the Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo in Huntsville, Alabama, on April 18, 2026, wearing full Art the Clown costume and carrying an heirloom from his late mother. Christie accepted, Thornton slipped the ring onto her left ring finger, and the couple later posted the moment on Instagram with the caption, “She said YES!!!”

The ring is the story inside the story. It centers on a cushion-cut diamond, flanked by baguette side stones and set on a platinum band, a combination that keeps the profile classic and architectural rather than flashy. For anyone weighing whether to reset a family jewel or start from scratch, that detail matters: the original stone and side stones preserve the family provenance, while the platinum setting gives the piece a cleaner, sturdier finish for daily wear.

Thornton said he had been planning the proposal for several months, and the Huntsville setting carried its own weight. He is from Huntsville, so the comic expo became part hometown celebration, part horror-fan spectacle, fitting for an actor best known for the Terrifier franchise. The couple had been dating since July 2025, and one account says they share a chihuahua named Lulu.

The response moved quickly through the horror community. Damien Leone, the franchise creator, replied, “That’s how ya do it! Congratulations,” and fans flooded the engagement with congratulations of their own. For couples deciding what to do with a parent’s or grandparent’s ring, Thornton’s choice shows the balance that matters most: keep the parts that carry memory, update the metalwork or mount if the piece needs it, and let the proposal wear the history openly instead of hiding it in a drawer.