Iowa Realtor Murder Solved After 15 Years: Suspect Arrested in Cold Case
In a significant breakthrough, West Des Moines police have arrested a suspect in the 2011 murder of realtor Ashley Okland, bringing closure to a case that has haunted the community for nearly 15 years. Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey, 53, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder following an indictment by a Dallas County grand jury.
A Brazen Daylight Shooting
Ashley Okland, a 27-year-old realtor, was tragically gunned down on April 8, 2011, while showing a model townhouse on Stone Creek Court in West Des Moines. The incident occurred in broad daylight, around 2 p.m. on a Friday, shocking local residents and real estate professionals alike. According to police reports, Okland was shot twice during the open house.
An employee with Rottlund Homes, the developer of the property, heard a commotion and discovered Okland on the floor, prompting an immediate 911 call. Despite being rushed to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, she succumbed to her injuries. The killing remained unsolved for years, with investigators pursuing thousands of leads and reviewing countless pieces of evidence in what Assistant Police Chief Jody Hayes described as an "unrelenting pursuit of justice."
Breakthrough in the Investigation
Assistant Chief Hayes, who has worked on the case since its inception, announced the arrest at a press conference, though he declined to provide specific details about the evidence that led to Ramsey. "Ashley's story has kept many of us awake at night, revisiting the details over and over in our minds, searching for that missing piece that would tie everything together," Hayes stated. He emphasized that while the arrest is significant, the investigation is ongoing, noting, "our work is not done yet."
At the time of Okland's death, Ramsey was employed as an administrative assistant and sales manager for Rottlund Homes, the same company that developed the townhome where the shooting took place. This connection has added a layer of complexity to the case, though police have not disclosed a motive.
Community and Industry Impact
The arrest has brought a sense of relief to those affected by Okland's murder. A spokesperson for Iowa Realty and related companies expressed that "everyone within Iowa Realty and related companies was relieved for the family of our friend and colleague Ashley Okland that an arrest was made for her murder." They added that her tragic passing deeply impacted not only the local community but also the national real estate world as a whole.
Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on a $2 million cash-only bond. The case continues to unfold as authorities prepare for legal proceedings, marking a pivotal moment in a long-standing cold case that has captivated public attention for over a decade.
