Ashley Okland’s 2011 Murder in West Des Moines Leads to Charges

Authorities arrested a suspect in the long-unsolved killing of Iowa Realtor Ashley Okland. Kristin Ramsey, 53, faces a first-degree murder indictment from a Dallas County grand jury.

Arrest and initial court status

Ramsey was taken into custody on Tuesday, March 17. She is jailed in Dallas County on a $2 million cash bond.

Police announced the indictment but offered few immediate details. A news conference was scheduled for the following morning.

Crime scene and timeline

Okland, then 27, was shot twice on April 8, 2011, while showing a model townhouse in West Des Moines. The property address was 558 Stone Creek Court.

An employee with developer Rottlund Homes heard a disturbance and found Okland on the floor. She later died at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Investigation into the cold case

Investigators pursued the case for years, exploring almost 900 leads and interviewing about 500 people by the fourth anniversary. The killing drew local and national attention.

The case was later highlighted in a deck of playing cards distributed to Iowa inmates. Attorney General Brenna Bird created a unit to probe more than 400 cold cases.

Suspect’s connection to the scene

Authorities say Ramsey worked for the townhome builder linked to the model home. That employment ties her to the location of the fatal shooting.

Ashley Okland’s background and community impact

Okland was born on December 30, 1983, in Ames and grew up in Huxley. She attended Ballard High School and graduated from Iowa State University in 2006.

She began her real estate career in 2007 and joined Iowa Realty in 2010. Okland was active with Young Variety and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Her community legacy includes the Ashley Okland Star Playground. Opened in May 2014 at Ewing Park, 5300 Indianola Ave., it features adapted equipment for children of varying abilities.

The Young Professionals Connection also created an annual Ashley Okland YP Community Service Award to honor her volunteer spirit.

Next steps

The indictment initiates formal criminal proceedings in Dallas County. Court dates and additional evidence details are expected to follow.

This development represents a significant turn in Ashley Okland’s 2011 murder in West Des Moines and leads to charges against a former employee. Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor the case and report updates.