ASHLEY OKLAND: Iowa realtor murdered in 2011 *ARREST*

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Kristin Ramsey, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland

On April 8, 2011, the body of 27-year-old Ashley Okland was discovered inside a model townhome where authorities say she was hosting an open house. She had been shot twice. An employee working within the complex heard a commotion inside the townhome and went to investigate the cause of the noise, according to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa. Upon entering the building, the worker found Okland on the floor and dialed 911.

On Wednesday, officials revealed 53-year-old Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey, of Woodward, is charged with first-degree murder. At the time of Okland’s death, Ramsey worked as an administrative assistant and sales manager for the developer of the townhome where Okland was killed. The case went unsolved for nearly 15 years.

Ashley's story has kept many of us awake at night, revisiting the details over and over in our minds," West Des Moines Assistant Police Chief Jody Hayes said in a press conference. "Searching for that missing piece that would tie everything together and lead us down the right path to identifying a person that was responsible for this act." Officials did not provide details on what information led to Ramsey’s arrest.

In a new court filing, a witness who lived next door reported hearing two loud noises before seeing Ramsey outside the front door of the townhome, according to KCCI. The witness also reportedly told authorities she saw Ramsey pacing outside her vehicle and using her phone upon looking out her second-story window. The court filing indicates Ramsey called a colleague at Rottlund Homes immediately following the alleged shooting, but did not call 911, the outlet reported. Shortly afterward, the witness reported seeing Ramsey "back up at a high rate of speed in an erratic manner and leave the area." Authorities also indicated the witness — not Ramsey — called 911 to report the shooting.

 
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Remember this case?


View attachment 29737

Kristin Ramsey, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland

On April 8, 2011, the body of 27-year-old Ashley Okland was discovered inside a model townhome where authorities say she was hosting an open house. She had been shot twice. An employee working within the complex heard a commotion inside the townhome and went to investigate the cause of the noise, according to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa. Upon entering the building, the worker found Okland on the floor and dialed 911.

On Wednesday, officials revealed 53-year-old Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey, of Woodward, is charged with first-degree murder. At the time of Okland’s death, Ramsey worked as an administrative assistant and sales manager for the developer of the townhome where Okland was killed. The case went unsolved for nearly 15 years.

Ashley's story has kept many of us awake at night, revisiting the details over and over in our minds," West Des Moines Assistant Police Chief Jody Hayes said in a press conference. "Searching for that missing piece that would tie everything together and lead us down the right path to identifying a person that was responsible for this act." Officials did not provide details on what information led to Ramsey’s arrest.

In a new court filing, a witness who lived next door reported hearing two loud noises before seeing Ramsey outside the front door of the townhome, according to KCCI. The witness also reportedly told authorities she saw Ramsey pacing outside her vehicle and using her phone upon looking out her second-story window. The court filing indicates Ramsey called a colleague at Rottlund Homes immediately following the alleged shooting, but did not call 911, the outlet reported. Shortly afterward, the witness reported seeing Ramsey "back up at a high rate of speed in an erratic manner and leave the area." Authorities also indicated the witness — not Ramsey — called 911 to report the shooting.

15 years and they had all that info all along?
 
Remember this case?


View attachment 29737

Kristin Ramsey, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland

On April 8, 2011, the body of 27-year-old Ashley Okland was discovered inside a model townhome where authorities say she was hosting an open house. She had been shot twice. An employee working within the complex heard a commotion inside the townhome and went to investigate the cause of the noise, according to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa. Upon entering the building, the worker found Okland on the floor and dialed 911.

On Wednesday, officials revealed 53-year-old Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey, of Woodward, is charged with first-degree murder. At the time of Okland’s death, Ramsey worked as an administrative assistant and sales manager for the developer of the townhome where Okland was killed. The case went unsolved for nearly 15 years.

Ashley's story has kept many of us awake at night, revisiting the details over and over in our minds," West Des Moines Assistant Police Chief Jody Hayes said in a press conference. "Searching for that missing piece that would tie everything together and lead us down the right path to identifying a person that was responsible for this act." Officials did not provide details on what information led to Ramsey’s arrest.

In a new court filing, a witness who lived next door reported hearing two loud noises before seeing Ramsey outside the front door of the townhome, according to KCCI. The witness also reportedly told authorities she saw Ramsey pacing outside her vehicle and using her phone upon looking out her second-story window. The court filing indicates Ramsey called a colleague at Rottlund Homes immediately following the alleged shooting, but did not call 911, the outlet reported. Shortly afterward, the witness reported seeing Ramsey "back up at a high rate of speed in an erratic manner and leave the area." Authorities also indicated the witness — not Ramsey — called 911 to report the shooting.

I actually remember this case! I’m so glad there’s been an arrest. We’ll have to follow this during trial.
 

Lawyers for Kristin Ramsey file to dismiss murder case, citing inconsistencies from witness​

Lawyers for a woman accused of killing an Iowa realtor in 2011 say the prosecution's key eyewitness changed their story in the days after the killing.

Kristin Ramsey is accused of killing Ashley Okland on April 8, 2011, while Okland was holding an open house at a townhome in West Des Moines. Ramsey was arrested nearly 15 years later and charged with first-degree murder.

Now, Ramsey's lawyers are arguing for the case to be thrown out due to inconsistencies with what it calls "the State's only eyewitness."

Ramsey's lawyers argue the witness, who was not identified by name in a motion to dismiss filed Friday, told police on multiple occasions that Ramsey did not arrive to the scene until after the shooting.

"On April 9, 2011—the day after the murder—the neighbor gave a third statement," the motion reads. "She once again told Detective [Jeff] Lyon ... that about '3 minutes after hearing the noises she noticed a white female drive up to unit 558 in a silver 4 door car and enter the unit. [The neighbor] said seconds after the women entered the building she observed the same female run from the building and drive away in her car very quickly.' ... Again, according to the neighbor, Ms. Ramsey did not arrive to the scene until after the shots were fired."

The motion then details how the neighbor's story changed a few days later. According to Ramsey's lawyers, a detective told the neighbor she was "the prime suspect" on April 14. The neighbor's story then changed, according to the defense, and she omitted details about seeing Ramsey drive up several minutes after the shooting, instead focusing her story on seeing Ramsey outside the townhome minutes later.

The neighbor also had a traumatic brain injury that impacted her memory, according to the defense:

"During the interview, the investigators, including Detective Lyon, pushed the neighbor on the inconsistencies in her statement, such as her now inability to recall the color of the cars outside the townhome," the motion reads. "She responded by saying that 'I had a concussion from a fractured skull, I do have some memory problems . . . I spend a lot of time, on things, like, I see trying to remember things.'"

When interviewed again by investigators in 2025, nearly 15 years after the shooting, the neighbor, now living in Florida, told investigators she did not remember who Ramsey was, according to the defense.
 

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