MURDERED: Ashley Okland

In this episode, we examine the 2011 killing of Ashley Okland, a real estate agent from West Des Moines who was shot while hosting an open house in a model townhome. What began as a routine workday became one of Iowa’s most closely followed unsolved cases.

We cover Ashley’s life, the timeline of the investigation, and the major break in the case: the March 2026 arrest of 53-year-old Kristin Ramsey, charged with first-degree murder. We discuss how, despite little being released publicly over the last 15 years, recent filings suggest Ramsey may have been on investigators’ radar from the very beginning. 

We *might* also have a bonus episode ahead with comments from her attorney, Alfredo Parrish. 

Sources: 

Terrell, Laura, West Des Moines police make arrest in 15-year-old cold case of murdered realtor Ashley Okland, KCCI, March 18, 2026

Probe continues in agent’s death, Iowa City Press Citizen, May 7, 2011

Elmer, Mackenzie, West Des Moines police are no closer to arrest in Okland case, July 30, 2015, Iowa City Press Citizen

Wingert, Kelby, Prosecutors challenge motion to block cellphone search in Ashley Okland murder case, April 22, 2026, KCCI

Real estate agent fatally shot, April 9, 2011, Quad City Times

Iowa vs Kristin Ramsey, State’s r resistance to defendant’s motion for bond reduction, Criminal No. FECR051688, April 8, 2026, Dallas County Clerk of District Court

Finney, Daniel, Elbert David, Stegmeir, Mary, Real estate agent killed on the job, April 9, 2011, Des Moines Register

Belz, Adam, Bemann, Perry, No leads in agent’s shooting, April 10, 2011, Des Moines Register

Ashley Okland Obituary, April 11, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Stegmeir, Mary, Man seen with Okland is sought, April 12, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Eller, Donnelle, Realtors group pushing safety, April 12, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Stegmeir, Mary, 1,600 mourn death of agent, April 15, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Stegmeir, Mary, Search warrant issued in murder, April 16, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Pullman, Jason, Reward to $66,785 in Okland homicide, April 17, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Stegmeir, Mary, Okland case reward sets tip-line mark, April 19, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Stegmeir, Mary, Shooting of agent still mystifies, May 6, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Search warrants sealed in Okland case, May 11, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Stegmeir, Mary, Police probe link to agent who killed himself, June 25, 2011, The Des Moines Register

Elmer, Mackenzie, West Des Moines police no closer to arrest in Okland case, August 26, 2015, The Des Moines Register

Werner, Kyle, Jett, Tyler, Suspect arrested in cold-case shooting, March 19, 2026, The Des Moines Register

Werner, Kyle, Ramsey maintains innocence, March 20, 2026, The Des Moines Register

Werner, Kyle, Jett, Tyler, Ashley Okland suspect worked for townhome developer, March 20, 2026, The Tribune

Email correspondence with Mr. Alfredo Parrish, April 24, 2026

https://www.courttv.com/news/woman-charged-with-realtors-2011-cold-case-murder-released-on-bond/