Police in Iowa have made an arrest in the nearly 15-year-old murder of realtor Ashley Okland, Us Weekly has confirmed.
Kristin Ramsey has been charged with Okland’s first-degree murder, according to a news release from West Des Moines Police. Ramsey was arrested on Tuesday, March 17, and is currently being held on a $2 million cash bond.
Okland — who was 27 at the time of her death — was showing a model townhouse in West Des Moines during an open house on Stone Creek Court back on April 8, 2011, when she was shot to death, police said. The model home was part of the Stone Creek Villas subdivision, developed by Rottlund Homes.
Okland, who began working for Iowa Realty Company in 2010, was discovered bleeding by one of the development’s workers, who told police they had heard a commotion coming from the model home.
Okland was rushed to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines but did not survive the shooting.
Investigators said she was shot twice.
It was unclear if Ramsey, 53, and Okland actually knew each other or if the murder was committed at random. Additionally, a motive for the 2011 killing has not been disclosed.
“As significant as this arrest is, our work is not done yet,” said Assistant Chief Jody Hayes. “This case will now move to criminal prosecution. To maintain the integrity of the judicial process, the West Des Moines Police Department is unable to release any additional investigative information regarding this case.”
Okland had started her real estate career in 2007, and when she wasn’t working, volunteered with Young Variety and Big Brothers and Big Sisters, according to the Des Moines Register.
Okland was “passionate about helping children,” her father, Tim Okland, told the Register.
West Des Moines police said they never rested on the Okland case and have always been determined to bring justice to her loved ones.
Ashley’s brother, Josh Okland, thanked the community and police for keeping his sister’s case alive. Ashley’s sister, Brittany Bruce, thanked law enforcement for their efforts — particularly the cold case detectives who’d been assigned to the case.
The family has asked for privacy at this time.
According to her obituary, she was a “transplanted country girl at heart” who “lived happily in West Des Moines with her ‘Hun’ Eric and new pup, Indi. Above all else, Ashley loved spending time with her family and friends. Always on the go, her biggest struggle was finding the time to make everyone feel as special as she thought they should.”
