The mysterious murder case of an Iowa realtor has finally been cracked after 15 years.
Ashley Okland, 27, was killed on April 8, 2011, while hosting an open house in West Des Moines, Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa reported.
The young realtor was found dead by an employee after being shot twice and was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
The cold-blooded murder went unsolved until Tuesday, when the West Des Moines Police Department announced the indictment of Kristin Elizabeth Ramsey, 53, on first-degree murder charges.
OMG. This is one of the most high profile cold cases in central Iowa. Details tomorrow morning at 9am from West Des Moines Police. https://t.co/e2aoLMdbb0
— Ross Peterson (@RossPeterson_) March 17, 2026
Ramsey was employed by Midland Title & Escrow, which was connected to the realty company that Okland was working for at the time of her murder.
“Ashley’s story has haunted a very vibrant community of professional realtors who have forever changed how they hold open houses and conduct business on a daily basis,” Assistant Police Chief Jody Hayes told reporters.
“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 and lead us down the right path to identifying a person who was responsible for this act,” Hayes said.
The police did not expand on “the missing piece” that solved the mystery, nor did they comment on a possible motive for the shooting.
“As significant as this arrest is, our work is not done yet,” Hayes said.
X users were relieved to have a suspect, but were eager for more details.
Peveryone always assumed it was a male that killed her. Surprising that it’s a female to be honest.
— F B I Director Kash P (@danjacob121) March 18, 2026
I want to know how they found her
— Warden (@WardenBones) March 17, 2026
Never…did I ever…thought that this case would break open….
— Mother trucker Hawk (@DavidBe10451501) March 17, 2026
I can’t imagine the relief the family feels but also all the emotions they must be feeling.
— Stephanie McCuen (@StephanieMcCuen) March 17, 2026
Okland’s younger sister, Brittany Bruce, expressed her family’s relief to the press.
“That Friday afternoon when Ashley was taken from us seems so long ago,” Bruce added. “We had lost our hope in finding answers and having any justice for Ashley. It was really difficult to accept that the case went cold.”
“Their dedication, commitment to Ashley, their drive and work ethic is a true gift from God that we feel fortunate to be touched by,” Bruce said.
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