Cold Case Comes to Life After 15 Years
Kristin Ramsey, 53, was arrested in March 2026 and charged with the murder of real estate agent Ashley Okland, who was shot and killed during an open house in West Des Moines, Iowa, back in 2011. The case has been one of the state's most high-profile unsolved murders for more than a decade and a half.
Ashley Okland, 28, was working as a real estate agent and was present at a property showing when she was attacked and shot. The murder took place during what should have been a routine workday, shocking both the local community and the real estate industry.
Years of Investigation Without Leads
In the years following the murder, Iowa police struggled to find leads that could identify the perpetrator. The case became a classic cold case, with investigators forced to watch it slip into the pile of unsolved cases while Ashley Okland's family and friends waited for answers.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what exactly led to the breakthrough in March 2026, or what connection Kristin Ramsey had to the victim. Police have been tight-lipped about the evidence in the case while the investigation remains ongoing.
True Crime Audience Interest
The case has received renewed attention through the podcast "Cardinal Crimes," which dedicated an episode to Ashley Okland's murder. The episode examines the details of the cold case and focuses on the many years of fruitless investigation that preceded the arrest.
True crime podcasts have played a significant role in recent years in keeping attention on unsolved cases, and in some instances have even helped generate new tips for police.
Trial Awaits
Kristin Ramsey now awaits trial, where prosecutors must prove her guilt in the murder of the young real estate agent. For Ashley Okland's family and friends, the arrest after 15 years finally represents hope for justice and closure to a prolonged period of uncertainty.
