Authorities in Iowa have made an arrest in connection with the unsolved murder of real estate agent Ashley Okland, nearly 15 years after her death.
On Wednesday, law enforcement announced that 53-year-old Christine Elizabeth Ramsey from Woodward faces first-degree murder charges linked to Okland’s case.
“Ashley’s story keeps many of us up at night, replaying the details over and over,” remarked West Des Moines Police Chief Jody Hayes during a press conference. “It’s about finding the missing piece that connects everything and leads us to those responsible.”
On April 8, 2011, the remains of 27-year-old Ashley Okland were discovered in a model townhome where she was holding an open house. Authorities confirmed she had been shot twice.
An employee at the housing complex heard a disturbance inside and went to check it out. Upon entering the townhome, they found Okland on the floor and immediately called for help.
When Okland died, Ramsey was employed as an administrative assistant and sales manager for the builder of the townhome.
This case had puzzled the Iowa community, with nearly 900 leads followed and around 500 individuals interviewed by authorities in the years following Okland’s death.
Details regarding what led to Ramsey’s arrest have not been disclosed.
During a press conference, Okland’s brother Josh expressed gratitude to the investigators for their relentless work on the case, stating, “Today is a day my family has thought about often over the past 14 years.”
Ramsey now faces charges following an indictment by a Dallas County grand jury and is currently held in jail on a $2 million cash bond.
Okland’s sister, Brittany, shared her emotions about the case, remarking, “We had lost hope of finding answers and getting justice for Ashley. It was really difficult to accept that the case was solved.” She expressed appreciation for the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors involved.
