Updated March 17, 2026, 5:07 p.m. CT
An arrest has been made within the 15-year-old chilly case of 27-year-old Iowa Realtor Ashley Okland.
Kristin Ramsey, 53, was charged with first-degree murder after a Dallas County grand jury issued a indictment, in accordance to a information launch from West Des Moines police, who arrested Ramsey on Tuesday, March 17.
Police didn’t present extra info on the character of the cost however deliberate a information convention for 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Okland, an worker of Iowa Realty Co., was exhibiting a mannequin townhouse in West Des Moines on April 8, 2011, when she was shot twice and later died at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, in accordance to Crimestoppers of Central Iowa.
The case has been thought of one of many extra high-profile chilly circumstances in Iowa. In a information launch issued on the 10-year anniversary of Okland’s demise, West Des Moines police mentioned it had investigated practically 900 leads and interviewed about 500 individuals.
Her picture and case particulars had been featured in a deck of playing cards given to Iowa inmates final 12 months in an effort to acquire new details about ongoing circumstances. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird distributed the enjoying playing cards a few 12 months after forming a unit dedicated to investigating Iowa’s more than 400 cold cases.
Who was Ashley Okland?

Okland was born Dec. 30, 1983, in Ames, Iowa, according to her obituary. She grew up in Huxley. As a youth, she was concerned in sports activities, dance, 4-H and piano. She attended Ballard High School. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2006 after transferring from the University of Iowa.
She started her actual property profession in 2007 and was employed by Iowa Realty in 2010.
When not working, Okland was concerned in a lot of teams, together with Young Variety and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Okland was “passionate about helping children,” her father, Tim, told the Register previously.
In May 2014, Ashley Okland Star Playground, a specialised park for handicapped kids, opened in her title.
“Ashley was all-inclusive in her personality, which is exactly what this playground is,” mentioned Susan Hatten, a longtime good friend of Okland who conceived the thought for the playground, (*15*). “It caters to children of every ability, whether they have special needs or not, and she would have loved that.”
Located at Ewing Park, 5300 Indianola Ave., the playground options tailored playground gear for youngsters with cognitive and bodily disabilities.
Kyle Werner is the breaking information and public security reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
