Woman arrested in 2011 cold case murder of Iowa real estate agent

Kristin Ramsey, 53, charged with first-degree murder in death of Ashley Okland

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:09pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A woman has been arrested in the 2011 cold case murder of an Iowa real estate agent, authorities said. Kristin Ramsey, 53, was arrested on Tuesday for first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland, who was shot and killed while working at a model townhouse in West Des Moines in 2011.

Why it matters

Okland's death sent "shockwaves" throughout the state and "haunted" the real estate community, according to police. The arrest in this long-unsolved case brings hope for justice and closure for Okland's family and the broader community.

The details

Police and prosecutors did not discuss what led to Ramsey's arrest, but Ramsey at the time worked for Rottlund Homes, the company that built the model home where Okland was killed. Ramsey's then-boss, Steven Kahn, said nothing about Ramsey led him to suspect she may have been involved in Okland's death, describing her as "the nicest lady" and saying he was "totally shocked" by the arrest.

  • Okland was shot and killed on April 8, 2011 while working at a model townhouse.
  • Ramsey was arrested on Tuesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Kristin Ramsey

A 53-year-old woman charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 death of Ashley Okland. At the time, Ramsey worked for the company that built the model home where Okland was killed.

Ashley Okland

An Iowa real estate agent who was shot and killed while working at a model townhouse in 2011.

Steven Kahn

Ramsey's former boss at Rottlund Homes, the company that built the model home where Okland was killed. Kahn said nothing about Ramsey led him to suspect she may have been involved in Okland's death.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That Friday afternoon when Ashley was taken from us seems so long ago. We had lost our hope in finding answers and having any justice.”

— Brittany Bruce, Okland's sister

“We have full confidence in their abilities to see this through.”

— Brittany Bruce, Okland's sister

“She was the nicest lady. I'm totally shocked.”

— Steven Kahn, Ramsey's former boss

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow Kristin Ramsey out on bail.

The takeaway

This arrest in a long-unsolved cold case murder brings hope for justice and closure for the victim's family and the broader community. It also raises questions about what new evidence or investigative breakthroughs led to the charges against Ramsey over a decade later.