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West Des Moines Today
By the People, for the People
Woman charged in 2011 cold case murder of Iowa real estate agent
Kristin Ramsey allegedly spotted near crime scene shortly after fatal shooting, court documents show
Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:25am
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A decade-old cold case murder investigation yields new evidence and an arrest, exposing the gritty details of a tragic crime.West Des Moines TodayKristin Ramsey, 53, has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 death of Ashley Okland, a real estate agent who was shot and killed while working at a model townhome in West Des Moines, Iowa. Court documents allege that a witness saw Ramsey outside the crime scene shortly after the gunshots and then saw her quickly back up and drive away in an erratic manner.
Why it matters
This arrest in a decade-old cold case murder provides some closure for the victim's family and the local community, while also raising questions about the potential motive and the suspect's alleged conflicting statements to police over the years.
The details
According to court documents, Okland was shot twice at close range - once in the chest and once in the face - while working at a model townhome. A witness in a neighboring townhome said she heard two loud 'thud' sounds a few seconds apart, which authorities believe were gunshots. The witness then saw Ramsey, who was a sales manager at the company that owned the model home, outside the front door of the home. The witness said Ramsey then quickly backed up her car and drove away in an erratic manner. The witness then went into the model home and found Okland unresponsive on the ground, calling 911. Ramsey later returned to the area, the documents state. Ramsey has allegedly given conflicting accounts of her whereabouts and other events from that day.
- On April 8, 2011, Ashley Okland was fatally shot while working at a model townhome in West Des Moines, Iowa.
- Kristin Ramsey was arrested last month and charged with first-degree murder in Okland's death.
The players
Ashley Okland
A real estate agent who was shot and killed while working at a model townhome in West Des Moines, Iowa in 2011.
Kristin Ramsey
A 53-year-old woman who has been charged with first-degree murder in Okland's death. Ramsey was a sales manager at the company that owned the model home where Okland was killed.
West Des Moines Police
The law enforcement agency that investigated Okland's murder and recently arrested Ramsey for the crime.
What’s next
Ramsey is due in court on Friday for a bail hearing. Her attorneys have not yet entered a plea in the case.
The takeaway
This arrest in a decade-old cold case murder highlights the importance of persistent police work and the potential for new evidence to emerge, even years after a tragic crime. The details about the witness seeing Ramsey near the crime scene shortly after the shooting raise questions about her potential involvement and motive that investigators will likely continue to explore.
