Frustrating case
On April 8, 27 year old Realtor Ashley Okland went to work at a model home and was fatally shot. For weeks, Des Moines police had no suspects, hundreds of leads, and simply continued a search for a “scruffy man” reported leaving the scene and have only alluded to their belief that the murderer was another Realtor.
Today, despite four search warrants issued over a week ago, there have been no arrests and no suspects named. The reward for information has risen over the weeks to $75,000, a record high for local Crime Stoppers.
The Realtor community has been saddened and shaken and Okland’s murder is still the topic of conversation on local minds.
Strange events
Today, local news station KCCI is reporting a bizzare twist connected to the case. The woman who found Okland and called police reporting the murder has gone missing. Recently, the 53 year old woman called her mother saying she was going to a hotel to commit suicide, police were called, the suicide was prevented and the case was closed.
Her mother has since filed a missing persons report claiming she is nowhere to be found. Local police say they do not believe it to be directly connected to Okland’s murder.
With no arrests or suspects in Okland’s murder, the community remains restless and frustrated.
Updates:
- The woman who reported the Okland murder has been found and is safe.
UPDATE: KETV has interviewed Okland’s family which is now available.
Joe Loomer
May 20, 2011 at 9:11 am
Truth is stranger than fiction, indeed.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
naplesflorida
May 20, 2011 at 3:51 pm
This is very sad.
Realtors should always do their best to take precaution when sitting in open houses or even showing properties.
Being safe is better than being sorry
John Perkins
May 23, 2011 at 7:17 pm
precaution? The only way to possibly prevent this was to have a live camera feed. We don't know the story so could be an angry past buyer/seller/realtor/ex/current/ or just random. life sucks sometimes like when these things happen.