An Iowa woman accused of killing a realtor in a 2011 cold case has been released on bond after a judge lowered the amount despite the prosecutors’ objections. Kristin Ramsey, 53, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland, but pleaded not guilty. While she waits for trial, she is free to live amongst the public.

Open House Murder

On April 8, 2011, realtor Ashley Okland was working at an open house at a model townhome owned by Rottlund Homes when an unknown assailant gunned her down. She was fatally shot twice, once in the chest and once in the face, at close range.

Ramsey was employed with Rottlund Homes at the time of the murder, and eyewitnesses recalled hearing loud noises from the home and seeing Ramsey outside. She was pacing by her car and scrolling nervously on her phone. 

A court filing says that instead of calling 911 after the shooting, she called a colleague. The same filing says that the eyewitness reported seeing Ramsey “back up at a high rate of speed in an erratic manner and leave the area.”

Suspect’s Bond Lowered

The case went cold until nearly 15 years later, when Ramsey was indicted in March 2026. Her initial $2 million cash-only bond has been significantly reduced since her attorneys fought it at an April 10 hearing.

During the hearing, Ramsey’s attorneys noted she has a clean legal record, and they provided dozens of letters of support from family and community members. District Judge Coleman McAllister used those letters when weighing his decision and said they had a significant influence.

“I have come to know her as a kind, responsible, and trustworthy individual,” one of the letters read. “Krissy has consistently demonstrated a strong moral character, compassion for others, and a genuine commitment to doing what is right. Krissy is not a risk to the community. In my experience, she has always been respectful of others and mindful of her actions. She is dependable and has shown that she takes her responsibilities seriously.”

The letters were submitted to the court as a sealed exhibit, and the judge used only excerpts from them in his order to avoid posting any identifying information on the public portal. “Krissy has no criminal record or history of violent behavior. To my knowledge, she has lived a law-abiding life and has not posed a threat to the safety of others,” another letter read. 

“The person I know is not someone who brings harm to her community, but rather someone who has maintained positive relationships and conducted herself with care and respect.”

Bond Hearing

McAllister mentioned that even though charges against Ramsey were not filed until last month, she had been a person of interest early in the case, and that a search warrant was issued for her house in 2011. 

“It appears the Defendant has been interviewed by law enforcement several times in the intervening 15 years since the death of Ashley Okland. It is noteworthy that even though she clearly remained a person of interest to law enforcement as the investigation proceeded, Defendant did not flee or leave the area,” the judge noted.

Prosecutors raised the issue that illegal drugs and weapons were found during the search, but since the state failed to prove their claims, McAllister said he would not consider their statements. 

The prosecution “presented no evidence on the type or location of where any alleged drugs were found in the Defendant’s home, which she shared with her husband and son,” the order read.

Kristin Ramsey Released

The judge lowered Ramsey’s bond from $2 million, cash only, to $500,000 with a $50,000 cash requirement. Both the defense and prosecution wanted McAllister to weigh the strength or weakness of the state’s case against Ramsey, but he declined.

“That is because it is clear to the Court that the parties fundamentally disagree on what the evidence will and will not show regarding whether Defendant committed the crime she is charged with. The Court has not heard any witnesses testify, and the evidence outlined by the State has not yet been tested by the trial process, including cross-examination,” McAllister wrote.

Ramsey made bail using a bondsman who posted the $50,000 cash requirement and was released from custody on April 16, 2026. She is under house arrest on a GPS-monitored device until her trial. She will be subject to random drug screening and is not allowed to possess any controlled substances unless prescribed by her doctor.

Ramsey will appear back in court on June 19, 2026.