Ashley Stewart, a 41-year-old mother of six from Oswego, Illinois, was fatally stabbed in her home on January 27, 2026, by her ex-husband, Ryan Dodd, who allegedly followed her into the garage.
Incident Details
Her current husband, Adam Stewart, called 911 after seeing Dodd chase her on home surveillance footage around 1:10 p.m. Police found her unresponsive with multiple sharp-force injuries; paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. Dodd, 44, from Aurora, was arrested nearby about 30 minutes later without incident after a K-9 and drone search.
Suspect and Charges
Dodd faces first-degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary, and aggravated stalking. He appeared in court on January 30, with his next date set for March 9, and remains at Kendall County Jail. Police confirmed the incident was isolated, asking locals to check surveillance and yards for evidence without touching suspicious items.
Family and Community Response
Friend Robin Ross called Ashley a “beacon of light,” loving mother, and wife. A GoFundMe supports Adam, now sole caregiver for their 2-year-old, Syler, and Ashley’s other young children from her prior marriage.​
