A 44-year-old Aurora man is charged with murder after police say he followed his ex-wife into her west suburban home and fatally stabbed her on Jan. 27. The woman’s husband told officers he watched the attack unfold in real time on their security camera and called 911, authorities said.
Investigators and court records identify the victim as Ashley A. Stewart, 41, and the suspect as Ryan D. Dodd, 44. Oswego police say officers found Stewart unresponsive inside a home in the 400 block of Valentine Way after a 1:10 p.m. emergency call. A Kendall County autopsy later determined Stewart died of multiple sharp-force injuries. Prosecutors have charged Dodd with first-degree murder and related felonies. He is being held in the Kendall County Jail as the case moves into its initial court phase. The killing, investigators said, appears to be an isolated domestic incident with no ongoing threat to the neighborhood.
According to police, the husband reported that security footage showed a man he believed to be Stewart’s ex-husband chase her into the garage. Officers arrived minutes later and found Stewart, 41, gravely wounded. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. A witness told police a man was seen running from the area. Using a vehicle description and license plate number tied to the suspected attacker, an officer spotted the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop roughly half an hour after the 911 call. The driver, later identified as Ryan D. Dodd of Aurora, was taken into custody without incident. Investigators say evidence indicates the assailant followed Stewart into the residence and attacked her with a knife. “Ashley was a genuine, beautiful life spirit,” friend Robin Ross said in an interview, describing Stewart as a devoted mother.
Authorities say the Kendall County Coroner’s Office completed a forensic autopsy two days after the killing and determined Stewart died from multiple sharp-force injuries. Police say preliminary findings indicate the attacker forced the confrontation in the garage before moving into the home. The Oswego Police Department announced criminal charges on Jan. 29: five counts of first-degree murder, along with home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary and aggravated stalking. Officials identified Dodd as Stewart’s ex-husband and said he was booked into the Kendall County Jail. The alleged attack occurred shortly after 1 p.m., and police emphasized that the incident appeared targeted. The department said detectives canvassed the neighborhood for doorbell video and other recordings and asked residents to report anything unusual found on their properties, including clothing or a weapon.
Stewart’s death drew swift attention across the Fox Valley region and beyond, in part because of the security camera account provided by her husband. ABC and NBC affiliates reported that officers were sent to the home after the husband saw a man chase Stewart into the garage on the live feed. In the hours after the attack, police issued alerts with the suspect vehicle’s description and license plate, which an officer later used to initiate the stop that led to Dodd’s arrest. Friends described Stewart as a mother of six who was active in local parenting and birthing communities. “She really, really loved her family,” Ross said. “Nobody could ever mistake how much love she put into her family.” Officials have not released information about a motive, and investigators have not publicly detailed any prior police calls to the address.
On Friday, Dodd made his first appearance before a Kendall County judge. A prosecutor outlined the charges and said the case could carry a natural-life prison term if there is a conviction on the most serious counts. The judge ordered Dodd held in the county jail and set the next court date in March. Police and prosecutors said the investigation remains active, with detectives processing digital evidence from home cameras, canvassing for additional footage on nearby streets, and executing search warrants for phones and vehicles. The State’s Attorney’s Office has not yet filed a detailed narrative of the alleged sequence of events beyond the initial charging documents, and no plea has been entered.
The home on Valentine Way remained a focal point for several days as officers and evidence technicians worked inside the garage and driveway. Neighbors told local media the street is typically quiet and sees little daytime traffic. Police said they increased patrols in the area following the killing. Stewart’s relatives and friends have shared remembrances on social media, and an online fundraiser described her as a “beacon of light” to those who knew her. Public officials expressed condolences to Stewart’s family and thanked residents who shared security footage and tips. Authorities reiterated that while the attack appeared targeted, they are reviewing whether any protective orders or prior court filings are relevant to the timeline.
Investigators say the sequence began just after 1 p.m. on Jan. 27, when Stewart returned to the Valentine Way house. Within minutes, the husband reported seeing a man approach and chase her into the garage on the live camera feed. Officers responded and, after the witness sighting of a man running from the home, they launched a search that included drones and canine teams. About 30 minutes later, an officer conducted the traffic stop that led to Dodd’s arrest. The coroner identified Stewart on Jan. 29, the same day charges were announced. Officials said additional testing is underway at state crime labs, including analysis of a knife believed to have been used in the attack, along with swabs and clothing collected from the scene and the suspect’s vehicle.
As of Thursday, prosecutors had filed the initial set of charges, and Dodd remained jailed pending further hearings. Police said no other suspects are being sought. The State’s Attorney’s Office is expected to present the case to a grand jury for indictment in the coming weeks. If a grand jury returns a true bill, an arraignment would follow, at which Dodd would be asked to enter a plea and a trial judge would be assigned. Pretrial motions could address the admissibility of surveillance video and statements, as well as any history of alleged threats or stalking cited by investigators. Court calendars indicate the next case management date is set for March; authorities have not released a precise day on the public docket.
Ross, Stewart’s friend, said the community has responded with meals and support for the children. “Not only did this person take away the mother of six beautiful children, he took away my friend,” Ross said. Outside the home, neighbors described seeing police tape and technicians working into the evening hours. Several residents said they handed over doorbell footage to detectives. A woman who lives nearby said she had never seen a large police presence on the street before and was stunned by the quick arrest. “It felt like the whole block held its breath,” she said.
As of today, Dodd remains in custody at the Kendall County Jail. Police say additional lab results and court filings are expected before the next court date in March. Officials have not released a motive. Detectives continue to collect digital evidence and interview witnesses as the case proceeds toward a grand jury review.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.