She was 41 years old. A mother of six. And authorities say she was stabbed to death by her ex-husband just steps from her home while simply trying to get to her car.
The victim, identified as Ashley Stewart, was walking toward her garage, Illinois, when surveillance footage reportedly captured her ex-husband, Ryan Dodd, following her. Moments later, Stewart was found unresponsive outside her home. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Police have emphasized that the attack was not a random act of violence. Investigators describe it as a deliberate, targeted attack consistent with patterns of intimate partner violence, particularly the heightened danger many survivors face after separation.
“This is one of the most lethal stages of abuse,” said a neighbor. “Leaving an abusive relationship does not automatically ensure safety, and unfortunately, Ashley’s death is a tragic example of that reality.”
Dodd was arrested roughly 30 minutes after the attack. He now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, home invasion, and aggravated stalking.
Police say the charges reflect a sustained pattern of pursuit rather than a spontaneous encounter, pointing to repeated unwanted contact and harassment in the period leading up to the killing.
Friends and family describe Stewart as a devoted mother whose life revolved around her children. “She was a beacon of light for everyone around her,” said a Family Member. “Her love for her kids was endless. She always put them first.” Now, those six children are left without their mother, their lives forever altered by a single, violent act.
Law enforcement has asked residents in the neighborhood to review any home security footage that may help establish a clearer timeline of events leading up to the stabbing. Investigators are working to reconstruct how Dodd tracked Stewart and the movements that culminated in the attack.
But domestic violence advocates emphasize that the timeline preceding lethal outcomes often spans months or even years. Stalking, obsessive behaviors, and repeated threats after a breakup are among the strongest predictors of intimate partner homicide, experts say. The moments immediately before a killing are usually the final act in a much longer and dangerous pattern.
“Leaving an abusive partner does not automatically equate to safety,”. “In fact, separation can sometimes escalate risk, which is why early warning signs fixation, harassment, and stalking must be taken seriously.”
Stewart’s death serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring these warning signs. When obsessive behavior is dismissed and survivors are left to navigate fear alone, violence can escalate with little warning, resulting in preventable tragedies.
This was not just a loss for a family. It was a preventable outcome of unchecked domestic violence escalation. And six children will grow up carrying that painful reality for the rest of their lives.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information related to the case to come forward as the investigation unfolds.
