Answers for Ashley: Police hope new tool solves Ashley Okland murder
West Des Moines police are using a to investigate Ashley Okland’s murder eight years after it occurred.
The 27-year-old real estate agent was gunned down while holding an open house at a West Des Moines townhome.
“This is one of those cases where I remember where I was when I got the call,” West Des Moines police Sgt. Dan Wade said.
Officers in the West Des Moines Police Department created a that they hope leads to her killer.
To date, officers have followed up on more than 900 leads. Now, they hope the will bring in fresh tips.
“There is somebody, somewhere, that has one bit of information that may break this case wide open for us,” Wade said.
“I would love to know, and I would love to get that over with, but it's not going to change my life,” said Josh Okland, Ashley’s brother. “Ashley is still gone. She always will be.”
It's been eight years since Josh Okland has seen his sister's smile in person.
Just 20 years old at the time of her murder, he is now 28, married and a father.
“This is the first time in my life that I have outlived Ash, and that's hard for me,” he said.
Okland said he is at peace despite not knowing who killed his sister.
He said the hardest part is that life continues without his sister, who has three nephews that she never got to meet.
“I just want (my son) to know how awesome she was,” Okland said. “I want him to understand that she was a role model and even though she's not here, he can look up to her.”
Authorities are offering a $150,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400.