Aurora resident Ryan Dodd, 44, has been charged after police found his ex‑wife, 41‑year‑old Ashley Stewart, fatally stabbed inside her Oswego home. Surveillance reviewed by Stewart’s husband reportedly showed a man chase her into the garage; the husband believed the pursuer was her ex‑husband. Dodd was arrested nearby about 30 minutes later and booked on multiple charges, including five counts of first‑degree murder. A coroner’s autopsy found multiple sharp‑force injuries, and a GoFundMe has been set up to support Stewart’s husband and six children.
Aurora Man Charged After Ex‑Wife Found Fatally Stabbed Following Garage Chase
Ryan DoddOswego Police Department
Ryan Dodd, 44, of Aurora, Illinois, has been charged after his ex‑wife, 41‑year‑old Ashley Stewart, was found fatally stabbed inside her Oswego home. Local police say surveillance reviewed by Stewart’s husband showed a man chase her into the garage before the attack.
Details And Timeline
According to the Oswego Police Department, officers responded after a call reporting a possible assault and arrived shortly after 1 p.m. local time. Officers found Stewart unresponsive inside the residence; paramedics later pronounced her dead at the scene. Authorities said the incident occurred on Jan. 27, and a press release was issued the following day.
Ryan DoddOswego Police Department
The victim’s husband, Adam Stewart, told investigators he reviewed home security footage and saw a man pursue his wife into the garage. The caller believed the man was his wife’s ex‑husband.
Police located and detained a suspect driving on a nearby road about 30 minutes after the call. The Oswego Police Department identified him as Ryan Dodd. Dodd was processed and booked at the Oswego Police Department and later transported to the Kendall County Jail, where he remains in custody.
Ryan DoddOswego Police Department
Charges And Investigation
On Jan. 29, authorities announced Dodd had been charged with five counts of first‑degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary and aggravated stalking. An update from police on Jan. 30 said the investigation indicates Dodd, the victim’s ex‑husband, followed Stewart into her home and attacked her with a knife.
The Kendall County Coroner’s Office completed a forensic autopsy on Jan. 29 and determined Stewart sustained multiple sharp‑force injuries.
Family And Community Response
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Adam Stewart and Ashley’s six children. The fundraiser notes Adam is now grieving his wife while assuming sole responsibility for their two‑year‑old son, Syler, and caring for Ashley’s other young children.
"Her loss has left an immeasurable void in the lives of those who loved her," the GoFundMe description reads.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing as Dodd awaits prosecution on the charges filed against him.
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