The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is revisiting the 2007 stabbing murder of 60-year-old Eveline Ashbaugh, known locally as the "Llama Lady." Investigators say the crime scene suggested a personal motive and possible staged elements, such as a ladder placed at an open second-floor window. At least 10 people remain persons of interest; DNA and a partial footprint have not matched tested suspects. Detectives plan to request modern retesting of preserved evidence and urge anyone with information to contact the sheriff's office.
Ohio Reopens 2007 Cold Case: 'Llama Lady' Eveline Ashbaugh Murder Reexamined
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office has reopened and is reexamining the 2007 murder of Eveline Ashbaugh — the so-called "Llama Lady" — who was found stabbed to death in her farmhouse on May 5, 2007. Detectives hope modern forensic testing and a fresh review of the case file will produce new leads.
Background
Eveline Ashbaugh, 60, lived alone on a rural property a few miles north of Delaware City and raised roughly 30–40 llamas for fiber and breeding. Neighbors and former employees described her as "brusque" and "eccentric." She was last heard from between 11 p.m. and midnight on May 4, 2007; investigators believe she was killed between about 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on May 5.
Crime Scene Details
Deputies responding after a farmhand reported her missing discovered a violent crime scene: Eveline had been stabbed multiple times in the upper body and was found kneeling at the edge of her bed. Investigators described the wounds as indicative of overkill and a crime of passion. A dresser drawer, a cloth and a laundry basket had been placed over her head, and some jewelry was found on her back.
Outside the house, a ladder reached a second-floor bedroom window that was open but showed no signs of forced entry. Blood-spatter patterns and the body's position led investigators to suspect the ladder was staged and that entry more likely occurred through the bedroom door or an unlocked entrance.
Eveline Ashbaugh. (Delaware County Sheriff's Office)
Investigation And Evidence
Detectives believe the murderer likely knew Eveline and her routine; they have not ruled out the possibility of multiple offenders. At least 10 people remain persons of interest. Investigators have interviewed numerous associates, including former romantic partners and employees, and administered polygraphs and voice-stress tests to several individuals; one person reportedly failed a polygraph.
Physical evidence has not yet produced a conclusive match: a bloody partial footprint recovered at the scene did not match shoes tested, DNA collected at the house has not matched samples provided by persons of interest, and the murder weapon has never been recovered. Detectives plan to request retesting of preserved evidence using advances in forensic technology since 2007.
Current Status And Appeal
The case remains active and detectives encourage anyone with information — no matter how small it may seem — to come forward. "Someone may think of something they don't consider important, but it might be the key," Detective Sergeant Joshua Clarke told Dateline.
If you have information about Eveline Ashbaugh's death, contact the Delaware County Sheriff's Office at 740-833-2810 or submit an anonymous tip online through the sheriff's office website.
Note: This reporting updates and condenses material originally published by NBC News/Dateline.
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