A friend of an Illinois woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by her ex-husband is speaking publicly for the first time, remembering her as a devoted mother and a source of warmth to everyone around her.
Police in Oswego announced on Jan. 27 that a woman later identified as Ashley Stewart, 41, had been found dead inside her home. Stewart, a mother of six, was pronounced dead at the scene after officers responded to a 911 call reporting that she was in danger.
Speaking to ABC7 Chicago on Jan. 30, Stewart’s close friend Robin Ross described her as someone who radiated kindness.
“Ashley was a beacon of light,” Ross said. “She loved deeply, she gave endlessly, and she was always there for the people she cared about.”
According to the Oswego Police Department, officers were dispatched to Stewart’s home shortly after 1 p.m. local time after her husband called 911. Police said he reported seeing a man chase his wife into the garage through a home surveillance camera and feared she was in danger.
Responding officers found Stewart unresponsive, and paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
“The caller believed the male to be the wife’s ex-husband,” police said in a press release.
About 30 minutes later, officers detained a suspect after spotting his vehicle driving nearby. The man was taken into custody without incident and later identified as Ryan Dodd, 44, of Aurora.
Investigators said Dodd followed Stewart into her residence and attacked her with a knife. An autopsy conducted by the Kendall County Coroner’s Office determined Stewart died from multiple sharp-force injuries.
Police emphasized that the incident was isolated and that there was no ongoing danger to the public. They also asked residents to review security camera footage and check yards or trash bins for any items that may be connected to the crime, urging anyone who finds something suspicious to call 911 and not touch it.
Dodd has been charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary, and aggravated stalking. He is currently being held at the Kendall County Jail.
In the wake of Stewart’s death, friends and family have organized a GoFundMe to support her children and surviving family members. The fundraiser describes her loss as leaving “an immeasurable void” and notes that her husband is now navigating the sudden responsibility of caring for their young children.
For Ross and others who knew her, Stewart’s legacy is defined not by the violence of her death, but by the love she gave in life.
“She made people feel seen,” Ross said. “That’s how I’ll always remember her.”
