Man Allegedly Murdered Ex-Wife As New Husband Watched On Security Video

Police in Illinois say a man has been arrested and charged with the murder of his ex-wife, after her new husband saw the attack on a home security video and called 911.

The Oswego Police Department said officers responded to a residence on the 400 block of Valentine Way at around 1:10 p.m. Tuesday after a 911 caller reported he believed his wife was in danger after he saw a man chase her into their garage on a home surveillance video. The caller stated he believed the man to be her ex-husband.

Officers arrived to find the woman unresponsive, and paramedics declared her dead at the scene. A witness reported seeing a man fleeing southbound across Wolfs Crossing Road. Officers conducted an immediate search of the area on the ground and with drones, with assistance from Aurora Police Department’s canine search teams.

Using a vehicle description and license plate number believed to be associated with the suspect, an officer spotted the vehicle at around 1:37 p.m. and conducted a traffic stop. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Ryan Dodd, was taken into custody without incident.

The Kendall County Coroner’s Office on Thursday confirmed the victim, 41-year-old Ashley A. Stewart, died of multiple sharp force injuries. Investigators determined that Dodd, Stewart’s ex-husband, had allegedly followed her into the residence and fatally attacked her with a knife.

Dodd was charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary, and aggravated stalking. He remained in custody at the Kendall County Jail pending a court hearing scheduled for Friday.