Disturbing truth of woman’s death after husband ‘staged elaborate plot to look like she died in crash’

The family of Ashley Milnes Schwalm are speaking out about the 'senseless and elaborate plan' her husband allegedly enacted in staging her death.

On 26 January 2023, Ashley Milnes Schwalm was found dead in an SUV on Arrowhead Road, south of Highway 26 in The Blue Mountains in Ontario, Canada.

Her husband, James Schwalm - with whom she shared two children - is accused of strangling her and then attempting to cover up the alleged murder by staging her death to try and make it look like she'd died in a car accident.

Ashley's death

Court documents allege Schwalm strangled Ashley before dressing her up in hiking clothes, transferring her to her car and driving the vehicle to an area in the Blue Mountains, maneuvering it off the side of the road to make it look like there had been a car accident, CBC reports.

Schwalm - a former fire captain with the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services - then allegedly set the car on fire and fled the scene.

A forensic pathologist's report later stated Ashley died as a result of trauma to her neck opposed to as a result of a fire and around a week later, Schwalm was arrested.

The husband's arrest

Schwalm was initially charged with first-degree murder alongside committing an indignity to a body.

It's reported by Global News the court head Schwalm conducted research online into car fires alongside divorce payments - the pair both allegedly involved in relationships outside of their marriage - and that Ashley had a $1 million life insurance policy which would go solely to her husband should she pass away.

Crown Attorney Lynne Saunders stated, as per CTV News: "This was very much a financial decision for Mr. Schwalm. His choice was to scheme for days, at least, about how to kill the mother of his children and not get caught. He resolved to do what would make him happy."

Schwalm has since pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, with loved ones of Ashley also addressing the court on Monday (November 25).

Court

One of Ashley's best friends, Christan Bosley, told the court the whole story is 'devastating and confusing' and 'it didn't make any sense'.

Bosley continued: "To say this was a senseless and elaborate plan would be a gross understatement. Why not get a divorce? It could have been so simple.

"He was head of the fire department. He was supposed to save lives, not take them."

In Canada, the minimum sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison with no possibility of parole for 10 years. However, no possibility for parole can be extended to 25 years.

Schwalm's team are fighting for him to be eligible for parole after 13 to 14 years, although the Crown is arguing for it be 21 to 22 years before he's eligible.

Schwalm has also been banned from making contact with members of Ashley's family and the pair's children, however his legal team are pushing to have the non-communicate order end when the two children turn 16.

The Crown is reported as seeking the non-communicate order be pushed until the children turn 18.

Ashley's sister told the court: "James deceived us. [He] sat there broken and grieving while we consoled him, even though he knew what he’d done.

"No amount of justice will ever be enough for the monstrous act he has committed."

Schwalm is set to be sentenced in February 2025.