Bond Denied for Chesterfield Man Accused of Killing Wife

TL;DR: A Chesterfield man accused of strangling his wife and staging her death as a suicide was denied bond on Wednesday and will remain in custody while awaiting trial.

The story

On December 20, 2021, Ross Butler called 911 to report finding his wife Ashlee hanging on the back porch of their Alberta Road home around 1 p.m. Ashlee was unresponsive and was later declared brain dead at the hospital, where she died three days later on December 23, 2021.

Chesterfield County Police investigators determined that the evidence at the scene and Ashlee's injuries were inconsistent with suicide. Police stated that the scene had been staged to appear as a suicide. Investigators found a history of domestic violence at the residence and determined that Ashlee had returned home to pack her belongings when the fatal incident occurred. Authorities believe she was strangled to death.

More than four years after the death, Ross Butler was indicted on first-degree murder charges by a Chesterfield grand jury on May 18, 2026, and arrested on May 27, 2026, in Florida while awaiting extradition to Virginia. At a bond hearing on July 15, 2026, a judge denied his bond request, meaning Butler will remain in custody while his case proceeds. He is scheduled to return to court on August 4 for a status hearing.

Key players

• Ross Butler: Defendant; accused of first-degree murder and strangulation
• Ashlee Butler: Victim; wife of Ross Butler
• Chesterfield County Police: Investigators who determined death was staged and filed charges

Key dates

• 2026-08-04: Status hearing in circuit court

Why it matters: The case highlights how criminal investigations can extend years after an initial incident and how forensic evidence can overturn initial assumptions about a death. The bond denial means Butler will remain incarcerated pending trial, affecting family members and the broader county community monitoring the case.

Places

• Alberta Road

Related links

• WTVR - Ross Butler denied bond
• WTVR - Ross Butler arrest details

Read the original at WRIC 8News Local →

Sources

• WTVR - Man accused of murdering wife in Chesterfield, staging her death as suicide denied bond
• WTVR - Chesterfield man charged with murdering wife
• 12 On Your Side - Police: Chesterfield woman's death staged as suicide; husband charged