Chesterfield woman's death ruled homicide; husband charged
TL;DR: A Chesterfield woman's 2021 death, initially treated as suicide, has been ruled a homicide; her husband was arrested in Florida after a five-year investigation and charged with first-degree murder.
Quick facts
- Who: Ashlee Butler (victim), Ross Butler (husband, accused); Chesterfield County Police
- What: Woman found unresponsive at home, initially reported as suicide attempt; police later determined she was strangled and death scene was staged
- When: December 20, 2021 (initial incident); May 2026 (arrest)
- Where: Alberta Road, Chesterfield County, Virginia (arrest made in Flagler Beach, Florida)
The story
Ashlee Butler, 36, was found unresponsive at a home on Alberta Road on December 20, 2021, after her husband reported she had attempted suicide. She was hospitalized and died three days later on December 23, 2021. The case remained open but dormant for nearly five years until family members' persistent concerns prompted police to reopen their investigation.
After re-examining the evidence, Chesterfield County detectives determined that Ashlee Butler had been strangled to death and that the death scene had been deliberately staged to appear as a suicide. Investigators allege that on the day she died, Ashlee had returned home to pack her belongings—indicating she was preparing to leave her husband. It was during this time that police believe Ross Butler strangled her. Detectives noted a documented history of domestic violence in the household.
In May 2026, after five years of investigation, detectives located Ross Butler in Flagler Beach, Florida, where he had fled. With assistance from the Flagler Beach Sheriff's Office, he was arrested and placed in Flagler County Jail pending extradition to Virginia. He faces four charges: first-degree murder, first-degree murder with strangulation, first-degree murder with abduction and strangulation. The case highlights both the difficulty of distinguishing staged deaths from actual suicides and the importance of persistent investigation in seeking justice years after a crime.
Key players
- Ashlee Butler — Victim
- Ross Butler — Suspect, charged with first-degree murder
- Chesterfield County Police — Investigating agency
- Flagler Beach Sheriff's Office — Assisted in arrest in Florida
Why it matters: The case raises awareness about domestic violence and the risk to victims during separation, and demonstrates how determined police investigation and family advocacy can eventually uncover the truth in complex cases even years later.
Places
Development timeline
- 2021-12-20Woman found unresponsive at Alberta Road home: Ashlee Butler found unresponsive after husband reports attempted suicide; hospitalized and dies December 23, 2021 [[source]](https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/)
- 2026-05-01Investigation reopened after five years: Family members' persistent concerns prompt police to reopen investigation into Ashlee Butler's death [[source]](https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/)
- 2026-05-28Ross Butler arrested in Florida: Husband arrested in Flagler Beach, Florida and charged with first-degree murder; held pending extradition to Virginia [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/05/28/police-chesterfield-womans-death-staged-suicide-husband-charged/)
Related links
Read the original at Google News: Chesterfield County →
Sources
- Man charged with first-degree murder 5 years after wife strangled to death in Chesterfield, police say | WRIC ABC 8News
- Police: Chesterfield woman's death staged as suicide; husband charged
- Man arrested for wife's 2021 killing, 'staged suicide' was under investigation for nearly 5 years, police say | WRIC ABC 8News