Oswego Slaying Came 1 Month After Child Support Order For Ex-Husband

OSWEGO, IL — About a month before an Aurora man was charged in connection with the murder of his ex-wife in Oswego, a judge ordered him to pay her $15,000 per month in child support, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

Ashley Stewart, 41, was found dead Jan. 27 in her home in the 400 block of Valentine Way in Oswego. Her former husband, 44-year-old Ryan Dodd, was charged two days later with first-degree murder, home invasion, armed violence, residential burglary and aggravated stalking.

The pair, who share five children, were married in 2004 in Greenville, Michigan. They both filed for divorce in February 2021, and it was finalized in 2022.

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The court determined the child support payment in a Dec. 19 emergency hearing — one month after records show Dodd filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The $15,000 amount was an "upward deviation" from the statutory guidelines based on Dodd's current income, the document states.

Dodd worked as a website and app developer, with Walmart, Marriott Bonvoy and CAT listed on his website among his clients. He described himself in his portfolio as a "human-centered design specialist."

The first child support payment was due Dec. 22, and as of Jan. 23, he failed to pay the January amount. When Stewart's lawyer reached out to Dodd's demanding compliance, Dodd refused, per the court documents.

"Ryan’s failure to abide by the terms of the order … is willful and contemptuous," the document reads. "Ryan has the ability to comply with this order ... and his failure to do so has caused hardship for Ashley."

Stewart was listed as the primary caretaker of the children, born between 2002 and 2014. She was not employed and relied on financial assistance from Dodd, who was the primary income earner throughout the marriage, according to court documents.

First responders found Stewart dead in her home shortly after Oswego police received a 911 call from Stewart's husband, who told dispatchers he believed his wife was in danger after seeing, via home surveillance footage, a man chase her into their garage, Patch reported. The caller told police he believed the suspect was his wife's former husband.

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Police revealed Dodd followed Stewart as she entered her residence and attacked her, killing her with a knife. The Kendall County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy that indicated Stewart sustained multiple sharp force injuries.

Dodd, whose address is listed in the 2300 block of Pagosa Springs Drive in Aurora, was taken into custody shortly after the slaying. He appeared in court for the first time Jan. 30, with his next hearing scheduled March 9.

In light of Stewart’s death, a GoFundMe campaign was created to support Stewart’s husband and children. The fundraiser has achieved more than 90 percent of its $60,000 goal.