Open Houses Still On, But Realtors Take Extra Precautions Since Okland Murder in West Des Moines

There was something about the vague nature of the call a couple of months ago that made Iowa Realty real-estate agent Marcia Wanamaker anxious.

“I had somebody call out of the blue and want to meet me at a vacant house,” said Wanamaker, who lists the high-end properties often sought by corporate executives. “He wasn’t from here, he wasn’t referred by a company and he really didn’t seem to have a good reason for being here.”

Wanamaker had reason for caution. Six months ago, the murder of an Iowa Realty sales agent who was showing a townhome at 558 Stone Creek Court in West Des Moines stunned the metro real-estate community. Ashley Okland, 27, was found shot twice on the afternoon of April 8. The West Des Moines homicide remains unsolved.

Wanamaker asked the client to meet her at . He brought his wife to the appointment, which made Wanamaker more comfortable, but she still required the client to provide identification.

Iowa Realty spokesman Brennan Buckley said agents now require sign-in sheets at open houses and are taking other precautions after the murder of their colleague. Before Okland's death, it was common for Realtors to meet clients who are strangers at properties.

“That did change the way I have done business,” Wanamaker said.

Wanamaker is one-half of West Des Moines’ real-estate power couple. Her husband, Rick, said he hasn’t changed the way he does business since Okland’s murder. “Most women in real estate are very cautious," Marcia Wanamaker said. "I can have Rick show up with me if I’m nervous.

“It’s still scary,” she said. “Somebody’s still out there, and it’s always wise to be on top of what is going on around you.”

Buckley said real-estate companies throughout the metro, not just Iowa Realty, have taken steps to ensure their agents are safe.

Some agents are using technology to enhance their safety when they’re showing a home alone. The Iowa Association of Realtors has partnered with GPS and location-based services provider Contigo to offer agents Moby, a free smart phone application that allows users to share their location and request help if they need it.

West Des Moines Police spokesman Jim Barrett said while only one detective remains assigned to the case, it is not considered cold and remains the department’s No. 1 priority.

“It’s not a matter of being optimistic, frustrated or pessimistic,” he said. “You just work the case. … If we need 10 detectives, we’ll assign them.”

Detectives have talked to about 400 people and have followed up on more than 600 tips and leads. Four search warrants, their contents sealed by a Dallas County District Court judge to protect the integrity of the investigation, have been served, but a suspect has not been named, Barrett said.

“We’re looking for pertinent information,” he said. “If you’re not sure it’s pertinent, you should call. If you were in the area and saw something that hasn’t been reported, or if you’ve heard something, you should call.”

Tips can be reported anonymously to the West Des Moines Police Department at 222-3344 or through Polk County Crime Stoppers at 223-1400. There is a $75,000 reward offered through Crime Stoppers, the most ever locally, for the conviction of Okland's killer.