Fire chief sentenced for murdering wife and staging crash

Fire chief James Schwalm has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Ashley Milnes. He strangled her and staged a car crash to cover up the crime, which occurred in January 2023. Initially, Schwalm claimed Ashley died in an accident while hiking. However, investigations revealed she had been murdered before the fire, with evidence suggesting Schwalm orchestrated the scene to appear accidental. In February 2025, Schwalm received an automatic life sentence, with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Ashley's family has taken custody of their two children, expressing their grief and disbelief over the tragedy.