The Oswego Police Department announced yesterday that criminal charges have been filed in connection with the murder of 41-year-old Oswego woman Monday afternoon.
After consultation with the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office, 44-year-old male defendant has been charged with First Degree Murder (a Class M Felony); Home Invasion (a Class X Felony); Armed Violence (a Class X Felony); Residential Burglary (a Class 1 Felony); and Aggravated Stalking (Ca lass 3 Felony).
Also yesterday, the Kendall County Coroner’s Office completed a forensic autopsy which indicated that the victim, 41-year-old Ashley A. Stewart of Oswego, sustained multiple sharp force injuries.
The defendant was processed and booked at the Oswego Police Department and was transported to the Kendall County Jail where he remains in custody. He has a hearing on January 30, 2026.
At approximately 1:10pm on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Oswego Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Valentine Way after a caller reported that he believed his wife was in danger after observing, via home surveillance, a male subject run after his wife into their garage. The caller believed the male to be the wife’s ex-husband.
Officers arrived on scene and located an unresponsive adult female. Oswego Fire Protection District Paramedics responded and subsequently pronounced the female deceased at the scene.
A witness reported seeing a male subject fleeing southbound across Wolfs Crossing Road. Officers immediately initiated a search of the area, which included drone surveillance and the use of canine search teams from the Aurora Police Department. Dispatch was also able to provide officers with a vehicle description and license plate number believed to be associated with the suspect.
About 20 minutes later, an officer observed a vehicle matching that description traveling southbound on Harvey Road near Hathaway Lane, driven by an individual matching the suspect’s description. A traffic stop was conducted near Rance Road and Pioneer Court, and the driver was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Oswego Police Department, where he is still in custody.
The Kendall County Major Crimes Task Force and Forensics Team were activated and are assisting with the investigation. The Kendall County Coroner’s Office will be conducting an autopsy today to determine the cause and manner of death. Preliminary investigation indicates the suspect followed the victim into the garage and attacked her.
Information related to the victim is not being released at this time.
