A Henry County jury has convicted a Missouri man in the fatal shooting of his wife, a case that highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and accountability in the state. The verdict, returned this week, follows a jury trial over an incident that left a young mother dead and her twin infants without a parent.
Prosecutors say 30-year-old Ryan Alexander was found guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the August 2022 killing of 28-year-old Ashton Schouten. The Missouri Attorney General’s office announced the verdict and described a volatile relationship and accusations of infidelity that preceded the shooting.
According to court accounts, the couple argued at their home on Aug. 27, 2022. Alexander left briefly, purchased alcohol at a nearby store and returned within a short period. Prosecutors say he discovered Schouten had packed luggage — including items for their one-year-old twin sons — and on returning into the house shot her in the head. He then fired additional rounds as she lay on the floor, authorities said, and later called 911 claiming self-defense.
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Key facts in the case
- Victim: Ashton Schouten, 28, mother of infant twins.
- Defendant: Ryan Alexander, 30, convicted by a Henry County jury.
- Date of incident: Aug. 27, 2022.
- Charges: First-degree murder and armed criminal action.
- Next steps: Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s office framed the verdict as the result of diligent prosecutorial work and reiterated a commitment to public safety. Henry County Prosecuting Attorney LaChrisha Gray said jurors reached their decision after a relatively brief period of deliberation.
Schouten’s obituary notes she had worked as a physical therapist since her teenage years and had a deep affection for animals. She is survived by her twin sons, her parents and seven siblings.
The case touches on broader issues facing communities and courts: how allegations of controlling behavior and domestic conflict can escalate to lethal violence, and how the criminal justice system responds when those conflicts end in death. The defendant’s sentencing hearing, when set, will determine the legal consequences Alexander faces under Missouri law.
Authorities have not released additional comments about motive beyond the information presented at trial. For the family and the children left behind, the conviction marks a legal conclusion to a traumatic chapter but does not erase the loss they will continue to live with.
