Dateline Tonight

“Running Man”: Dateline Reports on Ashley Schwalm Homicide November 14 2025

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In the Dateline NBC episode Running Man, airing November 14, 2025, correspondent Andrea Canning returns to her hometown of Blue Mountain, Ontario, to cover the brutal and calculated murder of 40-year-old Ashley Schwalm. What at first appeared to be a tragic accident involving a burned-out SUV turned out to be a carefully staged crime scene. The episode dives into the harrowing details of Ashley’s death, the investigation that followed, and the man ultimately held responsible—her husband, James Schwalm, a respected fire captain.

Set in the peaceful ski town of Collingwood, the case stunned both locals and the nation. Through interviews with family members, friends, and detectives, Running Man explores how a seemingly devoted husband and father plotted the murder of his wife, then enacted an elaborate cover-up involving staged text messages, a planned vehicle fire, and a web of deceit that unraveled within days.

A Marriage Cracking Beneath the Surface

James and Ashley Schwalm had built a life that, from the outside, looked idyllic. They had been married since 2012, raising two young children in a picturesque home. James had risen through the ranks to become a captain with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, while Ashley had a successful career in project management. But their marriage had become strained after Ashley’s brief affair with her employer in early 2022.

Despite attempts at reconciliation—including counseling and Ashley quitting her job—the trust was broken. By the end of 2022, both Ashley and James were privately voicing doubts about the future of their relationship. Ashley had expressed hope for a fresh start in 2023, focusing on her children and personal well-being. Meanwhile, James had begun a new relationship with the ex-wife of Ashley’s former lover. Rather than face the personal and financial consequences of divorce, James began planning an unthinkable solution.

The Night of the Murder and the Fire

In the early morning hours of January 26, 2023, firefighters responded to a vehicle ablaze near the Alpine Ski Club. Inside the charred remains of a Mitsubishi Outlander was a burned body, later confirmed through dental records to be Ashley Schwalm. Initial impressions pointed to a tragic car crash, but small inconsistencies quickly led investigators to suspect foul play.

Ashley had been strangled to death before the fire. Investigators found a lighter at the scene engraved with James’s initials—JWS—and detected gasoline throughout the vehicle. Surveillance footage, cell phone data, and car telemetry painted a different story than the one James told police. Instead of being at home walking the dog, James had been staging the scene of his wife’s death and driving a borrowed vehicle back to cover his tracks.

The Investigation and Arrest

From the beginning, there were doubts about James’s version of events. Ashley had reportedly gone hiking alone in the dark, early morning hours, leaving her children unattended—a behavior that her loved ones insisted was entirely out of character. Surveillance footage showed no evidence of James walking the dog that morning, as he had claimed. Instead, it captured a shadowy figure at the Alpine Ski Club and later running away from the direction of the fire.

Further incriminating evidence came from James’s digital footprint. He had searched online for information about alimony, car fires, and how to erase iPhone histories. He also asked a doctor at a social gathering whether it was possible to kill someone by snapping their neck. Police believe he strangled Ashley in the hallway of their home while the children slept, then staged her death using gasoline and text messages sent from her phone to create a false narrative.

The Trial and Sentencing

Originally charged with first-degree murder, James Schwalm ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June 2024. His plea spared Ashley’s family the pain of a trial but did little to ease the suffering caused by his actions. In February 2025, Ontario Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst sentenced Schwalm to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years.

During the sentencing hearing, more than 20 victim impact statements were read aloud by Ashley’s family and friends. Her sister, father, and close companions described her as a vibrant, loving woman who was the heart of her family and an irreplaceable presence in their lives. The court also heard how the children—now being raised by Ashley’s brother and sister-in-law—had been deeply traumatized by their mother’s death and the betrayal of their father.

A Legacy of Loss and the Cost of Intimate Partner Violence

The murder of Ashley Schwalm is part of a larger and deeply troubling pattern. In Canada, most women killed are victims of intimate partner violence. This case, though shocking in its details, is not isolated. The community of Collingwood and broader public were reminded of the importance of recognizing warning signs and strengthening systems to protect women and children from harm.

Ashley’s family has since honored her memory through support of women’s shelters and domestic violence awareness. Her sister and friends launched a fundraising campaign benefiting My Friend’s House, a shelter for women and children fleeing abuse in Collingwood. Their goal is to channel their grief into advocacy and support for others.

A Life Remembered, A Crime Exposed

Dateline NBC’s Running Man offers a thorough examination of a heartbreaking case that shattered the illusion of safety within one family and community. Through Andrea Canning’s careful reporting and intimate access to those closest to the victim, the episode delivers not only the facts of the case but the profound emotional weight carried by survivors. It stands as a chilling reminder of how quickly love can turn lethal, and how justice, while served, cannot restore what was taken.

The story of Ashley Schwalm is one of tragedy, betrayal, and loss—but also of resilience, truth, and the enduring power of a community determined never to forget.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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