“Footprints in the Snow”: 20/20 Reports on Ashley Schwalm Homicide February 13 2026
ABC’s 20/20 episode “Footprints in the Snow,” which aired on Friday, February 13, 2026, unravels the tragic and calculated murder of 38-year-old Ashley Schwalm. Set in the quiet Ontario town of Collingwood, the case shook the Blue Mountains community and revealed how one man’s desperation and deception destroyed a family. The two-hour special, reported by Juju Chang, explores the disturbing steps taken by Ashley’s husband, former firefighter James Schwalm, to cover up his crime—and how investigators uncovered the truth.
- “Footprints in the Snow”: 20/20 Reports on Ashley Schwalm Homicide February 13 2026
- Who Was Ashley Schwalm & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Background
- Who Is James Schwalm & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Background
Contents
A Shocking Discovery in a Snowbank
On January 26, 2023, just before sunrise, a passerby near Arrowhead Road spotted a vehicle engulfed in flames. The fire, fueled by gasoline, had consumed much of the SUV, and inside lay a body burned beyond recognition. Police later confirmed it was Ashley Schwalm. But it was the footprints in the snow leading away from the driver’s side that immediately raised suspicion. This was no accident.
Ashley had been a beloved mother of two, an entrepreneur, and a deeply rooted member of the Collingwood community. The circumstances of her death pointed to foul play—and the trail led directly to her husband, James Schwalm.
Cracks Beneath the Surface
Ashley and James were long-time residents of Collingwood, often seen as the golden couple. James was a respected captain with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services. Ashley had launched a successful interior design business. Together they had built a beautiful life with their two children and a home near the ski slopes where they first met. But by late 2022, the image began to crumble.
Ashley had recently confessed to an affair with her employer. James, devastated and unable to forgive, began spiraling. Though the couple entered therapy and Ashley moved on to a new job, the emotional damage had been done. What many didn’t know was that James had started his own affair with the ex-wife of Ashley’s former lover. He told close friends he was deeply unhappy and feared the costs of divorce—emotionally and financially. That fear, prosecutors later argued, turned lethal.
The Calculated Killing and Cover-Up
In the early hours of January 26, 2023, James strangled Ashley in their home. He dressed her body in hiking clothes to match a fabricated story that she had gone for a hike. Their children, asleep nearby, awoke briefly during the incident. James loaded Ashley’s body into her SUV and drove to a secluded area near the Alpine Ski Club. There, he doused the interior with gasoline, set the vehicle ablaze, and fled on foot.
To make the scene appear accidental, he sent text messages between their phones to simulate a conversation about hiking and dizziness, fabricating a narrative that Ashley was unwell. But he left behind digital and physical footprints—surveillance footage, GPS data, browser history, and the literal tracks in the snow—that exposed his lie.
Unraveling the Lie
In the days after the murder, James played the grieving husband. He comforted Ashley’s family and continued to push the narrative of an accidental crash. But police were skeptical. The position of Ashley’s body, the tire tracks, and the gas can explanation didn’t add up.
Investigators quickly uncovered video footage of James at the scene. Forensic analysis found no injuries consistent with a car crash—Ashley had died from neck compressions. Even more damning, the lighter used to ignite the fire bore James’s initials: JWS. James had underestimated how much digital and forensic evidence would betray him. He was arrested on February 2, 2023.
Trial, Conviction, and Sentencing
James Schwalm was initially charged with first-degree murder and indignity to a body. He later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a lesser sentence. In November 2024, Justice Michelle Fuerst sentenced him to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years and prohibited him from contacting his children until they turn 18.
During sentencing, Ashley’s family delivered emotional victim impact statements. Her children, now being raised by her brother and his wife, have been left scarred by the loss. Friends described the betrayal they felt from a man they had once trusted. Ashley’s father spoke last, condemning James’s actions as selfish and cowardly. The courtroom fell silent as the reality set in: a vibrant woman was gone because her husband refused to walk away from a failing marriage.
A Community Forever Changed
“Footprints in the Snow” is not only a gripping account of forensic investigation and digital sleuthing—it’s a tragic reminder of the devastating toll of intimate partner violence. The case has sparked renewed conversation in Ontario about gender-based violence and the gaps in protection for women.
Ashley Schwalm’s death is a heartbreaking chapter in the history of Collingwood. The episode shines a light on her life, the horror of her final moments, and the resilience of those she left behind. Her legacy now fuels advocacy efforts to protect others from a similar fate.
More “Footprints in the Snow”
- “Footprints in the Snow”: 20/20 Reports on Ashley Schwalm Homicide February 13 2026
- Who Was Ashley Schwalm & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Background
- Who Is James Schwalm & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Background
