Ross Butler was arrested in Florida after a Chesterfield grand jury indicted him in the 2021 death of Ashlee Butler.
CHESTERFIELD, VA — A Florida man has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2021 death of his wife after Chesterfield police said her reported suicide was staged and her injuries did not match the scene.
Ross Butler, 56, was arrested May 27 in Flagler County, Florida, after a Chesterfield grand jury indicted him in the death of Ashlee Butler, who was 36 when she was found at a home on Alberta Road. Police said the case turned after relatives, friends and witnesses raised concerns about the account given at the time. He was being held in Florida pending extradition to Virginia.
A report of an attempted suicide brought police to a home in the 5500 block of Alberta Road on Dec. 20, 2021. Ashlee Butler was taken to a hospital and died Dec. 23, 2021. Investigators later said the evidence at the home and her injuries were not consistent with suicide. “Detectives determined that the scene had been staged to make it look like Ashlee committed suicide,” Chesterfield police said in a statement released after the indictment. Police said the investigation also found a history of domestic violence in the home.
Police said Ashlee Butler had gone back to the home to pack belongings as she prepared to leave her husband. Investigators believe she was strangled there. The case was not closed after her death, police said, and detectives continued reviewing the scene, injuries and information from people who knew her. Ross Butler, who was Ashlee Butler’s husband at the time, later moved to Florida. Authorities have not said when detectives reached a final conclusion that the death should be treated as a homicide rather than a suicide. Police also have not released a full autopsy report, a 911 call or a detailed timeline of the hours before she was found.
The case moved into court this month when a Chesterfield grand jury returned indictments against Ross Butler on May 18. Reports from Florida authorities said the charges included first-degree murder, abduction leading to murder and strangulation. A Virginia judge signed an arrest warrant the next day. On May 27, Flagler County deputies learned Butler was at AdventHealth Palm Coast and detained him after he left the hospital. Deputies said Virginia officials confirmed the warrant, and Butler was booked into the Flagler County Jail.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said the arrest followed work between his office, Chesterfield County police and Flagler Beach police. Staly said Butler had been staying near the beach before his arrest. “This guy thought he could get away with murder and live the rest of his life at the beach,” Staly said. “He’s hiding out no longer and will soon be headed back to Virginia to face justice.” Chesterfield detectives traveled to Florida after the arrest to assist with interviews tied to the case.
The Alberta Road home is in Chesterfield County, southwest of Richmond. The case began just before Christmas in 2021 and remained under review for more than four years before the indictment. Police have not named any other suspects. They have not said whether they expect more charges or whether additional forensic testing remains underway. The charges are allegations, and Butler will have the chance to respond in court after he is returned to Virginia.
Ross Butler remained in the Flagler County Jail while Virginia authorities worked through the extradition process. The next major step is his transfer to Chesterfield County, where court dates and bond status will be set after he appears before a Virginia judge.
Author note: Last updated May 31, 2026.