A Henry County jury convicted Ryan Alexander of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the 2022 shooting death of his wife, Ashton Schouten.
Ryan Alexander, 30, was found guilty after evidence showed he shot his 28-year-old wife multiple times in the head on August 27, 2022. The couple had argued at their home over Alexander's controlling behavior and suspicions of infidelity. After briefly leaving to buy beer, Alexander returned and saw luggage packed near the door for Schouten and their one-year-old twin boys. He then fired once into her head before emptying the rest of the magazine as she lay on the floor. He called 911 and claimed self-defense. The jury reached its verdict after a short deliberation. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said the outcome reflected the work of her team to ensure accountability. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Schouten worked as a physical therapist and is survived by her sons, parents and seven siblings.