Fire captain pleads guilty to murdering wife found in burning car in Canada

Ashley Schwalm, 40, was found dead in a burning car in Canada in July 2023. Initially, her husband, James Schwalm, appeared devastated, but police later discovered he had murdered her and staged the scene to look like an accident. James Schwalm, a fire captain, strangled Ashley at home while their children slept. He then drove her body to a remote area, set the car on fire, and attempted to cover up the crime by sending fake texts from her phone. In November 2024, James Schwalm pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He faces a life sentence, with a judge set to determine his parole eligibility in February 2025. The couple's children are now in the care of Ashley's family.