A former Ontario hearth captain who murdered his spouse and left her physique inside a burning SUV has been sentenced to life in jail with no probability of parole for 20 years.
James Schwalm, a 40-year-old Collingwood resident who as soon as served with Brampton hearth, was handed his sentence by Supreme Court docket Justice Michelle Fuerst in a Barrie courtroom Monday. Schwalm pled responsible to the second-degree homicide of his spouse, 40-year-old Ashley Schwalm, final June.
Ashley’s physique was discovered inside a burning SUV that had left a street in Collingwood on Jan. 26, 2023. In accordance with an agreed assertion of information (ASF) entered in courtroom when Schwalm pled responsible, her physique was discovered burned past recognition.
An post-mortem discovered she was not alive on the time of the hearth, and had died from bodily trauma to her neck from strangulation. Police later alleged Schwalm murdered her and staged her demise.
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“His actions on the morning of Jan. 26, 2023, … were completely at odds of his responsibility as a firefighter to save lives, not take them,” Fuerst stated Monday.
“Ashley Schwalm’s murder was an act of egregious selfishness; it was cold, callous and in many respects, calculated.”
The ASF confirmed the Collingwood couple — who have been married for greater than 10 years with two kids by the point of the homicide — have been rising aside. In 2022, Schwalm discovered his spouse was having an affair along with her boss, and the couple tried to restore their marriage by going to counselling.
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Former Brampton hearth fighter pleads responsible to spouse’s homicide
Schwalm then started nurturing a relationship with the ex-wife of Ashley’s boss. Ten days earlier than the homicide, he informed her he had romantic emotions for her, which she stated was mutual. Simply 5 days previous to the killing, Schwalm informed her he had a decided that he was going to do what would make him pleased.
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Court docket heard that for 2 weeks earlier than the slaying, Schwalm was assessing the monetary implications of divorce. He additionally did web searches about alimony, automotive fires and whether or not search histories are saved even when deleted. Ashley had a $1-million life insurance coverage coverage; her husband was the only real beneficiary.
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The evening earlier than her physique was discovered, the couple obtained right into a struggle whereas their kids, aged six and 9, slept. The couple’s son stated he woke as much as hear his dad and mom arguing. His mom requested the boy to get her cellphone so she may name police. Schwalm informed him to return to his bed room.
Later round 3 a.m., the boy opened his door and noticed his father crying. He noticed his father placing on his coat and stated he was taking the canine for a stroll. Later, he seen the canine was nonetheless within the sunroom.
James Schwalm was charged with first degree homicide in February 2023 demise of his spouse Ashley Schwalm.
Courtesy of Brampton Fireplace Division X
Two days after her physique was discovered, Schwalm informed police he believed it was nothing greater than a tragic crash and was cooperative with investigators. He stated his spouse had gone for an early morning hike and he or she hadn’t returned dwelling. Schwalm pointed to textual content messages between him and Ashley and had an alibi, saying he had taken the canine for a stroll simply previous to her leaving.
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In courtroom, he admitted to driving his spouse’s stays to the close by Alpine ski membership, dousing her in gasoline, driving the automobile over an embankment and lighting the automotive on hearth.
Second-degree homicide, which Schwalm pled responsible to, carries a compulsory life sentence. The difficulty the decide had been going through was the interval of parole ineligibility between 10 and 25 years.
In her sentencing submissions, Crown lawyer Lynne Saunders prompt a interval of parole ineligibility of 21 to 22 years could be applicable. Saunders additionally prompt that Schwalm shouldn’t be allowed to have any contact along with his kids till they flip 18.
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Whereas Schwalm doesn’t have a previous legal file, Saunders known as the circumstances of the case egregious, a horrific breach of belief and one which included analysis, planning, and execution. Saunders stated it additionally took gall to take a seat there among the many grieving whereas performing as a grief-stricken widower.
“He used his training as a firefighter as a tool towards hiding responsibility for her murder,” Saunders stated.
“This is an astonishingly heartless performance trying to divert suspicion from himself, allowing him to play the role of the grieving husband.”
Defence lawyer Joelle Klein stated a extra applicable interval of parole ineligibility could be 13 to 14 years, saying Schwalm has taken duty for his actions by pleading responsible and saving the household from a trial.
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Klein additionally stated Schwalm needs to be allowed to have contact along with his kids once they flip 16 years previous.
Fuerst finally dominated Schwalm don’t have any contact along with his kids till they’re 18 years of age.
Schwalm addressed the courtroom in November.
“I never thought I saw myself capable of these horrendous actions. I despise my actions and am haunted they continue to hurt the people I love and care for the most,” he stated.
“This path is not one I thought I could ever take but it is where I shamefully and sadly have put and forced others. This is where I need and deserve to be because of my terrible awful actions.”
© 2025 Ontario Chronicle, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
