Overview of Talking Dateline: Running Man
This episode of Talking Dateline (hosts Blaine Alexander and Andrea Canning) discusses the Dateline episode “Running Man,” which investigates the 2023 death of Ashley Schwalm — whose burned remains were found in a car at the bottom of a ditch — and the subsequent arrest and prosecution of her firefighter husband, James. The conversation covers the crime scene and evidence, the investigation (including surveillance and reenactments), community reaction, an extra interview about a memorial fundraising effort (the Sunflower Fund), and listener questions answered by Dateline producer Lynn Keller.
Episode summary
The core crime
- Ashley Schwalm’s remains were found inside a burned-out car in a ditch in 2023. Investigators initially considered accident vs. foul play.
- Evidence pointed to murder: an unusually intense fire (flames reportedly around 30 feet high) and staging inconsistent with a survivable crash.
- James Schwalm, a fire captain, ultimately confessed; investigators say he had planned the murder and attempted to stage it as an accident.
Investigation and key evidence
- Surveillance footage showed a “running man” leaving the scene; investigators used reenactments and mapping of James’s claimed dog-walking route to test his account.
- Detectives noted James’s performance was convincing — “he deserves an Oscar” — but physical evidence contradicted parts of his story.
- Important forensic/scene details:
- Lighter found in the car (an odd and incriminating detail given his profession and knowledge of fire).
- Track marks in deep snow indicated someone left the vehicle even if footprints weren’t visible.
- The front-door Blink camera was reportedly turned off remotely; police believe James returned the dog (Rocco) to the house before leaving.
- A backpack worn by the runner wasn’t recovered; investigators think it may have been dumped near an old motel site.
Motive, relationships, and dynamics
- James was a well-regarded firefighter, which amplified community shock and disbelief.
- An extramarital affair with a woman named Alexandra surfaced during the investigation — a twist that complicated the narrative and drew attention to motive and relationships.
- Andrea and interviewees discussed possible narcissistic and image-focused tendencies in James (obsession with outward appearances, inability to accept the affair).
- Family impact: the arrest and events were particularly traumatic for the couple’s young children, who witnessed or learned of the arrest and loss.
Memorial, community response, and advocacy
- Extra clip: Samantha Jones (executive director, My Friend’s House — a women and children’s shelter) discussed a memorial hike in Ashley’s honor and the creation of the Sunflower Fund.
- Sunflower Fund supports child & youth programming, therapeutic services, camps, and resources for children affected by domestic violence.
- The memorial drew family, friends, and police service members, emphasizing community grief and commitment to preventing domestic violence.
Behind the scenes / production notes
- Andrea Canning shares personal connections: she grew up in the region (Collingwood area), returned to her old station and clips were used in the episode; her father, Gord Canning, is memorialized with a street name.
- Producer Lynn Keller described production logistics: reporting in Collingwood and travel to the Bahamas to interview Ashley’s father (weather complicated some shooting but key moments were captured).
- The episode aimed to handle the story delicately while showing how a small community was blindsided by someone they trusted.
Audience questions & clarifications (from social media)
- The dog Rocco: Police believe James turned off the front-door camera remotely, returned the dog to the house, then drove away. Rocco has since been rehomed.
- Footprints/track evidence: Deep snow covered footprints; investigators saw track marks and other signs that someone left the vehicle.
- The missing backpack: Not recovered. Police suspect it was dumped near an old motel location where surveillance tracked James that day.
- Color/identity of the runner: Viewers debated clothing colors in footage; police didn’t attribute a color match as decisive evidence.
- Ashley’s mother: She died of cancer in 2004.
Key takeaways & resources
- The case combined careful forensic work, surveillance analysis, witness interviews, and the crucial welfare-check call from a teacher that moved the investigation forward.
- Community trust was deeply shaken because the suspect was a respected first responder; fellow firefighters later required counseling and therapy after the revelations.
- Where to watch/listen: the Dateline episode “Running Man” is available on Peacock and the Dateline podcast feed; Dateline airs Fridays on NBC.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): 1‑800‑799‑7233
- Online resources: thehotline.org
- For viewer engagement: Dateline invites questions and video DMs via their social channels @DatelineNBC.
Notable quote
- Investigator (noted in the discussion): “I was immediately struck by just how hot that fire was. I knew immediately that that’s not something that’s normal.”