Police investigate a home at 3038 Yarmouth Greenway Drive in Fitchburg, where two women were shot and killed Friday afternoon. Police have arrested former Dane County Sheriff's deputy Andy Steele in the deaths of his wife, Ashlee, and his sister-in-law, Kacee Tollesbol.
This photo of Andy and Ashlee Steele was posted on the fundraising website giveforward.com. The Steeles were attempting to raise money after Andy was diagnosed with ALS and had to retire from the Dane County Sheriff's Office earlier this year.
FITCHBURG — Former Dane County Sheriff’s deputy Andy Steele was arrested for the murder of his wife and sister-in-law, Fitchburg police announced late Saturday night.
Ashlee C. Steele, 39, and Kacee M. Tollefsbol, 38, were the victims of a double homicide at the Steeles’ home at 3038 Yarmouth Greenway Drive on Friday, the Dane County Medical Examiner’s office said.
The Steeles had been married for 16 years. Tollefsbol is listed as being from Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
Andy Steele, 39, was diagnosed in June with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and retired from the sheriff’s office.
Ashlee Steele began raising money in a campaign called Tough as Steele/Taking Down ALS for her husband’s upcoming care needs through a website called Give Forward. As of Friday, nearly a third of their goal of $75,000 had been raised through 257 individual donations.
Tollefsbol was involved in the Steeles’ fundraising effort. On the fundraising website, the Steeles are seen with their children, Jack and Rachael.
According to the website, Andy and Ashlee Steele met when they were 12 years old in Saginaw, Michigan, and attended college together at UW-Madison. They got married after graduation, and Steele went to work for the sheriff’s office.
Ashlee Steele worked for a financial institution until the couple had their two children then went back to work as a preschool teacher. According to her Facebook page, she taught at Christ Memorial Preschool in Fitchburg.
Earlier in the day, Fitchburg Mayor Shawn Pfaff had said that the incident was an isolated one and that there was no danger to the community. He described the investigation as “very complex and multifaceted.”
The fundraising website said “Andy is unable to work, and the loss of his income is crushing to the household finances.” It said the family was facing tens of thousands of dollars worth of bills for a specialized wheelchair, handicapped accessible vehicle and other expenses.
“The family needs help gathering funds to help cover these exorbitant out-of-pocket medical expenses,” the website said.
It added, “Andy and Ashlee are humbled by the amount of support they have received from their family and friends. They are grateful to be surrounded by so many amazing people.”
— Dee J. Hall, Ed Treleven, Dennis Punzel and Jason McMahon contributed to this report.
[ Editor's note: This story has been changed to reflect a correction. Due to incorrect information initially provided by the Dane County Sheriff's Office, Kacee Tollefsbol's name was spelled incorrectly. ]
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