ABC 20/20 “Footprints in the Snow” February 13 2026
ABC’s 20/20 returns with an all-new true crime special, Footprints in the Snow, premiering Friday, February 13, 2026, at 9/8c. In a case that rocked the quiet Ontario community of Collingwood and shocked the nation, the two-hour episode explores the brutal murder of Ashley Schwalm, a mother of two whose body was found in a burning vehicle during a snowstorm.
Reported by Juju Chang, the episode opens on a cold January morning in 2023. A passerby spotted a minivan engulfed in flames off a snowy road near the Blue Mountains. Inside the charred wreckage, authorities discovered human remains—later identified as 38-year-old Ashley Schwalm. What stood out to investigators almost immediately were the unmistakable footprints in the snow leading away from the driver’s door. It was clear this wasn’t an accident. Someone had walked away.
The investigation quickly turned toward Ashley’s husband, James Schwalm, a respected firefighter and father. The couple had appeared to have a storybook life—two kids, a beautiful home, and a picture-perfect wedding—but as investigators dug deeper, they uncovered cracks in the facade. Ashley had recently confessed to having an affair. Friends and family noticed signs of tension, and James had begun unraveling in private. What investigators soon discovered was a shocking plot involving deception, digital manipulation, and a carefully staged crime scene.
The 20/20 broadcast will include interviews with those closest to Ashley, as well as law enforcement officers who pieced together the truth from surveillance footage, GPS data, and forensic evidence. Viewers will hear how James Schwalm went to chilling lengths to make his wife’s death appear accidental, and how digital footprints—including suspicious text messages and a browser history filled with disturbing searches—ultimately led to his arrest.
James was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 20 years. In the courtroom, Ashley’s loved ones delivered emotional victim impact statements, describing the pain inflicted not just on them, but also on the couple’s two children.
Footprints in the Snow is a powerful story of betrayal, intimate partner violence, and the devastating cost of calculated decisions. The full episode airs Friday on ABC and will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
