Troutman woman accused of helping husband in deadly home invasion

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A Troutman woman is facing numerous charges after her husband was shot and killed by police Saturday night during a standoff.

Ashlee Klepfer allegedly helped her husband, Michael Strawser, in a deadly home invasion on Oswalt Amity Road outside Mooresville, deputies said.

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Two men were found shot to death, allegedly by Strawser. The victims were identified as Eduardo Cordova and Caleb Loper.

Investigators said Klepfer let four teenagers in her home to have access to firearms during the standoff. Loved ones told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty one of the teens was Klepfer’s son and the others were his friends.

Deputies say they had to use tear gas to get the teenagers to come out. Investigators say Strawser went out the back door wearing a ballistic vest and fired at deputies, who returned fire and killed him.

Authorities got warrants for Klepfer on Tuesday and arrested her during a traffic stop in Statesville. Her 15-year-old son, who had a loaded gun and methamphetamine, was in the car with her.

But friends don’t believe Klepfer was involved in the killings or was even there.

“I really don’t,” one friend said. “I would be absolutely shocked if she was really there. ‘Cause I know she would do anything she could to stop him.”

Klepfer was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center and was charged with felony accessory after the fact, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, five counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and four counts of misdemeanor fail to secure firearm from a minor.

She remains in jail without a bond. Klepfer was already out on bond after being charged with a school attendance law violation.

The juvenile was also taken into custody and a secure custody order was issued by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

More charges are expected in the investigation.

Loved ones said Strawser served two tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but friends said he struggled after getting out of the service. They never thought it would lead him to kill two people.

“I’m still shocked about it,” a friend said. “Just like me or you most of the time. I just don’t think he was taking care of himself and taking his medication.”

One of the investigators told Faherty a third victim who was shot remains in critical condition at the hospital. Deputies say they want to talk with him once he recovers.

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