Authorities in Asheville are investigating a violent burglary and assault that left one woman dead and a man critically injured late Thursday night. Asheville police say the incident, which unfolded on Warren Avenue shortly after 10 p.m., has shaken the quiet neighborhood and prompted an intensive homicide investigation. Officers were first called to the area to assist EMS personnel with a man suffering from severe injuries, unaware that an even more tragic discovery awaited them nearby.
When officers arrived, they found a male victim with life-threatening wounds. Emergency responders rushed him to Mission Hospital, where he is receiving treatment. Police have not released his name or provided an update on his condition, but early reports indicate that his injuries were consistent with a violent assault. As officers worked to secure the scene and gather information, details emerged that led them to conduct a welfare check at another residence close by.
During that welfare check, detectives uncovered evidence of a forced entry and discovered the body of 45-year-old Jennifer Rose Gerard. Police confirmed that Gerard had died from stab wounds, and investigators quickly determined that her death was connected to the assault on the male victim. The grim findings transformed the case into Asheville’s fifth homicide of 2025, prompting authorities to launch a full-scale investigation into the circumstances leading up to the deadly attack.
Within a short time, officers identified 32-year-old Douglas Michael Stroupe as a suspect. Stroupe was located near the crime scene and was taken into custody without incident. Following interviews, evidence collection, and witness statements, police charged him with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and first-degree burglary. Stroupe was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.
Investigators are now working to piece together the sequence of events that led to the violent break-in and deadly confrontation. Police have not commented on a possible motive, nor have they disclosed whether the victims or suspect were known to one another. Detectives are continuing to interview witnesses, review evidence, and analyze the crime scene to determine what sparked the attack.
The Asheville Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward. Tipsters can contact police at 828-252-1110, submit information anonymously through the TIP2APD smartphone app, or text TIP2APD to 847411 as investigators continue to seek answers in this tragic case.
