Chad Richards, former member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Wrestling team, He is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend, Carla Welsh, who was found dead in their Wisconsin apartment just before midnight on August 30.
Richards, 23, made his initial court appearance via video on Friday in Walworth County Court. First-degree intentional murder He also faces charges of endangering public safety by using a dangerous weapon and disturbing the peace.
The Whitewater Police Department has identified the suspect in the murder of Kara Welsh as Chad T. Richards, 23, of Loves Park, Illinois. (Whitewater Police Department)
Whitewater police responded to Richards' apartment just before midnight on Aug. 30 and discovered the body of 21-year-old Kara Welsh. Police initially reported that the victim had suffered a gunshot wound and that there had been an argument between the two prior to the fatal shooting.
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But a criminal complaint unsealed Friday revealed Welsh was shot multiple times.
Richards called 911 and later told investigators that Welsh had grabbed a gun from a nightstand and that the two were arguing. Richards allegedly “feared for his life,” so he grabbed the gun and shot Welsh, the complaint states.
Eleven shell casings were found inside the apartment, and the medical examiner found eight gunshot wounds to Welsh's neck, torso and other parts of his body, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
This photo provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater shows Carla Welsh, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student who was murdered Aug. 30, 2024, in an apartment near the university campus. (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater via The Associated Press)
All-American athlete at University of Wisconsin shot and killed days before classes start, suspect in custody
Richards, who is being held on $1 million bail, told investigators that Welsh was his lover.
According to online records, Richards was a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling team for two seasons, from 2020 to 2022. Welsh also attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and was a member of the gymnastics team.
“Words cannot express the impact Kara has had on the Warhawk community,” Head Coach Jen Regan said of the two-time national champion and All-American. “A strong athlete, a dedicated teammate and a light on everyone's dark days, Kara truly uplifted each and every one of us as Warhawk gymnasts. Words cannot express the emptiness we all feel in our hearts, but Kara's legacy will live on forever through Warhawk gymnastics.”
Police at the scene of the murder of Carla Welsh in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (WKOW)
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Welsh, a Plainfield, Illinois, native and business major at the school, won the national individual title on vault last year. NCAA Division III Championship.
Richards is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 26 for a preliminary hearing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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