Suspect delayed 911 call

Welch ‘deceased for some time’

As officials continue to investigate the fatal shooting of Charles Bryan Welch in his home at 4410 Granite Lake Road on Dec. 8, little information is being released in the case.

However, on Thursday, a week after police responded to the home, Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe confirmed that Welch died hours before his wife, Kristina L. Welch, 52, called authorities at 8:45 a.m. Dec. 8.

“He had been deceased for some time,” Bowe said carefully choosing his words.

Bowe declined to field other questions, citing the ongoing investigation. However, the sheriff indicated while there were no calls of a domestic disturbance before the 911 call, his officers are familiar with the Welch home as law enforcement had been summoned for other matters.

“There had been right-of-way and snow-plowing problems with neighbors,” Bowe said.

The Western News has sought to speak to neighbors, but a response has not been forthcoming.

The Welch home is on the north side of Granite Lake Road with a driveway on the eastern edge of the property. A neighbor’s driveway is immediately adjacent to the Welch driveway and property line.

A woman identifying herself as a neighbor of the Welches on The Western News’ Web site posted a comment indicating previous run-ins with the Welches. However, attempts to reach the family and messages left have gone unreturned.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene Dec. 8 shortly after Kristina Welch made a telephone call summoning police to find Welch deceased. It was at that time a call for an emergency ambulance was cancelled.

A preliminary hearing for Welch is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Welch is charged with deliberate homicide in the death of her husband who was found dead in the couple’s home when police arrived.

“There had been right-of-way and snow-plowing problems with neighbors,” Bowe said.

The Western News has sought to speak to neighbors, but a response has not been forthcoming.