Zoe Welsh, Raleigh, North Carolina teach at Ravenscroft School killed during home robbery attempt by career criminal, Ryan Camacho. Suspect had more than 20 arrests and had recently been released from jail.
A Raleigh, North Carolina teacher has died after cops say a man with an extensive criminal record broke into her apartment in an attempted burglary, Saturday morning.
Zoe Mullin Welsh, called 911 around 6:33 a.m., from her home on Clay Street to report that a man was inside her home. While Welsh was on the phone, the suspect attacked and beat her.
When officers arrived, they found Welsh with life-threatening injuries. Welsh was taken to a hospital, where she later died according to a release from the Raleigh Police Department.
Ravenscroft teacher killed during home burglary invasion
Police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Ryan Camacho and charged him with Welsh’s murder and felony burglary,
There is no indication if Camacho and Walsh knew each other.
Welsh was a science teacher at Ravenscroft School and was the chair of the science department.
‘I am deeply heartbroken for this mother, friend, and mentor to many in our community, and for the unimaginable trauma her family must endure,’ said Rico Boyce, Raleigh Police Chief in a statement. ‘We extend our deepest sympathy to Ms. Welsh’s family during this incredibly difficult time.’
In a statement, the school said Welsh was a cornerstone of the school’s science department and the Ravenscroft community for years, ABC11 reported.
‘Her loss is deeply felt by all of us who had the privlege of working with her and learning in her classroom,’ the school said.
Suspect had more than 20 prior arrests
According to court documents, Camacho has a lengthy criminal history going back more than a decade in both Wake and Durham counties. Court records show Camacho has been arrested more than 20 times, WRAL News reported.
In many of those cases, Camacho was either charged with a misdemeanor or the cases were dropped altogether.
Camacho was arrested in 2021 after escaping from state prison in Salisbury. Two years earlier, he pleaded guilty to shooting into occupied property. It remained unclear how recently he had been released and whether he had served out his full jail sentence.
Police said their investigation is ongoing. Camacho is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
The school added it will be providing grief counseling and support resources for faculty, staff and students when they return to campus on Monday.
