At the time of Eileen's disappearance in 1974, I thought she had disappeared from downtown DC, from the Justice Department building. ...
When I saw that Lloyd Lee Welch, the announced POI in the Lyon sisters case earlier this year, had lived on Rte. 1 in Hyattsville in April of 1975, that seemed pretty significant to me. I also noted that he is said to be in Austin, TX in January of 1975 -- sounds like he got out of town after the murder? The fact that he was possibly as young as 18 doesn't really disqualify him IMO. However, the thing that DOES make him pretty unlikely is his history of homelessness and living in shelters, etc. Since Eileen appears to have been kept for several days while still alive, I can't see Welch fitting that bill.
In fact, the fact that Eileen was kept for several days before being murdered is problematic for a lot of potential suspects. I know Fred Howard Coffey, Jr. is one possible suspect, but wouldn't he have to have transported her from wherever he grabbed her to his hotel room in Gaithersburg and then into DC? Richard would know more about his various living situations. And how well did he know the Maryland area outside of northern Montgomery County?...
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You mention only two of many potential suspects discussed in the Lyon Sisters Topic. But interestingly they are the only two ever named by MCP in press conferences as potential "persons of interest" in the 1975 case of the missing Lyon Sisters, Sheila and Kate.
Unfortunately not a lot is known about the specific haunts of either Lloyd Welch or Fred Coffey in early 1975. Each had an "official" address, but each could have had other lodging situations as well.
As you point out, Lloyd Welch was somewhat of a homeless individual who hitch hiked or walked almost everywhere he went. He may have stayed with friends, at shelters, in abandoned buildings, etc in his roamings. His mother lived in a house on Route 1, just east of the Bladensburg Peace Cross, and just inside the city limits of Hyattsville. He is known to have given that address to police on or about 1 April 1975 when he may have called in a "tip" to police regarding the Lyon sisters' disappearance.
Welch may have been in the area when Eileen Kelly was abducted and murdered. He is known to have worked or lived in DC as well as in Maryland. Mass transit (ie busses and trains) would have been his choice next to walking and hitch hiking. He did not have a drivers license.
Welch is currently in a Delaware Prison, convicted of molesting a young girl. He had other charges over the years such as assult with a deadly weapon, driving without a license, and burglary.
Fred Coffey is a bit more elusive regarding his travels, homes, etc. He was discharged from the US Navy on 17 September 1974 in Norfolk, VA. This followed his conviction on charges that he raped a 13 year old girl in Virginia Beach some time prior. Coffey lived in Virginia Beach, but his mother lived in Bristol, VA. He was known to also have ties to Kentucky and North Carolina, with relatives or friends in all places.
Fred Coffey was known to be in Aspen Hill/Wheaton/Rockville Maryland as early as 1 April 1975 when he interviewed at VITRO Laboratories. By 23 April 1975, he started full time work with VITRO. He owned several motor vehicles and did a lot of traveling in them.
Where he was between 17 September 1974 and 1 April 1975 has not been established, but he could have been in the Maryland area earlier than April 1975, since he subsequently got hired by Vitro.
Coffey listed the Holiday Motel (NOT associated with the Holiday Inn), a small motel in Rockville as his address when applying to VITRO, but it is also possible that he later found lodgings closer to his job.
Coffey left the area very suddenly on or about 28 July 1975 without notifying his employer. This was in the wake of a violent attack on a 15 year old girl named Kathy Lynn Beatty in Aspen Hill, MD very close to the Vitro Laboratories buildings. She was left for dead, but actually clung to life in a coma for 12 days before succombing to her injuries.
Coffey is serving a life sentence in North Carolina (since 1986) for the 1979 murder of 10-year-old Amanda Ray. He has also had numerous convictions involving molestation of children at various times and places.
More can be seen on these individuals in the Lyon Sisters Topic in the Missing Forums.