WI - Kara Welsh, 21, Homicide, Shooting, Aug 30, 2024 (Arrest)

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georgiajean

georgiajean

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"Asuspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old gymnastics champion from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater."

""The suspect, a 23-year-old male, has been arrested and confined in the Walworth County Jail. The following charges are being forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney's Office at this time: First-Degree Intentional Homicide (Wis. Stat. 940.01(a)), Endangering Safety by the Use of a Dangerous Weapon (Wis. Stat. 941.20(1)(c)), and Disorderly Conduct while Armed (Wis. Stat. 947.01)," the Whitewater Police Department said in the press release."

""The incident occurred at 147 W. Whitewater Street apartment #203. The victim in this case has been identified as 21-year-old Kara Welsh of Plainfield, Illinois. This information was previously withheld until next of kin was formally notified," police said in the press release."
 
Suspect named.
www.jsonline.com

Suspect to appear in court in shooting death of UW-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh

Whitewater police Tuesday identified Chad T. Richards as a suspect in the death of UW-Whitewater student and champion gymnast Kara Welsh.
www.jsonline.com
"Whitewater police Tuesday identified Chad T. Richards as a suspect in the death of UW-Whitewater student and champion gymnast Kara Welsh."
"Richards is set to appear in Walworth Court Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon."
 
Photo of murder suspect from freshman year at the university.
1725384617458.png
"WISN-TV reported that Welsh’s friends say she was dating Richards and he “was helping her move into her apartment.”"
Richards is an athlete at the college, in the same academic major as KW, and also from Illinois.
 
Former wrestler at Whitewater University named as suspect in Kara Welsh's murder. Was not listed on last year's roster for wrestling.

www.wclo.com

Former UW-Whitewater wrestler named as suspect in murder of gymnast Kara Welsh

| By Big Radio News Staff | Whitewater police have identified Chad T. Richards, 23, of Loves Park, Illinois, as the suspect in the killing of UW-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh. Richards is scheduled to appear in Walworth
www.wclo.com www.wclo.com
1725384808652.png
 
Kara was a champion. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news...ast-kara-welsh-and-chad-richards/75057136007/
"A national champion and two-time All American, Welsh was one of the most decorated gymnasts in Whitewater history.
She competed in floor and vault, according to her roster page on the Whitewater Athletics website. Welsh holds four of the eight highest vault scores in Whitewater program history; she is tied for the highest vault score in program history. "
Another picture of this incredible human:1725385055569.png
""To put into words the impact Kara had on the Warhawk community is impossible," said Whitewater gymnastics coach Jen Regan. "A powerful athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone's dark days, Kara truly lifted each and every one of us up in her time as a Warhawk gymnast. There are no words to describe the void we all feel in our hearts, but Kara's legacy will live on through Warhawk gymnastics forever." "
 
GRT said:
I wonder if this was a case of her breaking up with him and him deciding that if he couldn't have her, no one could...
Click to expand...
I wonder the same thing. What kind of argument causes one person to pull out a gun and shoot someone several times?
Was it a case of she was more successful than him, and he was jealous/rageful.

There is no excuse for robbing this person, and everyone who knew her or would someday know her, of her life. And he has destroyed his own life, too.
 
flowershop said:
I am curious why CR stopped being a wrestler after the 2021-2022 school year.
Click to expand...
Could be a variety of reasons.

There are three Divisions of NCAA athletics.

Division 1 (the top level is comprised of very large schools, think of colleges like Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, etc) which is further divided into FBS and FCS sub-divisions. Division 1 schools can offer full ride scholarships for athletes.

Division 2 is somewhat smaller schools that can offer full athletic scholarships but these are rare. Most athletic scholarships at D2 schools are only partial scholarships.

Division 3 is generally smaller schools and D3 schools cannot offer athletic scholarships.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a Division 3 NCAA school so, CR was not getting an athletic scholarship. Maybe he just didn't find it worth the time and effort to participate since he wasn't getting a scholarship.

Maybe, he was just burnt out on wrestling. Many college athletes get burned out as they've been playing their chosen sport since they were young children. Our son played D3 football and he played all but his senior years as it was cancelled due to COVID. The number of kids that dropped out of football due to burn out was unbelievable over those four years.

Maybe he wasn't getting the opportunity to participate in as many wrestling meets as he thought he would/should. A lot of athletes will quit if they aren't getting the "play time" they think they deserve.

Additionally, going to college for a lot of kids is the first time they're away from home and they really embrace the party lifestyle. All the meetings, practices, weightlifting required to continue their chosen sport really gets in the way of partying ;)

Lastly, most (if not all) colleges require a minimum GPA to participate in sports. Maybe he wasn't able to maintain his grades to meet the minimum GPA requirement.
 
STLBlues said:
Could be a variety of reasons.

There are three Divisions of NCAA athletics.

Division 1 (the top level is comprised of very large schools, think of colleges like Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, etc) which is further divided into FBS and FCS sub-divisions. Division 1 schools can offer full ride scholarships for athletes.

Division 2 is somewhat smaller schools that can offer full athletic scholarships but these are rare. Most athletic scholarships at D2 schools are only partial scholarships.

Division 3 is generally smaller schools and D3 schools cannot offer athletic scholarships.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a Division 3 NCAA school so, CR was not getting an athletic scholarship. Maybe he just didn't find it worth the time and effort to participate since he wasn't getting a scholarship.

Maybe, he was just burnt out on wrestling. Many college athletes get burned out as they've been playing their chosen sport since they were young children. Our son played D3 football and he played all but his senior years as it was cancelled due to COVID. The number of kids that dropped out of football due to burn out was unbelievable over those four years.

Maybe he wasn't getting the opportunity to participate in as many wrestling meets as he thought he would/should. A lot of athletes will quit if they aren't getting the "play time" they think they deserve.

Additionally, going to college for a lot of kids is the first time they're away from home and they really embrace the party lifestyle. All the meetings, practices, weightlifting required to continue their chosen sport really gets in the way of partying ;)

Lastly, most (if not all) colleges require a minimum GPA to participate in sports. Maybe he wasn't able to maintain his grades to meet the minimum GPA requirement.
Click to expand...
I come from a family of wrestlers (along with other martial arts), and one thing that gets tough is maintaining weight to stay in certain weight classes. It's not easy, especially as the person gets older. Not sure that is going on here, but thought I'd toss that out as an idea.

I'm assuming more was going on in his life than maintaining weight, though....clearly.

jmo
 
STLBlues said:
On the 2021-2022 wrestling roster he is listed at 174 pounds.
Click to expand...
He seems a lot puffier in the face and neck than he did in his Freshman year photo. Maybe he put on a lot of weight after he stopped being on the team? Maybe the theory about being able to meet weight being a struggle is true?
Edited to add from this article: Chad Richards Murdered UW-Whitewater Gymnast Kara Welsh, Police Say
As a freshman, he was wrestling at 174.
2020-21: Record of 3-3 with three pins … posted a win by fall in 6:32 against Nolan Paar of UW-La Crosse at 174 pounds
As a sophomore, he was wrestling at 197.
2021-22: NCAA Upper Midwest Regional fifth place (197 pounds) …

That's a gain of 24 Pounds. Wonder what he weighs two years later?
 
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