Paul Murphy / Eyewitness News
Email: pmurphy@wwltv.com | Twitter: @pmurphywwl
SCHRIEVER, La. - In Terrebonne Parish a Schriever woman is in jail accused of killing her ex-husband.
Investigators say, Crystal Welch, 30, admitted to killing Chade Welch, 33, Wednesday night during a verbal confrontation that turned physical inside the home on Gabreten Lane.
Chade Welch died in the driveway with several gunshots wounds to the chest.
'Around 11:05 pm, detectives and deputies were called to the house in reference to a domestic disturbance that ended in a shooting, resulting in the death of Chad Welch,' said TPSO Chief of Detectives Major Malcolm Wolfe.
Neighbors say the love between the once happy young couple appeared to be long gone.
'They moved into the house together,' said Shriever neighbor Pam Pennison. 'I guess they split up and one time he came to the house and the police came and told him he had to leave and he was arguing with the police, so I think he really had a temper.'
Deputies arrested Cyrstal Welch and took her to the Terrebonne Parish Correctional Center where she was booked with one count of manslaughter.
They say it does not appear she was defending herself at the time of the shooting.
'From the evidence that we have and information that we're working with at this time, that was the proper charge we can prove at this time,' said Wolfe. 'I have no idea exactly what they were arguing about, but they've been divorced for what we understand, for about a month now.'
According to the sheriff's office, there was no protective order in place, but the Welch's did have a history of violence which included an arrest just this past June.
'There was a physical altercation where Mr. Welch was charged with simple battery and issued a misdemeanor summons,' said Wolfe.
The Welch's two small children were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
'I feel bad for them because they lost their father and now their mother is going to be in jail, it's going to be something hard for them to go through,' said Pennison.
The children are now staying with family members.
Crystal Welch remains in jail. Her bond is set at $100,000.
