Zoe Welch, 32

What happened

Welch was found dead in her Raleigh home in January 2026 from blunt force trauma to the head. Camacho — free after Judge Mitchell's April 2025 reduction of his four felony breaking-and-entering charges to misdemeanors — was arrested and charged with her murder. The case has become a major issue in the 2026 NC Senate race involving Cooper.

The release decision

On April 15, 2025, Ryan Camacho was charged with four counts of breaking and entering. District Court Judge Dorothy Hairston Mitchell ordered the release on April 15, 2025. Terms: charges reduced from felony to misdemeanor; released. Prosecutors had asked for felony charges with detention. The defendant had 20 prior arrests at the time.

The defendant's record

20 prior arrests on his record at the time of the April 2025 hearing. Charged in April 2025 with four counts of breaking and entering — reduced to misdemeanors by Judge Mitchell, which allowed release.

Sources

• North Carolina teacher's killing reignites scrutiny of Roy Cooper's criminal justice record in Senate race, Fox News
• Man with criminal past remained free before NC teacher's death, retired judge shares why, WRAL
• Meet the Violent Career Criminals Who Received Reduced Bail, Washington Free Beacon