RALEIGH, N.C. (TCN) – A 57-year-old science teacher was allegedly killed during a home invasion while she was on the phone with 911 dispatchers.
On Jan. 3, officers from the Raleigh Police Department were dispatched to a home after a call from the owner, 57-year-old Zoe Welsh, who said a man had broken in, WRAZ reports.
During the call, Welsh was attacked. When police arrived, they found Welsh, the chair of the science department at a private high school, suffering from life-threatening injuries. She was transported to a hospital and later died.
Police searched the area and apprehended Ryan Camacho, 36. He was arrested, taken into custody, and charged with murder and felony burglary, WRAZ reports.
According to WRAL, Camacho has a 20-year criminal history, including past break-ins.
Court documents obtained by WTVD note Camacho has been arrested more than two dozen times and escaped from prison in 2021.
The New York Post reports Camacho allegedly stalked Wes Phillips and his family for more than a year, eventually forcing them to move.
Phillips told the outlet Camacho allegedly damaged their property and displayed disturbing behavior, including finding their new home and standing outside staring, “like a horror movie.” He also allegedly damaged their car with a rock, attempted to get into their car, and shot a gun into their home. Though no one was injured, Camacho spent two years in prison for shooting into an occupied dwelling, according to the New York Post.
Phillips claims he contacted the police many times and requested a no-contact order, but Camacho never faced charges for harassing his family.
In December 2025 after another break-in, a judge denied a prosecutor’s request to institutionalize Camacho, WRAL reports.
Welsh was a described as a “cornerstone” of the science department at Ravenscroft school, where she had taught since 2006, WBTV reports. “Her loss is deeply felt by all of us who had the privilege of working with her and learning in her classroom,” the statement said.
Camacho appeared in court Jan. 5 and was denied bond, WRAL reports. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 26.
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