Harper Woods man accused of killing family while out on bond charged in another murder

DETROIT – A Harper Woods man accused of murdering his girlfriend, mom and stepfather final yr whereas out on bond is now going through a fourth homicide cost.

Jonathan Welch has been out and in of court docket over the previous yr as prosecutors construct a case towards him. Right here’s a take a look at the staggering timeline of occasions.

Welch was out on bond after being charged with attacking his girlfriend and mom of his son, Zlayiah Frazier on June 2, 2022, court docket data present.

Prosecutors stated Welch strangled Frazier with an extension twine, poured gasoline on her, tortured her with a red-hot spatula, after which sexually assaulted her.

Earlier: Harper Woods man stabbed mother with butcher’s knife, beat girlfriend, stepdad to loss of life, officers say

Welch was charged with seven crimes, together with torture, assault, and prison sexual assault.

As a substitute of being locked up with out bond, he was issued a $100,000 bond, or 10%, by Justice of the Peace Daybreak White, in line with data. Welch was in a position to pay $10,000 to get out of jail, authorities stated.

Prosecutors say, whereas on a tether, Welsh broke into his mom’s Harper Woods house and killed Frazier, his mom and his stepfather.

“That is the court docket’s worst nightmare, the worst potential state of affairs that would occur,” stated Choose Kenneth King, of thirty sixth District Courtroom throughout an emergency bond listening to final July. “The witness has been killed after the defendant was positioned on bond, given the good thing about being positioned on bond with home arrest.”

Learn: Harper Woods 7-hour standoff: 2 lifeless, mother stabbed, baby present in driveway, photographs fired at police

Now, prosecutors are charging Welsh with a fourth homicide. On June 4, 2022, the physique of Natayla Morse was discovered overwhelmed to loss of life.

Members of the family of all of the victims level to that low bond.

Native 4′s crime and security skilled Darnell Blackburn says police are more and more annoyed by low bonds, placing security in danger.

“You already know, it’s very irritating when you could have any person who’s vicious or accused of doing one thing very, very vicious to somebody and you’ve got sufficient info to get a warrant issued,” Blackburn stated. “The warrant will get issued. The prosecutor indicators it and it goes to the decide, and finally the decide offers this particular person a low bond. That’s very irritating and disheartening as a legislation enforcement officer to see one thing like that occurred.”

Welch was delivered to court docket once more for the fourth murder cost and is being held with out bond.

Additionally: Man accused of killing girlfriend in Harper Woods was launched on bail days earlier after beating her