On a June evening in 1912, the life of 32-year-old Frank Welch, a White/Caucasian male, was cut tragically short in Aberdeen, Washington. Welch, who had been with the Aberdeen Police Department for a mere five months, was responding to what seemed like a routine call about a suspicious circumstance. A woman had reported hearing unusual noises outside her home, prompting Welch to investigate the source of the disturbance.
The residence belonged to John Creech, a prosperous lumberman in Grays Harbor, and his wife. Creech, consumed by suspicion that his wife was being unfaithful, had returned home early from a trip to Raymond. He laid in wait, anticipating the arrival of his wife's supposed suitor. As Detective Welch began to survey the area around the Creech home, looking for the cause of the reported noises, he was suddenly shot.
The shot that rang out in the quiet neighborhood was fired by John Creech himself. In a tragic case of mistaken identity, Creech had believed the approaching officer to be the man he suspected of having an affair with his wife. Mortally wounded, Detective Welch was rushed to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
In the wake of the shooting, John Creech was promptly arrested and faced a charge of murder. The case went to trial in the Grays Harbor Superior Court. However, despite the circumstances, a jury ultimately acquitted Creech of the murder charge, delivering a unanimous verdict that cleared him of legal responsibility for Detective Welch's untimely death. Frank Welch's brief but dedicated service to the community, which included prior law enforcement roles in Seattle and San Francisco, came to a sudden and violent end.
