Jonathan Welch

Serial Killer

Jonathan Welch: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Background

Jonathan Welch, born in 2000 in Detroit, Michigan, embarked on a violent spree in 2022 that led to the tragic deaths of four individuals. His criminal activities spanned from June to July 2022, primarily in Harper Woods, Michigan.

Timeline of Crimes

• Early June 2022: Welch murdered 24-year-old Natayla Morse by inflicting blunt force trauma to her head. He then stole her car and set it on fire. Morse's body was discovered in a field on Detroit's east side on June 4, 2022.
• June 12, 2022: Welch attacked his ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Zlayiah Frazier. He strangled her with an extension cord, poured gasoline on her, burned her with a heated spatula, and attempted to sexually assault her with a pole. Frazier managed to escape and sought help from neighbors. Welch was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including torture and sexual assault.
• July 8, 2022: Welch was released on a $10,000 bond, despite the severity of his previous charges. He was ordered to stay away from Frazier and was placed under GPS monitoring.
• July 10, 2022: Welch went on a killing spree at his mother's home in Harper Woods:
  • Robert Bray Jr. (70): Welch's stepfather, beaten to death inside the home.
  • Zlayiah Frazier (22): Welch's ex-girlfriend, beaten to death inside the home.
  • Flossie Nicole Bray (42): Welch's mother, stabbed multiple times as she attempted to flee to a neighbor's house. She succumbed to her injuries days later in the hospital.

Apprehension and Sentencing

Following the murders on July 10, 2022, Welch barricaded himself inside his mother's home, fired shots at responding officers, and set the house on fire. After a seven-hour standoff, he was arrested. Inside the home, officers discovered the bodies of Frazier and Bray Jr., as well as Welch's one-year-old son in the backyard, who was taken to a hospital for evaluation. In November 2023, Welch pleaded guilty to the murders. He was sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for one count of second-degree murder and 45-70 years for three additional counts of second-degree murder. These sentences are to be served concurrently, alongside a previous sentence for home invasion and torture related to the June 12 attack on Frazier. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Natayla Morse Age: (24), Date of Death: 2022-06-15

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Metro Detroit man sentenced to 45-70 years in prison for 3 killings

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