Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old star gymnast, has left her loved ones devastated after she was shot and killed. College friends have identified the person responsible as her boyfriend.
Kara, a national champion, was found dead in her off-campus apartment on August 30. A friend of the couple said he wishes he had spent “just one more” moment with her, hoping it could have “changed” what happened.
On August 31, Sierra Brooks, Kara’s best friend and former teammate, learned the tragic news that Kara had been shot the night before.
“I can’t believe someone could do this, especially to such a beautiful person,” Sierra wrote in a tribute to Kara. Kara was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she was majoring in business and economics.
In 2023, Kara won an individual gymnastics title on the vault.
Kara Welsh, a student from Plainfield, Illinois, was found dead in her off-campus apartment around 11:54 p.m. on August 30. She had been shot several times.
When police arrived, they found a 23-year-old man, who knew Kara, in the home. It was determined that an argument had taken place between the two before the shooting.
“Heartbreaking”
Sierra Brooks, Kara’s friend who trained with her at Aspire Gymnastics Academy, shared her grief. “Absolutely heartbreaking to get a call like this. Kara, you deserved so much more. I wish I could see, laugh, and hug you one more time.”
Aspire Gymnastics Academy posted several photos of Kara along with a tribute on their Facebook page.
“As Kara grew, so did Aspire. She was a steady presence in a sport full of ups and downs. She was full of life and personality,” the center wrote. “Her facial expressions spoke volumes. Aspire lost a part of its heart today. Kara, we love you.”
Corey King, the chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW), released a statement on August 31, calling Kara Welsh “a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team.” He added that “news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community.”
A friend on Facebook also expressed sorrow, sharing a tribute posted by Aspire Gymnastics Academy. “I hate that evil touched this sweet girl’s life,” they wrote. Referring to Kara’s sister Kaeli, they added, “The Welsh sisters showed us what it means to be gym sisters, but so much more. Kara was all heart. This loss is unimaginable.”
‘I beat myself up’
The police have not yet released the suspect’s name, as he has not been officially charged.
However, friends revealed that Kara was dating the man, identified as Chad Richards, and he was helping her move into her apartment.
Brayten Wilkerson, a friend of both Kara Welsh and the suspect, expressed his sorrow, saying, “Sometimes I beat myself up, thinking if I had seen them that day, maybe… just one more joke, one more memory, could have changed things.” Wilkerson, a member of the UWW wrestling team, told ABC’s WISN, “Kara was a sweetheart. She was one of the best people you could meet. Her family raised her to be a wonderful woman.”
A GoFundMe organizer shared that loved ones are “deeply saddened” by Kara’s death. They said, “Kara had a special ability to bring joy to everyone she met, always making people smile with her sense of humor, support, and kind personality.”
“Kara, 21, was looking forward to her senior year as a gymnast at UW-Whitewater, but her life was tragically cut short on August 30 by a senseless act of violence.”
The Whitewater Police Department stated that charges for first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed are being sent to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.
Shocking Truth Behind Riley Strain’s Death Finally Unveiled!
Riley Strain’s cause of death has been confirmed by an autopsy report obtained by TMZ.
According to the report, the 22-year-old college student died from drowning and alcohol poisoning. His death was ruled an accident.
This news comes three months after Strain’s mother shared her son’s final text message.
Strain, a senior at the University of Missouri, went missing in early March during a trip to downtown Nashville with his fraternity brothers.
The night he disappeared, Strain was asked to leave Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink. Although his friends didn’t see him again after he left the bar, surveillance cameras, including a police officer’s body camera, spotted him several times before he vanished.
One of Strain’s friends called the police the next day to report him missing. Authorities started searching for him, but it wasn’t until March 22, two weeks after Strain was last seen, that they received a report of a body in the Cumberland River.
Officials confirmed the body was Riley Strain. He was found eight miles from where he was last seen.
#BREAKING: Riley Strain Press Conference:
-Around 7:28am, worker discovered body
-When removing an object from river, the body surfaced
-Fire Department retrieved body
-Medical Examiner reviewed body, confirmed to be Riley Strain
-Family has been contacted
-No signs of foul play… pic.twitter.com/ZeBrwJeDou— Alex Caprariello (@alcaprari23) March 22, 2024
The Tennessee Chief Medical Examiner’s report showed that Riley Strain had Delta 9 (a component of marijuana) in his system and his blood alcohol level was .228.
The autopsy also noted that there were no significant signs of injury.
When I first heard about Riley Strain, I hoped so much that he would be found alive. It’s so tragic that his life ended this way. Every day, I continue to pray for his family.
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