Adam Dees of Nampa has pleaded guilty to killing the Welp family in their home in the Boise Foothills.
Dees admitted to stabbing, shooting, and beating Ted, Elaine and Tom Welp to death. He told the judge in court that it was over a robbery. All three people were found dead in their home on Cartwright Road on March 10th by police after a family member asked for a welfare check. The relative told police that they hadn’t heard for the residents of the home since March 8th.
![Ted and Elaine Welp[2]](https://adasheriffblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/ted-and-elaine-welp2.jpg?w=225&h=300)
(Ted and Elaine Welp)
When police arrived at the home Ada County Sheriff’ Gary Raney said “When I say this crime is heinous, that is probably an understatement. Somebody, who violently, without cause, without any provocation that I know of, killed three innocent people.”
The Welp Family released a statement shortly after that:
“We are deeply saddened by the unexpected and tragic loss of our beloved parents and brother. No words can adequately express the grief and despair we are feeling. These were kind, caring and generous people who meant so much to us and have been senselessly taken from us.
Please respect our family’s need for privacy during this difficult time. We truly appreciate the outpouring of love, condolences and prayers from family, friends and members of the community.
We would like to thank the Ada County Sheriff’s Office for handling this investigation professionally and compassionately. We urge anyone with information about our parents’ or brother’s deaths to please let detectives know. We pray the person or people responsible for this horrific crime are held accountable so we can have some understanding of what happened and why.”
22-year-old Adam Dees was arrested the next day, March 11th. Police say he was found with a gun on him and had credit cards belonging to the victims. He had already used those cards to purchase several items in the Treasure Valley. Police claim Dees also forged signatures when using the cards.
Other evidence against Dees included him trying to sell a wedding ring that was later found and identified as Elaine Welp’s wedding ring.
Prosecutors said in court on June 26th, that Dees told a gamer friend from Wisconsin that he had robbed a family and that they resisted. They also say a 9mm handgun was found at Dees’ home in a trashcan and it had blood from one of the victims on it. A broken bat was also found in a suitcase and it was covered in another victim’s blood.
Dees did tell the judge that he killed all three of the people over a robbery.
Dees will be sentenced August 28th. The judge did say that he will not get the death penalty though. Prosecutors say the plea was part of deal that will allow Dees to spend the rest of his life in prison.
