4/16/15
Update:
A Nampa man facing murder charges for a triple homicide in the Boise Foothills will be in court again today.
Adam Dees faces 3 counts of 1st degree murder for beating, shooting, and stabbing three people to death in their home on Cartwright Road last month.
Dees will have the opportunity to enter a plea during that hearing.
The Ada County Prosecutor says they haven’t decided whether to seek the death penalty or not, but they have 60 days to do so after Dees enters a plea.
If the death penalty is not sought, then Dees faces up to life in prison.
Dees assigned public defender, judge grants no bond
ORIGINAL STORY: Police say 2 men and a woman were found dead inside a home on Cartwright Raod after a family member called police to report suspicious circumstances. The family member said they hadn’t heard from the three people in a few days.
Police say there were signs of a violent struggle and foul play is suspected.
Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney says he has not seen a bloodier or more violent crime in his 31 year career. “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. We are working 24 hours a day with everything we’ve got to put that person in jail.”
Deputies arrested 22-year-old Adam Dees of Canyon County Wednesday March 11th around 3:30 at a Best Buy in Boise. He has been charged with 6 felony counts including grand theft and forgery, as well as, a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Police say Dees was found with a black 2003 Subaru Legacy with a gold panel on the bottom which is suspected to have been in the area around the time of the murders.
Sheriff Raney says they were led to Dees after he was trying to sell a wedding ring. Dees told police it was actually an engagement ring. Sheriff Raney says the ring was found Friday, March 13th and it does belong to Delores (Elaine) Welp, one of the victims.
Sheriff Raney said after they found the ring he feels comfortable telling the community “they can sleep peacefully tonight.”
The Ada County Coroner identified the three victims as 80-year-old Theodore Welp, 77-year-old Delores (Elaine) Welp, and their son, 52-year-old Thomas Welp.
The Welp Family released a statement that says:
“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.”
(Pictures provided by the Welp Family)
The Welps had just moved to Idaho recently from Arizona. Ted was the former chief of Tuscon Electric Power Co. in the 1980s. He was blamed by some for the financial downfall of the company.
The Arizona attorney general’s office launched an investigation into the financial dealings but the probe resulted in no criminal charges. Investigators said no clear conspiracy or fraudulent acts could be proven.
On Thursday, March 12th, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office searched Dees home for evidence according to spokesperson Patrick Orr. Police were seen leaving the home with guns and other items which were marked with yellow evidence numbers.
Dees has since made his first court appearance. Prosecutors say Dees was found with three stolen credit cards from the victims at a Best Buy in Boise when he was arrested. Police say he was trying to a purchase a car stereo at the Best Buy. Police were tipped off to the stolen cards, when a store at the Boise Towne Square Mall called them when they noticed Dees using the cards with victim’s names earlier that same day. He was allegedly signing the victim’s names on the receipts.
Dees’ defense attorney says his client is bi-polar and schizophrenic. Dees was then been placed on suicide watch.
If you have any information on the murders you are asked to call police at 577-3701. That’s the tip line number. You can remain anonymous.
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