Ryan Camacho: 911 transcript reveals Raleigh teacher Zoe Welsh recognized intruder in her home
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — ABC11 has obtained transcripts of a 911 call from the morning of the home invasion that left a Raleigh teacher dead.
The emergency call placed by Ravenscroft teacher Zoe Welsh revealed that she recognized her attacker.
“A man just broke in through the window. Uh, he is a homeless man, I have seen in the park at Fred Fletcher,” she told the dispatcher.
Welsh was assaulted by an intruder in her Clay Street home and later died from her injuries last Saturday morning.
“He hit me with a brick — he hit me with a brick. I’m on the floor in my bedroom. Please…” Welsh told the dispatcher.
WATCH | ABC11 Special: Zoe Welsh Murder Investigation
In this Eyewitness News special, we dive into the case and the investigation unfolding into the violent death of beloved Raleigh schoolteacher Zoe Welsh. We hear from authorities, neighbors, and friends who are still shocked and stunned by her murder.
The dispatcher then asked Welsh several times whether she was still there, but got no response.
Raleigh police officers arrived, and one of the officers quickly recognized Welsh’s injuries — a hemorrhage to the left side of her head.
She was taken to a hospital where she later died.
The suspect was later identified as 36-year-old Ryan Camacho, a man with a long criminal history in Wake and Durham counties.
Police said the audio from the call will not be released.
Some neighborhood residents said they still felt uneasy.
“I feel like I need to be protected. I’m not walking here with anything to protect myself, but I’m definitely more on watch than I usually am,” said Anna Ferton, a neighbor who was walking her dog. “Definitely makes you think a little bit more about the neighborhood. You feel like this is a safe, quiet neighborhood, and things like this don’t really happen that much. But I’ve definitely been on guard.
“This is my first time walking, walking outside since instead of walking on my own,” she added. “It’s definitely been more quiet. I haven’t seen as much presence out on the dog walk. So I think people are trying to stay inside, stay away from any kind of danger. We’ve been locking our doors, double locks, and installing cameras around the house. So definitely everyone is on guard now.”
Ferton, who lives just a few houses away, said it’s common to see people she assumes are homeless frequent the park.
SEE ALSO: ‘She should still be with us’: Former colleague of Zoe Welsh remembers her as ‘good friend’
Welsh was killed in her home during a reported break-in and an outpouring of support has started online.
“There’s a beautiful park here, and there will be people, you know, sleeping on the benches or whatever. Most of them are just people that are down and out,” she said.
Of Camacho, Ferton said, “This man should not have been on the streets. Instead of letting this wait and escalating to the point that someone has to die.”
Now, there are more calls for community policing in this area. It’s an approach Ferton supports.
“I would think it would be great to have a little bit more during the weekdays, especially at night, in the evenings, and early mornings,” she said.
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