A Detroit man accused of killing his girlfriend, mother and stepfather in Harper Woods last summer has been charged with another murder.
Jonathan Welch, 23, was arraigned Thursday morning on one count of first-degree murder for the death of 24-year-old Natalya Morse of Detroit last June.
Detroit police were called to a home on Lenox Street on June 6, 2022 after someone found Morse’s body in a field. She had been killed by blunt force trauma, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors allege two days prior Welch killed Morse and took her car to the area of Lappin and Beland Streets, where he set it on fire. More details on the case, including how Morse was killed, will be disclosed during his preliminary exam, which has been set for next month.
Authorities did not release a possible motive in the case.
Welch was also charged with one count of unlawful driving away of an automobile and one count of arson of a motor vehicle in connection with Morse’s death.
Welch was already in custody, charged with three other murders, accused of killing his mother, stepfather and girlfriend on July 10.
Authorities said last summer Welch had been out on bond after allegedly brutally torturing his girlfriend, 22-year-old Zlayiah Frazier.
Prosecutors alleged Welch woke Frazier while he was sexually assaulting her around 3 a.m. on June 2 – just two days before he allegedly killed Morse – Authorities say Welch went on to strangle her with an extension cord, poured gasoline on her body and burned her arms and legs with a hot metal spatula.
He also allegedly tried to sexually assault Frazier with a large pole, beat her with a belt and threatened her with a drill.
Frazier was eventually able to escape and make it to the neighbors’ house, authorities said last summer.
He was released on bond on Friday, July 8. Just two days later he allegedly carried out a deadly attack on Frazier, his 42-year-old mother, Flossie Bray, and 70-year-old stepfather, Robert Bray.
Welch is accused of stabbing his mother in the back multiple times with a butcher knife and killing Frazier and Bray with blunt force trauma. His mother died several days after the attack.
When police showed up Welch barricaded himself inside the Harper Woods home. He was taken into custody after setting fire to the home.
After setting up a perimeter around the home, authorities found Welch’s 1-year-old son in the backyard. The baby was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Prosecutors did not say whether Morse’s death is tied to the other murders.
Down the Audacy app and follow 97.1 FM Talk.
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok
Related
