Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old White woman from Plainfield, Illinois, was a beloved senior and standout gymnast at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. A management major, she was a celebrated member of the Warhawk gymnastics team, earning a national title on the vault in 2023 and two All-American honors during her decorated career. Her coach, Jen Regan, described her as a "powerful athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone's dark days." Friends and family remembered her for her vibrant personality, her sense of humor, and her unique ability to bring joy to everyone she met.
On the night of August 30, 2024, just as the new academic year was about to begin, the promising young athlete’s life was cut short. Police were called to an off-campus apartment in Whitewater, Wisconsin, just before midnight. Inside, they discovered Kara deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.
The news of her violent death sent shockwaves through the close-knit university community.
Present at the apartment and arrested at the scene was Chad T. Richards, a 23-year-old from Loves Park, Illinois, who was a former wrestler for the university. Richards, who was known to Kara, allegedly called 911 himself. According to the criminal complaint, he told investigators that he and Kara, whom he identified as his girlfriend, had been arguing. He claimed that during the altercation, Kara grabbed his gun from a nightstand and that he wrestled it away from her and shot her because he "feared for his life."
Richards was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed. A judge set his bond at $1 million, deeming him a flight risk and a danger to the public. In October 2024, Richards was bound over for trial in Walworth County after pleading not guilty to the charges. The case has since faced multiple postponements. After defense attorneys argued they needed more time to review extensive cellphone evidence, a judge reluctantly granted another delay from a planned June 2026 trial date. As of June 2026, the trial is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
