Star college gymnast, 21, shot dead in off campus home, 23-year-old boyfriend arrested

Loved ones are completely shattered by the “heartbreaking” death of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old star gymnast, who was shot to death by a man identified by college friends as her boyfriend.

The national champion was found dead in her off-campus apartment on August 30, and a friend of the couple says he “beats” himself up for not sharing “just one more” moment that maybe “could change” what happened.

Keep reading to learn about Welsh’s tragic death.

On Saturday August 31, Sierra Brooks learned Kara Welsh, her best friend and former teammate, was shot to death the night before.

“I can’t even wrap my head around how someone could do this, let alone to such a beautiful person,” she writes in a tribute to the 21-year-old Welsh, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) student who was majoring in business and economics.

Welsh, a gymnast, also won an individual title on the vault in 2023.

According to a statement, the student, from Plainfield, Illinois, was found dead in an off-campus apartment about 11:54 p.m. on August 30.

She was shot multiple times.

When police arrived, a 23-year-old male who was known to Welsh was also in the home and “it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two.”

‘Heartbreaking’

“Absolutely heartbreaking to receive a phone call like this one. Kara, you deserved the world and more,” shares Brooks, who in her earlier years trained with Welsh at the Aspire Gymnastics Academy. “Wish I could just see you one more time. Wish I could laugh with you just one more time. Wish I could hug you one more time.”

Aspire also shared several photos of the star gymnast along with a touching tribute for the young woman on their Facebook site.

“As Kara grew, so did Aspire. She was a constant in a sport that is filled with ups and downs. She was full of life and full of personality,” the training center writes. “Kara had a way of communicating through facial expressions that was second to none. Aspire lost a piece of its heart today. Kara, we love you.”

Corey King, chancellor at UWW, released a statement on August 31 and calling Welsh “a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team,” he shares that “news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community.”

“I hate that evil touched this sweet girl’s life,” writes a friend on Facebook, who shares the tribute posted by Aspire. Referring to Welsh’s sister Kaeli, the netizen continues, “The Welsh girls showed us how to be gym sisters but so much more. Kara was all heart. The loss is unfathomable.”

‘I beat myself up’

Police have not yet released the name of the suspect as he has not yet been officially charged.

But friends reveal the pair were dating, and the man, identified as Chad Richards, was helping Welsh move into her apartment.

“Sometimes I beat myself up, if I was able to see them that day maybe…just one more joke one more memory we could make…could change…” says Brayten Wilkerson, a friend of both Welsh and the suspect, who was a member of UWW wrestling team. Speaking with ABC affiliate WISN, Wilkerson continues, “Kara was a sweetheart. She was one of the best people you could meet. Her family did a great job raising her – a wonderful woman.”

The Father of These Hollywood Stars Once Disowned Them, Saying They Were ‘Dead’ to Him

Years of public scrutiny surround a Hollywood family’s rift involving a once-celebrated father and his children. After a painful estrangement, whispers of reconciliation have emerged. Can the wounds of the past truly heal?

The father, a musician and actor, enjoyed fame in the ’70s but faced personal turmoil as tensions rose with his children amid the glitz. What began as a passionate romance with their mother in 1975 quickly soured, leading to their divorce in 1981. While initially devoted to his children, his absence grew, exacerbated by their mother’s rising fame and new relationship.

By 2015, the situation exploded when the eldest child posted a scathing Father’s Day message on Instagram: “Happy Abandonment Day.” The father reacted with heartbreak, claiming betrayal and mourning the loss of his children. He blamed their mother for fostering a narrative that painted him as an absent parent, accusing her of “parental alienation” and insisting he tried to maintain a relationship.

As the siblings found success in Hollywood, the estrangement became public. The daughter honored her mother’s partner on Father’s Day, deepening their father’s feelings of rejection. He declared that he no longer recognized them as his children, claiming he had “set them free.”

Despite the pain, Bill Hudson often reflected on the love he once had for his children, cherishing memories of their early years together. He expressed sadness over their separation, particularly following the Father’s Day posts that struck him deeply.

Kate and Oliver Hudson have voiced their complex feelings about their father. Kate has noted that while the estrangement is difficult, she harbors no resentment and has expressed a desire for his happiness. Oliver initially reacted with sarcasm but has since indicated an openness to reconnecting.

In May 2024, Bill confirmed that steps toward reconciliation were underway, stating, “We are warming up.” The family appears to be mending their fractured relationship through small gestures of understanding, signaling hope for a fresh start after years of hurt.

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