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AUTHORITIES TODAY ANNOUNCED first-degree murder charges against an imprisoned sex offender in the case of the disappearance of two sisters from a suburban Maryland mall in 1975, bringing some clarity to the baffling case that made parents question whether to allow children out of their homes alone.
12-year-old Sheila Lyon and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon walked from their house to the Wheaton Plaza Mall in March 1975. They never came home. No bodies were found.
After decades of investigating leads and periodically identifying suspects, officials say they now know who was responsible: Lloyd Lee Michael Welch Jr., 58, a child sex offender serving a lengthy prison term in Delaware.
He was indicted on the two first-degree felony murder charges by a grand jury on Friday, officials said. The indictment initially was sealed.
“We know what Katherine and Sheila were like. These were wonderful, wonderful, naive, young children,” said John McCarthy, the state’s attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland.
Inquisitr News / TwitterKatherine And Sheila Lyon Details: Authorities To Release New Details In 40-Year-Old Lyon Case http://t.co/qUMfbBcNl6
— The Inquisitr (@theinquisitr) July 15, 2015
At the time of the girls’ disappearance, Welch was an 18-year-old carnival worker and drifter who had been spending time in the Wheaton area. Authorities have established that he was at the mall the day the girls vanished and was seen paying attention to them.
Since last year, authorities have been searching a mountain in Bedford County, Virginia, about 200 miles from Wheaton, for their remains. The grand jury in that county handed down the indictment, and county Sheriff Mike Brown announced the charges on Wednesday.
If convicted, Welch could face 20 years to life in prison or could be put to death, said Randy Krantz, commonwealth’s attorney in Bedford County. He declined to elaborate.
Lloyd Welch had previously been named as a person of interest along with his uncle, 70-year-old Richard Welch. Richard Welch’s wife, Patricia, was charged with perjury after testifying before the grand jury in December.
Lloyd Welch denied involvement in the girls’ disappearance in a letter to The Washington Post. Richard Welch, who lives in Maryland, has declined to comment.
According to police affidavits obtained by The Post, Lloyd Welch told investigators that he left the mall with the two girls and that he saw his uncle sexually assaulting one of them at his home the next day. Lloyd Welch told investigators he left the home and never saw the girls again, according to the affidavits.
The Post also reported that Welch asked a relative in rural Virginia to wash bloody clothes that he was carrying in a duffel bag, according to a search warrant affidavit. Welch told the relative that the blood was from raw hamburger, but investigators believe that it could link him to the Lyon sisters’ presumed deaths, The Post reported, citing the affidavit.
Officials stressed today that the investigation remains active.
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RIP Johnny, You and The Horslips are the reason my band, Cruachan, exist! A legend, you’ll be sorely missed.
@Keith Fay: and Cruachán is a fantastic band..easy knowing The Horslips were a guide.
Irish guitar God! Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam!
Dearg Doom. Possibly the most recognisable Irish intro ever.
Ahh Jaysus that’s so sad, we all know the intro to Dearg Doom but his brilliant playing in Furniture The Snakes Farewell to the Emerald Isle and many others were so brilliantly haunting. He’s up there with Rory and Gary and sadly missed. RIP Johnny
One of the greatest. A very sad day. RIP Johnny
Sad day for Irish music , grew up with Horslips in the 70s , had the privelige of seeing them live in 77 , RIP Johnny .
Gutted, such a talent and a great loss. RIP Johnny
Sad to hear this. Saw Johnny and the boys many times growing up in Limerick, always a top show down at the Savoy. In that era he’d come out on his own for a solo, blast away on the Gibson and end it with an intro to Dearg Doom as the band kicked in and the crowd erupted. Remember him asking for a cigarette too once from stage and a virtual shower of them were thrown up for him. Different times, Horslips paved a path for so many that came after. Rock on Nightgown Boy.
Gutted. Ireland’s finest guitarist by a mile and easily among the best in the world. I’ll be waiting was an absolute gem…
Brilliant guitarist, will be sadly missed. I was so lucky to see them live a couple of times in the late seventies. Irish rock was so amazing. We had rory, lizzy, horslips on top of the world .
I am blessed I was able to bring my sons to see them in the 02 reunion tour.
Johnny and the boys rocked that night.
I loved Johnny’s playing. He was an integral part of what, for me, was Ireland’s best ever band. Back in the day, I travelled to see them on my Kawasaki whenever they played within a hundred miles of home. So many brilliant sounds, and absolutely loved the reunion gigs in 2009 (I think). Sincere sympathy to his family and fellow band members. May he rest in peace.
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