DE inmate charged in 1975 murder of Maryland sisters

It took 40 years but it could be a gigantic step toward justice in the cold case of Shelia and Katherine Lyon.

“I am honored to report that my Commonwealth Attorney Randy Krantz obtained indictments charging Lloyd Lee Michael Welch Jr. with first degree felony murder.” Said Bedford County Virginia Sheriff Mike Brown.

It was 1975 when the Lyon sisters disappeared in Wheaton Maryland, meaning 40 years of investigating for Montgomery County Police.

“We paid attention to this for over the course of 40 years.” And This was something that had a enormous impact on this community and the feeling of safety for your children in this community.” Said Chief J. Thomas Manger with the Montgomery County Police Dept.

The man now charged Lloyd Lee Welch Jr. is actually already in prison.

Welch is in Kent County Delaware at James T Vaughn Correctional. He’s been there since 1998 when he was sentenced to 30 years for committing sex crimes against a child in New Castle.

Back in 1975, Welch was an 18 year-old carnival worker living in Wheaton.

Police say they have evidence that he targeted the Lyon sisters as they walked from their home to the Wheaton Plaza Mall.

That day was the last that anyone saw them.

As Montgomery County Police investigated the abduction, more than 200 miles away. In Bedford County Virginia, the sheriff’s office investigated a suspected homicide, searching around a property owned by Welch’s family.

Both of those initial investigations produced results but not enough to connect Lloyd to the girls’ disappearance.

For the next two decades, Welch laid low. According to the FBI the so-called drifter made his way across the U.S., stopping in 10 states over a 23 year period, even registering as a Tier 3 sex offender in South Carolina.

Then in 1998, Welch’s conviction in Delaware pinged the radar of the Montgomery County Cold Case Unit, which then redoubled its efforts, executing new search warrants, conducting interviews with family members, and studying in detail Welch’s known activities.

Now, 17 years after their investigation was rejuvenated it has culminated.

Randy Krantz, the Commonwealth Attorney for Bedford County commented on the progress made from the indictment, “It is our intent and it is our duty to not only bring justice to not only this community, but also and most importantly, to the Lyons family.”

Lloyd’s uncle, Richard Welch has been named as a second person of interest in the case. Right now, no charges have been announced.

Another one of Welch’s family members, Patricia Welch was indicted and is set to stand trial for perjury before the multi-jurisdictional grand jury.