A 12-person jury trial for the man accused of 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide in the August 30, 2024 death of 21-year-old UW-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh is scheduled to begin on December 15. The trial is expected to last seven days.

Chad T. Richards, 23, who was also a UW-W student, appeared in court by video at a hearing on February 18 at which time the trial was scheduled. Richards continues to be held in the Walworth County Jail on a $1,000,000 cash bond.

Richards and Welsh were in a relationship at the time of the shooting. According to the complaint, the two got into an argument. Richards claimed that Welsh grabbed the gun first and he took it away from her, then shot her because he feared for his life.

If found guilty, Richards would face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Editor’s note: Earlier stories in the Banner regarding this matter may be found here, here, and here.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com