SAGINAW, MI – A jury found a Wayne County man guilty of killing his wife outside their Buena Vista Township home, wounding her with bullets despite the gun repeatedly jamming. However, the jury found that he had not acted premeditatedly, meaning he has a chance of being free again one day.
Jurors in the trial of Deandre R. Welch, 42, began deliberating on Monday, October 21 and returned their verdicts the same day. They convicted Welch of second-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, fleeing and eluding police and nine firearms offenses. They found him not guilty of one charge, namely possessing a dangerous weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The sentences follow the April 2022 death of Margaret C. Welch, 32, of Saginaw, who lived in Westland, Wayne County, for the last few years of her life.
“The case has been adjourned several times and it is nice to finally get justice for the victim’s loved ones,” said Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Blair N. Stevenson.
Although second-degree murder is a life sentence offense, it does not negate the possibility of parole as does a first-degree murder conviction. Jurors could consider any grade. Multiple weapons charges also result in subsequent prison sentences.
Welch was also convicted for a fourth time of a habitual offense, meaning his sentence will be at least 25 years.
Defense attorney William D. White and client Deandre R. Welch during the latter’s preliminary hearing on June 29, 2022. Welch is charged with open murder and 12 other counts in connection with the April 9, 2022, death of his wife, Margaret Welch.
During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa J. Hoover cited Deandre Welch’s own testimony to police shortly after his arrest, in which he said he shot his wife after his gun jammed three times.
“How does a gun jam three times?” Welch asked the police, according to Hoover. “It’s God giving me another chance.”
Stevenson, reflecting after the trial, said he had never heard a murder suspect make such a statement.
“He should have taken (locking the gun) as a sign not to pull the trigger again,” he said.
Hoover was arguing on the night of April 8, 2022. Deandre Welch and his cousin Charles Welch drove a red 2020 Hyundai from Pontiac to 1726 Prospect St. in Buena Vista Township, home of Monica Trice, a friend of Margaret Welch. The Welch cousins met Trice and Margaret Welch there around 10:30 p.m. and began hanging out and drinking, Hoover said. Hoover said Deandre and Margaret Welch were using cocaine that night.
Hoover said the initially cordial mood soured when Deandre Welch began “communicating” with Trice and making her feel uncomfortable. Deandre Welch also insisted that Trice was having an affair with his wife and cousin, and Trice insisted that was not true, Hoover added.
Four people stayed overnight at Trice’s house. At one point, Trice’s adult son, Mykal Harris, also approached. The next morning, Trice asked her guests to leave because she had to get ready for work, Hoover said.
Trice looked out the kitchen window and saw the three Welches getting into the Hyundai, then getting out of it and rearranging the seats, Hoover said. Trice then saw Margaret Welch walking up the wooden ramp to the door, followed by her husband with a gun pointed at his wife, Hoover said.
Hoover said Deandre Welch looked at Trice as if he was trying to fire a gun, “clicking” it at his wife.
Trice and her son fled, entered the house with one shot and hit Harris in the right knee. After the shooting stopped, Trice looked outside and saw the Hyundai pulling out of the driveway. Hoover said she saw Margaret Welch sitting on the porch, hunched and still.
Police arrived to find Margaret Welch still sitting and showing no signs of life. They found nine spent shell casings at the scene. Autopsy results showed that Margaret Welch had been shot in the head, face, neck, arms and hips.
Police soon spotted the Hyundai driving through Bridgeport Township. A pursuit ensued, leading police to Interstate 75 and the suspect vehicle reaching speeds in excess of 120 mph.
The chase ended when the Hyundai struck a pile of shingles in front of the Flint home. Deandre Welch fled the scene on foot, but was quickly caught by a police K-9, who bit him on his right side and knee.
Police found an unloaded 9mm handgun in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Hoover said they found a live 9mm bullet in the backseat.
According to Hoover, “that’s the murder weapon,” Welch shouted to the police. “I killed my wife.”
Analysis revealed that the gun was indeed the weapon used to kill Margaret Welch.
While in the hospital for dog bites, Deandre Welch allegedly told a detective that he killed his wife after repeatedly jamming the gun, considering it a gift from God giving him a second chance. He said he shot his wife once in the head and then emptied the magazine, Hoover said.
As for motive, Deandre Welch allegedly told the detective that his wife had been unfaithful to him and he believed she was having an affair with his cousin.
Margaret Welch married Deandre Welch about three years before her death.
Friend Megan Trice, Monica Trice’s sister, previously told MLive Margaret Welch is an energetic and full of life person. She worked as a caregiver for the elderly, sick and disabled.
“She was a beautiful soul,” Megan Trice previously said. “Just a beautiful, nice person. She did everything for everyone. She was just a sweet person, one of the sweetest people I know. I couldn’t say anything bad about her. We all have struggles, trials and tribulations, but she was just a wonderful person.
“She just got involved with the wrong person.”
Margaret loved to dance and sing and was always smiling.
“She loved being around her family and friends,” Trice said. “She had no children, but she loved her nieces, nephew and mother. She loved to smile and be happy.”
Saginaw County District Judge Darnell Jackson is scheduled to sentence Deandre Welch on the afternoon of December 2.