Defendant in Feb. 20 Easthampton murder ordered held without bail

For release: May 7, 2012

Contact: Mary Carey at mary.carey@state.ma.us

Defendant in Feb. 20 Easthampton murder to be held without right to bail

Hampshire County Superior Court Justice C. Jeffrey Kinder, today, ordered Ryan D. Welch, of Easthampton, charged with murder in the Feb. 20 death of Jessica A. Pripstein, to be held without the right to bail.

Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Bucci, the chief prosecutor for the case, argued that Welch, 36, should not be granted bail. He is a flight risk, as his parents live out of the state, Bucci said.  Welch has already gone to great lengths to avoid  being brought to justice by locking and barricading the doors to Pripstein’s residence and  trying to kill himself within 2 minutes after killing Pripstein, Bucci said.

Welch faces a potential penalty of mandatory life in prison without possibility of parole, Bucci said.

Welch’s attorney Paul Rudof had requested on behalf of Ryan a bail amount of $500,000 surety or $50, 000 cash, alleging that Welch had no history of violence and no prior arrests for violent crimes.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Aug. 3 in Hampshire Superior Court.

Easthampton Police discovered Pripstein's body shortly after midnight on Monday, Feb. 20, following a 911 distress call placed by Pripstein.

Welch was found by the Easthampton Police at Pripstein’s apartment and was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for self-inflicted wounds. 

The defendant had a dating relationship with Pripstein.

Welch was remanded to the custody of the sheriff and is being held at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction.

For a statement of the case, click here.