Defendant in February 2012 murder ordered to submit DNA sample

For immediate release: July 5, 2012

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

 After a hearing this morning in Hampshire Superior Court,  defendant Ryan D. Welch was ordered to submit a sample of his DNA to investigators in connection with the Feb. 20, 2012 murder of Jessica Pripstein in Easthampton.

Welch, 36, was indicted in April 2012 for the murder.

Welch’s attorney, Paul Rudof, argued that the defendant should not be compelled to provide the sample because the Commonwealth had not made an adequate showing to obtain the samples. The Commonwealth already had blood samples allegedly drawn from the defendant at the hospital during their investigation, Rudof said.

Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci of the Northwestern District Attorney's Office argued and Judge Richard Carey agreed that the Commonwealth had made an adequate showing that the sample would be relevant to the issue of the defendant’s guilt  to compare with biological samples recovered during the investigation.

Bucci  further argued that the DNA  sample was necessary to prove that the blood samples taken from the hospital pursuant to a search warrant were in fact taken from Welch.

Welch’s next scheduled court date is Aug. 3, 2012 for a pretrial hearing. 

Welch remains held without bail at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction.