Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com
On the morning of October 8, 2022, the quiet town of Bellevue, Iowa, with a population of around 2,500, was shaken by the shocking news of a homicide — a tragic occurrence that had not taken place in nearly a decade.
Dozens of law enforcement officials from multiple agencies were gathered at the Mississippi Ridge Boarding Kennels, where Angela Prichard, the 55-year-old owner, was found shot dead. Among those expressing suspicion about the motive was her sister, Wendy Budde, who asserted her belief that Angela’s husband, Chris Prichard, was responsible for this heinous crime.
Wendy Budde: He knew how to get in the front door.
Jonathan Vigliotti | “48 Hours” contributor: How certain were you about Chris’s involvement?
Wendy Budde: A hundred percent. I was absolutely sure it was him.
Wendy shared that Angela had been fearful of Chris and had been planning to leave him for months. She expressed her concerns that Chris might kill her sister.
Ryan Kedley: This was a situation involving someone who appeared to know Angela well.
Kedley, along with fellow investigator Dustin Henningsen, highlighted the need to methodically piece together the evidence connecting Chris to the crime, even as Angela’s family was adamant about his guilt.
ANGELA PRICHARD NAMES HER KILLER IN HER FINAL MOMENTS
Dustin Henningsen: Early reports indicated that a 911 call was made on the morning of the incident.
Jonathan Vigliotti: What details did you gather from that call?
Dustin Henningsen: Listening to that 911 call felt like hearing the end of someone’s life unfold before us.
During the call, Angela can be heard asking for help and pleading with someone to leave the premises before a gunshot interrupts the conversation.
These final moments not only conveyed Angela’s desperation but also served as a crucial lead for the investigators. Angela clearly mentioned “Chris” during the call.
Ryan Kedley: The implications were clear. This was Chris Prichard, her estranged husband.
Henningsen remarked that the call, combined with the violence of the scene, would be a key part of the ongoing investigation.
Ryan Kedley: There were indications of intense emotions involved in this incident.
Upon arriving at the scene, investigators found Angela lying face down, with a significant gunshot wound to her chest.
Ryan Kedley: Initially, the sight of the scene was stark and tragic. The areas around her were marked by visible evidence of the violence that occurred.
With Chris Prichard now a person of interest who was missing, agents needed to quickly gather evidence while remaining open to all possibilities regarding who might be responsible.
As the investigation unfolded, information about Chris Prichard’s troubled past with Angela came to light, featuring incidents of domestic abuse and violation of restraining orders.
Ryan Kedley: The developments pointed increasingly toward Chris being the key suspect.
Dustin Henningsen: We systematically constructed a timeline of events leading up to the tragedy.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage which showed rising dog activity prior to Angela’s arrival at the kennel that morning. They suspected Chris might have arrived at the scene much earlier.
By examining time-stamped video records, they discovered the critical moments just before Angela was shot, but Chris’s presence was elusive.
SEARCHING FOR CHRISTOPHER PRICHARD
As the manhunt for Chris Prichard evolved, local law enforcement searched through rural acres with armed officers, canvassing neighborhoods for any signs of his whereabouts.
Dustin Henningsen: The vast landscape made it exceedingly challenging; the river and dense woods offered numerous options for someone looking to evade capture.
Bellevue’s community was deeply affected, as Angela was a beloved mother and grandmother.
Wendy Budde: She was the kind of person you wouldn’t be able to find better elsewhere.
Angela devoted her life to her family, which included her sons and grandchildren, and her love for animals was evident in her operation of the kennels.
Initially married in March 2019, everything seemed ideal until Chris’s behavior took a downward spiral following job loss and subsequent legal troubles for theft.
Wendy Budde: It was clear something shifted once he lost his job; he started drinking more and was not actively looking for work.
Eventually, Angela learned about Chris’s drug use, which heightened her concerns over his behavior. Their relationship became increasingly volatile, leading to a notable incident of domestic violence that prompted police involvement.
Despite reaching out for help and securing protective orders, Angela’s and her family’s attempts at safety faced challenges, particularly when Chris was allowed to return home shortly after the initial violence.
Wendy Budde: It was heartbreaking to see Angela so conflicted about whether to leave Chris despite the evident dangers.
In the weeks leading up to Angela’s murder, Chris continued to stalk and harass her, violating several court orders with apparent impunity.
CJ Hancock: Nothing was done when he repeatedly showed up where she was, leading to a daunting atmosphere of fear.
THE CASE AGAINST CHRISTOPHER PRICHARD
Following Chris Prichard’s eventual capture, he was interrogated by authorities. During questioning, he implied that his actions on that fateful day were accidental, attributing it to an unexpected outburst during an argument.
Jonathan Vigliotti: The narrative he provided contradicted the physical evidence found in the investigation.
Chris was charged with first-degree murder and robbery, and his trial is marked by testimony that sought to establish his premeditated motives.
Nicole Leonard: We contend that he had meticulously planned for this outcome, tracking Angela’s movements leading up to her death.
The prosecution highlighted instances in his behavior that they argued demonstrated a clear intent to commit the crime, including how he tried to establish an alibi after the fact.
They emphasized that Angela’s last moments and his subsequent disdainful remarks captured on 911 calls suggested something far more sinister than an unintentional act.
As the case garnered public attention, the victims’ family sought justice not only for Angela but also to hold accountable those who failed to protect her during a long pattern of abuse.
In February 2024, nearly a year and a half after Angela’s death, the jury rendered a verdict that found Chris Prichard guilty of the charges leveled against him.
Wendy Budde: It was a significant emotional release for us when we finally heard the verdict.
Chris Prichard was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
In the aftermath, the family has voiced their ongoing grief and calls for stronger enforcement of protective laws aimed at domestic violence victims.
They have taken steps to advocate for changes in systemic law enforcement practices to prevent future tragedies over similar matters.
The Violence Policy Center reports that nearly three women are killed by an intimate partner each day in the U.S.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233.
Source
www.cbsnews.com