A pregnant Massachusetts woman reportedly died in a violent attack at the hands of her ex-boyfriendâs brother. Brianna Welsh, 25, was found dead at her apartment in the town of Lynn, on July 31. Police say Zachary Vozzella, 26 â the brother of her ex-boyfriend Brendon Vozzella â is responsible for the brutal stabbing death of the woman who was three months pregnant at the time. The killing comes a day after Welsh and Brendon Vozzella were reportedly involved in a domestic dispute.
According to NBC 10, Welsh called 911 on July 30, reporting that Brendon Vozzella, 24, had punched her in the stomach. He was detained while Welsh was taken to the hospital. Welsh left the hospital and returned to the apartment she shared with Brendon Vozzella, but he reportedly never returned. The next day, she was dead.
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Welsh's family hadn't heard from her.
According to NBC 10, Welshâs mother tried to get in touch with her daughter on July 31, but she didnât respond. The concerned mother contacted her apartment buildingâs maintenance department to do a welfare check on the woman. She was found dead in her apartment from apparent stab wounds.
Her death occurred one day after the alleged assault by Brendon Vozzella, Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall said in court on August 1, NBC 10 reported.
An investigation began immediately.
After Welsh was found dead in the apartment, police began investigating and first turned to Brendon Vozzella. Per NBC 10, when they interviewed him, he was reportedly in the same clothes heâd been wearing at the time of his earlier arrest and didnât have any blood on his clothes. He said he hadnât returned to the apartment.
Brendon Vozzella reportedly had an alibi.
Per a release from the Essex County District Attorneyâs Office, Brendon Vozzella was in custody from the initial domestic incident at the time his brother allegedly killed Welsh.
Brendon Vozzella is scheduled to appear in court on August 6 on charges stemming from the July 30 incident, including one count of assault and battery on a household member and one count of assault and battery on a pregnant person.
Zachary Vozzella was reportedly staying with the couple.
He had reportedly been homeless but had been staying at the former coupleâs apartment at the time of Welshâs death. On the day of her death, she reportedly returned home around 6:15 p.m. Police said Zachary Vozzella told them heâd been at the apartment from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. but didnât see Welsh.
Police believe his story is false, and say they later found clothes and a potential murder weapon. Zachary Vozzella was arrested and charged with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
âThe tragic violence that has taken the life of Brianna Welsh and her unborn child has created an unbearable loss for her family,â Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said in a news release. âWhile their loss cannot be repaired or remedied, I hope that our efforts to seek justice on her behalf assures them that we and the community support them.â
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Loved ones hope to give Welsh and her unborn child a proper funeral.
Claudia Welsh created a GoFundMe for Brianna Welshâs family. It has raised $16,000 of an $18,000 goal so far.
âWe are raising funds to help memorialize our beautiful daughter, Brianna E. Welsh, also known as Bri Bri, and her unborn child,â the fundraiser page reads. âBrianna was looking forward this week to find out and share with her family and friends if her baby was going to be a boy or a girl. Tragically, she has been taken from us, murdered in her own home. We are all lost without her. She was a bright shining star, that went out before her time. All proceeds will go to funding the cost of putting our daughter, and her child to rest.â
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women's shelter domesticshelters.org.
