A jury in Davenport has convicted a southeast Iowa man of murder. In less than two hours, the jury found 34-year-old Chad Welsh of Burlington guilty of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of 41-year-old Angela Hennes, a pregnant prostitute.
A Scott County farmer found her naked, burned remains January 13th, 2007, in his field. Hennes had been missing 10 days. She was identified through fingerprints.
Deputies linked Welsh, who was serving time for child porn in Missouri, with D.N.A. from the murder scene. During closing arguments Tuesday, the defense attorney said Welsh wanted kinky sex during a Davenport sexual encounter with the victim and accidentally strangled her.
But County Attorney Mike Walton said the death was premeditated, noting plastic zip ties around Hennes’ neck when she was found.
By Phil Roberts, Davenport