Wake Teacher’s Accused Killer Has Violent Past and Schizophrenia
A History of Mental Health Struggles and Criminal Activity
Ryan Camacho, a 36-year-old man charged with the murder of Wake County teacher Zoe Welsh, has a long history of mental health issues and criminal activity. Court records reveal that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been cycling between homelessness, jail, and psychiatric facilities for over a decade.
Camacho made his first appearance in Wake County court on Monday, facing murder and felony burglary charges for allegedly killing Welsh in her home while she called 911. His history of violence and mental illness dates back to 2005 when he was first charged with assault with a deadly weapon in two separate incidents in Raleigh. Those charges were eventually dismissed by the Wake County District Attorney’s Office in June 2006.
Early Life and Escalating Issues
Public records do not provide much detail about Camacho’s early adulthood, but court documents suggest that as a teenager, he was sent to wilderness camps and other programs for oppositional defiant disorder. In 2005, he had a misdemeanor larceny charge and was extradited to California in 2010 for a “grand theft” case. Upon returning from California, he lived with his mother in Raleigh and avoided serious charges until 2016, when his mental health reportedly worsened.
According to petitions filed by his mother in Wake County Superior Court, Camacho began experiencing delusions in August 2016. After allegedly threatening a neighbor, his mother had him involuntarily committed. He then moved out and became homeless, according to court documents.
Criminal Activity and Legal Challenges
From 2016 onward, Camacho faced multiple charges and periods of incarceration. In December 2016, he was arrested for property damage in Raleigh. Two months later, he faced trespassing and stalking charges. Most of these charges were dismissed in March 2017, but Camacho pleaded guilty to injury to real and personal property and was sentenced to 33 days in jail and one year of probation.
Less than two weeks later, he was arrested again for trespassing and remained in jail until May 2017, when he was sentenced to time served. In August 2017, his mother petitioned to have him declared incompetent, citing his alleged stalking behavior and need for psychiatric help. However, she quickly withdrew the request, even as Camacho cycled through jail, shelters, and hospitals.
Mental Health Evaluations and Repeated Incidents
In January 2018, Camacho’s mother petitioned again to have him declared incompetent after he locked himself in his room, refused to eat, and threatened suicide. He was deemed at least partially incompetent in March 2018, with delusions including beliefs that neighbors were stalking him and that the CIA was controlling his thoughts. However, his competency was restored in August 2018, and he stopped taking his medication, leading to further issues.
In January 2019, Camacho acquired multiple felony charges after firing into occupied property in Raleigh. He was arrested and held on $100,000 bail until he pleaded guilty in November 2019. In August 2021, he attempted to escape from prison in Salisbury and was placed in a psychiatric unit. His mother again petitioned for him to be declared incompetent, and he was under her guardianship again by December 2021.
Recent Charges and Final Tragedy
Camacho was released from prison in January 2024 and was soon involved in two break-ins in Durham County, though he wasn’t charged until March 2024. His thefts involved small items like water and Clif bars. By April 2024, he was back in jail in Durham County, awaiting a forensic evaluation of his mental health.
In November 2024, Camacho pleaded guilty to six theft-related charges in Durham County and was placed on supervised probation. In the spring of 2025, he was jailed for breaking into an HOA clubhouse and a home, stealing a case of drinking water and a $2 beer. His bail was lowered to $1, but he remained in jail due to 10 pending cases.
By August 2025, Camacho was back in trouble for allegedly breaking into a Raleigh property and stealing two pillows. Less than a month later, Zoe Welsh would be dead.
Resources for Mental Health Support
North Carolina’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, private support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 988 or (800) 273-8255. For the Veterans Crisis Line, press 1. For support in Spanish, press 2. Everyone else, stay on the line or press 0. You will be connected with a caring and qualified counselor ready to support you.
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