Hours After Man Arrested for Punching Pregnant Ex in Stomach, His Brother Allegedly Stabbed Her to Death
Shortly after a 25-year-old pregnant woman returned home from the hospital following an alleged assault by her ex-boyfriend, she was stabbed to death. Now, his brother faces murder charges.
Brianna Welsh, 25, was about three months pregnant during the assaults, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
Welsh was found dead from an apparent stabbing in her apartment in Lynn, MA, which she shared with ex-boyfriend Brendon Vozzella, 24, and his brother Zachary Vozzella, 26, on Wednesday, July 31. This happened just one day after Brendon was arrested for allegedly punching her in the stomach, according to Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall. Welsh had been taken to a hospital while Brendon was processed by police.
On August 1, MacDougall stated in court that Brendon was still in police custody when Welsh returned home around 6:15 p.m. Zachary allegedly came home later and then stabbed her to death.
“The tragic violence that has taken the life of Brianna Welsh and her unborn child has created an unbearable loss for her family,” said Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker. “While their loss cannot be repaired or remedied, I hope that our efforts to seek justice on her behalf assure them that we and the community support them.”
Police do not believe Brendon returned home after his arrest and before Welsh was found deceased. When police tracked him down after her death, he was wearing the same clothes as his arrest the previous day, with no blood present.
Zachary initially claimed he was at a Dunkin’ all day, which proved false. He then told police he was at the apartment from 2 to 8:30 p.m. but never saw Welsh. However, her key fob was used at 6:15 p.m., and “whoever last left the apartment” did so at 8:30 p.m. The door was not opened again until her body was found.
The investigation uncovered bloody clothes and a kitchen knife in a trash bag in another apartment Zachary had been staying in. They also found Welsh’s apartment key fob. Video footage showed him returning to the home with a backpack and trash bag.
In Lynn District Court on Thursday, Zachary pleaded not guilty to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. His attorney, Francisco Napolitano, said he denies killing anyone. Zachary is being held without bail and is set to appear in court on September 10 for a probable cause hearing.
On Wednesday, Brendon also appeared in court, facing charges of assault and battery on a household member and assault and battery upon a pregnant person. His plea is unknown at this time.
In a heartbreaking post on the family’s GoFundMe page to raise money for Welsh’s funeral expenses, Claudia Welsh wrote, “Brianna 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,” the post continued. “She was a bright shining star that went out before her time.”
“I am so sorry for the devastating loss of Brianna Welsh,” said Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. “That she was an expectant mother makes this even more tragic, chilling, outrageous, and impossible to comprehend.”
“I appreciate the work of first responders and law enforcement,” he added. “While many questions remain to be answered by the ongoing investigation, our city is left with profound grief.”
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