Stafford Husband Fights Back Armed Invaders With Kitchen Knife

Update 12:36 p.m.: Sheriffs Office says suspect Terry A. Welch turned himself in moments ago.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office has arrested two juveniles and are searching still for an 18-year-old suspect in an early-morning home invasion in the Widewater Village subdivision after a married couple was allegedly held hostage by knifepoint in their home. The subdivision is in North Stafford of off U.S. 1.

Bill Kennedy, the sheriff's office spokesman, said the two juveniles have been charged with breaking and entering at night while armed, two counts of assault, two counts of abduction and conspiracy to commit a felony. A third suspect, 18-year-old Terry A. Welch of Brooke Crest Lane is at large. He faces charges of breaking and entering at night while armed and attempted robbery, Kennedy said.

Deputies responded to Widewater Village at 1:58 a.m. Tuesday morning and met with the male victim who said he and his wife were held hostage at knifepoint for about an hour.

"Three male suspects gained entrance into the residence, physically restrained the female resident and then made the husband walk through the house identifying valuables," Kennedy said. "The male victim was also assaulted numerous times during this time period."

After about an hour while the suspects ransacked the house, the male victim armed himself with a kitchen knife and he challenged them. Kennedy said a struggle ensued and the victim stabbed two of the suspects, which led all three of the suspects to run out of the house.

"Within moments of receiving the 911 call from the victim deputies located one of the juvenile suspects in the neighborhood," Kennedy said. "He was transported to an area hospital where he is still receiving treatment for a stab wound. The second juvenile suspect ran home. He was taken to an area hospital by his mother, where, after being treated for a superficial stab wound was released and turned over to Stafford authorities."

The sheriff's office is searching for Welch. He is described as a black male, 5-feet 10-inches tall and about 160 pounds.

Anyone who has information as to the whereabouts of Terry Welch are asked to contact the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400 or
call Crime Solvers at 540-659-2020 or Text-A-Tip to STAFFORD and your tip to CRIMES (274637).

Kennedy said the Sheriff’s Office is also investigating the possibility that these suspects may have been involved in other home invasions in the region, too include the one that happened in the same subdivision on Monday, May 21.