Clinical law prof who worked for social justice killed in triple murder
An associate clinical professor at the Mississippi College School of Law died over the weekend in a fatal shooting that also claimed the lives of her mother and sister. The lawyer, Crystal Lynn Welch, 42, had devoted her life to social justice work. (Photo courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi)
An associate clinical professor at the Mississippi College School of Law died over the weekend in a fatal shooting that also claimed the lives of her mother and sister.
The lawyer, Crystal Lynn Welch, 42, had devoted her life to social justice work, according to the Mississippi Free Press. She also helped lead a successful effort in 2020 to replace the Mississippi state flag, which had incorporated the Confederate flag in its design.
Welch died along with her mother, Ida Thomas Welch, 76, and her sister, Vicky Renee Welch, 56. Their bodies were found on Mother’s Day in a home in Ridgeland, Mississippi, the Mississippi Free Press reports.
The suspect, Ivory James Welch III, was the brother of Vicky Renee Welch and Crystal Lynn Welch. He was shot and killed by Arizona troopers Monday after a shootout, according to the Mississippi Free Press and the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.
Crystal Lynn Welch was the board president for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi and was vice president of the board of directors for the Mississippi Free Press. At the Mississippi College School of Law, she was supervising attorney for the Family and Children’s Law Center.
Donna Ladd, the editor and CEO of the Mississippi Free Press, told the newspaper that Crystal Lynn Welch’s death “is a severe loss to our state.”
“She was a force of nature and totally dedicated to helping Mississippi reach its full potential as an equitable and kind state for all our residents,” Ladd said. “She dedicated herself to doing the work, and she lived and loved life to the fullest. It was an honor to know her.”
