Victim’s family relieved after Fall River murder suspect located, arrested in Redding transient camp
UPDATED: Friday, June 25, 8:15 a.m.
See Original Story with victim’s wife’s interview below.
FALL RIVER MILLS, Calif. — The search for a man wanted in connection with the Monday, June 21 stabbing death of a Fall River Mills father of three has ended after Shasta County sheriff’s deputies located the murder suspect at a Redding area transient encampment yesterday morning, Thursday, June 24.
Officials had been searching for 29-year-old, Richard Lee Duvall II, of Redding, since last Monday’s deadly incident, that left 29-year-old, Neilon “Neil” L. Welch II, dead after a stabbing that reportedly happened in the Dana area, northwest of Fall River Mills. He was apprehended without incident, according to Shasta County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit Sergeant Kyle Wallace.
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After several days of silence regarding their investigation, officials on Wednesday announced the suspect’s name and said that a $1 million murder warrant had been issued for his arrest. They also said that a $5,000 reward was being offered for any information that led to the suspect’s apprehension.
Within hours of an SCNS article about the murder that included a lengthy interview with the victim’s wife, (which can be read below), SCNS received several tips and leads, which were immediately forwarded to the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit.
Although officials did not say if it was a tip about the suspect’s whereabouts that led to his apprehension, the very next morning, at around 9:36 a.m., detectives from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit located Duvall in a transient camp, near the intersection of Lagoon and Riverview drives in the City of Redding and arrested him without incident.
After his arrest, Duvall was booked into the the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of murder, as well as four additional, unrelated warrants. Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $1,025,000.
Officials have not yet said if they are seeking anyone else in relation to the deadly incident and Wallace said, “Details about the motive are not being released due to the ongoing investigation.”
After hearing of Duvall’s arrest, Welch’s wife, Amanda Jacobs told SCNS, “I’m so happy to hear that an arrest has been made in Neil’s murder. He has twelve siblings and a lot of friends that loved him very dearly, and this has been so hard for his children to understand and cope with.”
Neil’s family has created a GoFundMe to help raise the necessary funds for Neil’s services and funeral, with anything that is left over going to his three children.
“I am trying to raise money for my brothers funeral and services,” the victim’s “baby brother” Stevie Collins wrote in the fundraiser. “He was a great brother, father, son, and grandson.”
“Neil was the type of person who would take the shirt off of his back and give it to someone who he thought needed it more and he loved his wife and three children unconditionally,” Collins continued; saying Neil was the type of man who could make you smile if you were having a rough day.
“Neil made his family and friends feel safe with anything. He was a lover and a protector,” Collins described; adding, “Growing up he helped raise myself and my little sister. He was the rock that I and the rest of the family could lean on and we could always count on him being there for us through anything. He made sure my baby sister and I had everything we needed growing up even if he had to go without.”
“He was the best big brother anybody could ask for and I was lucky to call him my big brother and best friend,” said Collins.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135, or by email at [email protected]. Callers can refer to incident file number 21S020433 and can remain anonymous.
Original Story: SCSO seeking Fall River murder suspect, $5,000 reward offered – Victim’s family speaks out
FALL RIVER MILLS, Calif. — Shasta County Sheriff’s Office today confirmed that a manhunt is underway for a man accused of fatally stabbing a Fall River Mills resident in the unincorporated area of Dana, north of Fall River Mills, Monday, June 21. Officials also today announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 29-year-old, Richard Lee Duvall II, of Redding, for the murder of Neilon “Neil” L. Welch II, 29.
Officials have said there is an active arrest warrant for Duvall and that they are actively searching for him. They also described the alleged suspect as “armed and dangerous”, and cautioned citizens against approaching or attempting to contact or detain him.
In the wake of her husband’s murder, Amanda Jacobs reached out to SCNS today and in an exclusive interview she pleaded for answers in her husband’s murder. “Its been a big shock to his whole family and our kids, (ages 8, 5, and 1), are really taking the news hard and are not doing well,” she explained; describing Neilon as “a kind soul who loved his children and family dearly.”
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“None of us in this town want this case hidden away or forgotten,” she explained; adding, “His murder was just horrible and he didn’t deserve to die like that.”
Deputies from the Burney Sheriff’s Station began investigating the deadly stabbing after being dispatched to a home at 28515 Rosie’s Lookout Drive at around 5:08 p.m. on Monday, June 21, Shasta County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit Sergeant Kyle Wallace said in a press release issued this afternoon.
Once there, they found Neilon dead on the floor, according to Wallace; who said members of the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit were summoned to the scene and ultimately assumed the murder investigation.
During their subsequent investigation, officials discovered evidence of an altercation inside the home and leads were soon developed that indicated Duvall was the sole suspect.
“Further details about the motive or investigation will not be released due to the integrity of the ongoing investigation,” Wallace said in today’s release; adding that an autopsy has been scheduled to determine Welch’s cause of death.
Officials today announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 29-year-old, Richard Lee Duvall II, of Redding, who stands accused in the stabbing murder of Fall River Mills resident, Neilon “Neal” L. Welch II.
In today’s interview, Jacobs told SCNS she learned of her husband’s stabbing at around 3 a.m., the morning after his murder, when SCSO officials came to her home.
According to Amanda, Neilon had lived in Fall River Mills throughout his childhood and although he later moved away, the couple returned to the area just before their children were born.
She went on to explain that although she and her husband are currently separated and live in different Fall River Mills homes, the pair still share a good relationship for the sake of their children.
Amanda did admit that due to “some major drug addiction issues” on Neilon’s part, the pair have had some squabbles and child custody issues, but she also said, “He was a very good guy at heart and loved his kids dearly.”
“The addiction issue forced some custody and legal issues, that is true; but we were usually able to work around those issues,” she explained.
She also went on to say that due to the “small-town rumor mill” she had heard a lot of false speculation and rumors about her husband’s murder, but said she had gathered some of her own details from people who were reportedly at the scene when the fatal stabbing occurred.
“Myself and everyone that knows Neil hopes that people don’t brush him aside because of his recent struggles with addiction. Whether he fought with addiction or not, he did not deserve to die like he did,” Amanda explained.
The victim’s wife today told SCNS, “Neil was a kind soul who loved his three children and family dearly. His murder was just horrible and he didn’t deserve to die like that.”
To Duvall, the man now accused in Neilon’s murder, Amanda said, “I would want to say that what he did was completely cold-hearted and unnecessary, under any circumstances.”
“You took a kind soul from his children and his family,” the grieving woman continued. “I hope you are found and held fully accountable.”
Now, as she waits for answer’s in her husband’s murder, Amanda says she just hopes her children “can find peace and that they might someday feel safe again.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who knows Duvall’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135, or by email at [email protected]. Callers can refer to incident file number 21S020433 and can remain anonymous.
Additionally, tips can be provided to Shasta County Secret Witness, with $5,000 being offered for information leading to Duvall’s arrest. They can be reached by phone at (530) 243-2319 or their website at scsecretwitness.com.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.
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