Officers arrested a 36-year-old suspect shortly after the attack and charged him with murder and felony burglary.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh educator died Saturday morning after calling 911 to report a man inside her Clay Street home, where she was assaulted while on the phone with a dispatcher, according to police. The victim, identified as Zoe Welsh, was taken to a hospital and later died.
Police said officers were dispatched at 6:33 a.m. Saturday to the 800 block of Clay Street, near downtown. The case centers on a rapid response, an arrest within hours and an outpouring from Ravenscroft School, where Welsh taught science and chaired the department. Detectives say their homicide investigation remains active. The suspect, Ryan Camacho, 36, faces a murder charge and a felony burglary charge as the city’s police chief and school leaders describe a community stunned by the killing.
Officers arrived minutes after the 6:33 a.m. 911 call and found Welsh critically injured inside the residence. First responders provided medical aid before transporting her to a hospital, where she died from her injuries later Saturday. Investigators canvassed the surrounding streets and located a man in the area whom they identified as Camacho. He was detained for questioning and later booked on the homicide and burglary counts. “I am deeply heartbroken for this mother, friend and mentor to many in our community,” Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce said in a written statement, adding that the department’s thoughts are with Welsh’s family and colleagues. Neighbors said the block is usually quiet on weekend mornings and described awakening to sirens as officers closed off parts of Clay Street during the initial search.
Authorities have not said whether Welsh and Camacho knew each other. A police summary described the initial call as a burglary in progress and said the assault happened while Welsh remained on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. Officers have not publicly released a specific cause of death, and investigators did not list a weapon in the incident summary. Detectives emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact them. Ravenscroft School confirmed Welsh’s role as an Upper School science teacher and department chair and said grief counselors will be available when students and staff return from winter break on Monday. “Her loss is deeply felt by all of us who had the privilege of working with her and learning in her classroom,” the school’s statement said.
Welsh’s death marks a prominent loss for a private school whose science program credited her as a cornerstone for years. Public records show Camacho has prior arrests in Wake and Durham counties over more than a decade. In 2021, he was arrested after escaping from state prison in Salisbury; two years earlier, he pleaded guilty to shooting into occupied property, according to court filings. Many earlier cases resulted in misdemeanor counts or were dismissed. The police department did not immediately address questions about prior contacts involving the address on Clay Street, and records did not list any protective orders involving the two. The department said the homicide unit is managing evidence collected inside the home and from the surrounding block.
Court officials said Camacho is expected to make a first appearance Monday in Wake County, where a judge will address bond and appoint counsel if needed. Police said additional charges are possible depending on forensic results and interviews. Investigators are reviewing 911 audio, neighborhood camera footage and officers’ body-worn video as part of standard procedure. The department plans to release a preliminary incident report this week. Ravenscroft leaders said they would share memorial plans after consulting with Welsh’s family. City leaders said they are monitoring the investigation and will provide updates through official channels.
By late afternoon, a small cluster of flowers and a candle rested near the steps of the Clay Street home. A neighbor, Joshua Carpenter, said the block woke to flashing lights and crime scene tape. “It’s devastating for people who live in this area,” Carpenter said. “To hear about this so close to me, I really don’t know how to process it.” Another resident described seeing officers go door to door seeking security video as the sun came up. Outside Ravenscroft, parents traded messages about how to talk with students when classes resume, and faculty members posted notes recalling lab projects and field trips that Welsh led.
As of Sunday afternoon, police said the homicide investigation remains open and that detectives are still working to determine a full timeline of the break-in and assault. Camacho’s first court appearance is scheduled for Monday in Wake County. Additional public records, including a detailed incident report, are expected in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated Sunday, January 4, 2026.