Tulsa Police: Teen Burglary Ring Responsible For Killing Woman, Setting House On Fire

Teenagers as young as 13 are suspected in the murder of a west Tulsa woman.

Investigators believe a ring of teen burglars - addicted to drugs - know more about last month's murder than they're telling police, so detectives are asking them to come forward.

Christen Welch's body burned in flames inside an abandoned west Tulsa home last Month. Sergeant Dave Walker found her body beaten to death.

"When we worked it we see this other issue that's out there and we just can't ignore it,” he said.

Welch's murder led police to a teenage underworld of drugs and burglary, operating mostly in west Tulsa.

Walker believes a ring of ten or more 13- to 15-year-olds killed an innocent woman.

Police believe the teens broke into the house thinking no one was inside. Police said the teens found Welch inside, woke her up, brutally beat her and then set the house on fire.

Neighbor Vicky Wright said the home is known for drug activity and squatters. Still, it surprised her to see the house on fire the morning of September 9th, and she was shocked when a body was found inside.

"No one should ever do that. That's something just so wrong," she said. "How do you get that in your mind that you think it's okay to kill somebody?"

By doing meth, Walker said.

"Some of these kids are using methamphetamine and they're smoking Ice and they're about brain dead," he said.

Walker said he's interviewed almost twenty people about the murder, but needs to hear from the kids.

"The parents of these kids are shielding them and the kids are not really talking," said Walker.

Wright said, "If you're grown up enough to think that you can do whatever you want, be a grown up and 'fess up."

Walker said people need to stop using meth, and that many murders involve the drug.

If you know anything about the murder, you can call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS to get help for yourself and help solve the case.