Family, Cole Co. prosecutor working to keep convicted killer in prison

The fight to keep a man convicted in a deadly DWI crash is going to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Larry Welch was convicted in the drunk driving crash that killed Jean and Toby Olsen in 2007.

The crash happened on Route C, just outside Russellville.

Recently, Welch had his sentence reduced by Judge Daniel Green, which could make him a free man as soon as next week.

The case brings back a lot of emotions for the victims’ family.

Johanna Olsen Henry said she in complete disbelief the justice system could be close to letting a man out of prison who was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

Larry Welch has served 7 years of that sentence, but could walk out of prison next week a free man unless the supreme court steps in.

Cole County Mark Richardson Thursday filed a write so the case can be heard by the state’s highest court, but Johanna said she is still shaken after the Western District Court of Appeals decision not to hear the case.

“I’m shocked, and I’m trying to maintain composure all the time, but it’s just really hard because it hurts,” said Henry.

Just as it would hurt for anyone who’s lost a loved one to a drunk driver.

Johanna has been struggling to digest the thought that Welch could be out of prison in just a matter of days. She keeps asking herself how the man who crashed into her family nearly 8 years ago could be driving again on the very roads where he caused so much heartache.

“It’s two innocent lives we’re talking about on a Sunday morning coming home from church,” said Henry. “So many people have died from it, and been injured and hurt, I man how would you feel if you were watching your kids kid, your wife die, your husband die. I watched that.”

Welch’s attorney, James Douglas Barding, said while nothing can ever bring back Johanna’s family, but he believes his client has served his time and should be out of prison.

“He’s been remorseful from the day this happened, and nothing is going to change the fact that he has to live with that he has to live with the fact that two people died as a result of his negligence,” said Barding.

If the supreme court doesn’t hear the case, Welch could be out of prison as early as next Wednesday morning.