A haunting 911 transcript has been released, capturing the final desperate words of Zoe Welsh, a beloved North Carolina private school teacher, as she was allegedly attacked in her Raleigh home by a homeless man with a long criminal record. “He hit me with a brick,” Welsh told the dispatcher in her last recorded moments before the line went silent, marking the tragic end to a routine morning that turned deadly on January 3, 2026. The 43-year-old educator at Ravenscroft School was found lifeless in her bedroom, and the release of the call has left her family, colleagues, and community reeling while intensifying scrutiny on the suspect, Ryan Camacho, 36, who faces murder charges. Authorities say the incident appears random, but Welsh’s recognition of her attacker adds a layer of eerie familiarity to the case.

Zoe Welsh was a fixture in Raleigh’s educational scene, teaching middle school English and history at the prestigious Ravenscroft School since 2012. Described by students as “inspiring and kind,” she had a passion for literature that extended beyond the classroom, often organizing poetry slams and book drives for underprivileged youth. A native of Durham, Welsh graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in education and later earned a master’s in literature. She lived alone in a cozy bungalow on Clay Street, a peaceful residential neighborhood just north of downtown Raleigh, where she enjoyed gardening and walking her rescue dog. Neighbors knew her as the friendly woman who waved during morning jogs, never imagining her home would become a crime scene.

The morning of January 3 started like any other. Welsh, preparing for a day of lesson planning ahead of the school’s return from winter break, dialed 911 at approximately 6:28 a.m. The transcript, released by the Raleigh Police Department on January 9 amid public demand for transparency, begins with Welsh calmly reporting an intruder. “There’s a man in my house,” she said, providing her address and describing him as someone she recognized from a local park—a homeless individual she had seen panhandling. The dispatcher, trained to keep callers engaged, asked for details while alerting officers. Welsh’s voice remained composed at first: “He’s coming toward me now. I think he’s the guy from the park.”

As the situation escalated, Welsh retreated to her bedroom, barricading the door with furniture. “He’s trying to get in,” she told the dispatcher, her breathing growing labored. Sounds of banging and splintering wood can be inferred from the audio description, though the full recording has not been made public due to its graphic nature. Then, the chilling climax: “He hit me with a brick—he hit me with a brick. I’m on the floor in my bedroom.” The call ends abruptly with Welsh’s gasps fading, the dispatcher repeatedly calling her name to no response. Emergency responders arrived seven minutes later, forcing entry to find Welsh unresponsive with severe head trauma. She was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force injuries, the brick—retrieved from a nearby construction site—confirmed as the weapon.

The suspect, Ryan Camacho, was apprehended two hours later in a wooded area near Glenwood Avenue, less than a mile from Welsh’s home. Disheveled and matching the description provided in the 911 call, Camacho was found with blood on his clothing that later matched Welsh’s DNA. A career criminal with over a dozen arrests dating back to 2008, Camacho’s record includes convictions for assault, theft, drug possession, and multiple trespassing charges. He had been released from prison in October 2025 after serving 18 months for aggravated assault in a bar fight. Homeless at the time of the incident, Camacho frequented Raleigh’s parks and shelters, where Welsh had reportedly seen him before. Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown stated in a January 4 briefing, “This appears to be a burglary gone wrong, but the victim’s recognition suggests he may have targeted the area repeatedly.”

Camacho has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a deadly weapon during a felony. During his January 5 arraignment in Wake County Court, he entered a not guilty plea, with his public defender citing mental health issues, including schizophrenia, as a potential defense. Bail was denied due to flight risk and the crime’s severity, and Camacho remains in custody at the Wake County Detention Center. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek the death penalty, citing aggravating factors like the home invasion and use of a blunt object. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 15, where the 911 transcript will likely be key evidence.

The release of the transcript has amplified grief in the Ravenscroft community. The school, serving pre-K through 12th grade, canceled classes on January 5 for counseling sessions and a memorial assembly. Headmaster Doreen Kelly told parents in an email, “Zoe’s impact was profound—she shaped minds and hearts. We mourn as a family.” Students have shared tributes on social media, posting her favorite poems and starting a book drive in her honor. A vigil held on January 7 at Dorothea Dix Park drew over 500 attendees, with candles spelling out “Zoe” amid readings of her work.

Welsh’s family, based in Durham, has remained private but issued a statement through their attorney: “Zoe’s light was extinguished too soon. We are grateful for the swift arrest and trust the justice system to deliver accountability.” A GoFundMe for funeral expenses and a scholarship fund in her name has raised over $200,000, with donations from alumni and educators nationwide. Her poetry, published in local journals, has seen a resurgence, with lines like “Shadows in the dawn retreat, but memory holds the heat” resonating in online memorials.

The case highlights vulnerabilities in suburban safety. Welsh’s home showed no signs of forced entry beyond the bedroom door, suggesting the back entrance was unlocked—a common practice in the neighborhood. Raleigh has experienced a 12% rise in property crimes involving transients since 2023, per FBI statistics, linked to economic pressures and housing shortages. Advocacy groups like the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness argue for increased mental health funding: “Individuals like Camacho fall through cracks—prevention could save lives,” said director Sarah Thompson.

Politically, the tragedy has drawn bipartisan attention. Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, called for enhanced community policing in a January 6 address: “No one should fear in their own home.” Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly have proposed “Zoe’s Law,” mandating stricter monitoring of repeat offenders post-release. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, overseeing the prosecution, emphasized in a statement: “This was a heinous act—we will pursue justice vigorously.”

Legal analysts predict a challenging trial. The 911 call provides direct evidence of the attack’s progression, potentially swaying jurors on premeditation. Defense may argue diminished capacity due to Camacho’s mental health, supported by prison records showing untreated episodes. “The transcript is damning,” former prosecutor Anna Hayes told Fox News. “It humanizes the victim and underscores the brutality.” Jury selection in Raleigh, where media coverage has been intense, could complicate impartiality.

Forensic details bolster the case: The brick, sourced from a nearby site, bore Camacho’s fingerprints and Welsh’s blood. Surveillance from a neighbor’s camera captured him approaching at 6:15 a.m., and DNA from the scene matched his profile in state databases. No motive beyond burglary has been established, though police are investigating if prior encounters played a role.

The broader impact extends to educator safety. The National Education Association reports over 300 assaults on teachers in 2025, prompting calls for home security grants. Ravenscroft has installed panic buttons and offered self-defense classes. “Zoe’s legacy is protection,” a colleague said.

As Raleigh mourns, Welsh’s words endure. Her unpublished manuscript, discovered posthumously, ends with: “In the brick of silence, voices rise.” For a teacher who championed expression, her final call may echo loudest in the pursuit of change.