Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Man convicted of killing Lyon sisters to start serving time for 1975 murders amid new probe of other crimes
Man convicted of killing Lyon sisters to start serving time for 1975 murders amid new probe of other crimes
Neal Augenstein | naugenstein@wtop.com
December 11, 2024, 12:49 PM
Almost 50 years after 12-year-old Sheila and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon were abducted from Wheaton Plaza, in Wheaton, Maryland, the man convicted of killing them will soon begin serving prison time for their murders. ... It comes as federal investigators look into other possible crimes involving Lloyd Lee Welch.
{snip video}
In September 2017, Welch, already a convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty in Bedford County, Virginia, to two counts of first-degree felony murder as part of a global plea. Welch was sentenced to 48 years in prison in 2017 for the global plea, which included the Lyon sisters’ deaths and a series of 1996 sex crimes against two young girls in Prince William County, Virginia.
Long before his arrest in the Lyon case, Welch was serving a 33-year sentence in Delaware for sex offenses against a 10-year-old girl, who was also one of the two victims in the Prince William County attack. That attack happened more than 20 years after the Lyon sisters were last seen in Montgomery County, Maryland. ... With his Delaware sentence winding down, the now 67-year-old will be transferred to Virginia to begin serving his 48-year prison term for the Lyon sisters’ murders and the Prince William County sex crimes. ... “It was a very long time coming, but justice, in some form, was finally served against Mr. Welch,” said Wes Nance in a WTOP interview Tuesday. Nance, as the Bedford County prosecutor, helped orchestrate the global plea in 2017.
The disappearance of the two girls — daughters of former WMAL broadcaster John Lyon and his wife, Mary — during Easter vacation in March 1975 sparked fear in the region and marked a turning point in attitudes about child abduction and safety.
FILE – Undated photos of Sheila and Katherine Lyon, released by the FBI. (AP Photo/FBI)
The girls’ bodies have never been found.
{snip}
Neal Augenstein
Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.
naugenstein@wtop.com
@AugensteinWTOP
Neal Augenstein | naugenstein@wtop.com
December 11, 2024, 12:49 PM
Almost 50 years after 12-year-old Sheila and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon were abducted from Wheaton Plaza, in Wheaton, Maryland, the man convicted of killing them will soon begin serving prison time for their murders. ... It comes as federal investigators look into other possible crimes involving Lloyd Lee Welch.
{snip video}
In September 2017, Welch, already a convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty in Bedford County, Virginia, to two counts of first-degree felony murder as part of a global plea. Welch was sentenced to 48 years in prison in 2017 for the global plea, which included the Lyon sisters’ deaths and a series of 1996 sex crimes against two young girls in Prince William County, Virginia.
Long before his arrest in the Lyon case, Welch was serving a 33-year sentence in Delaware for sex offenses against a 10-year-old girl, who was also one of the two victims in the Prince William County attack. That attack happened more than 20 years after the Lyon sisters were last seen in Montgomery County, Maryland. ... With his Delaware sentence winding down, the now 67-year-old will be transferred to Virginia to begin serving his 48-year prison term for the Lyon sisters’ murders and the Prince William County sex crimes. ... “It was a very long time coming, but justice, in some form, was finally served against Mr. Welch,” said Wes Nance in a WTOP interview Tuesday. Nance, as the Bedford County prosecutor, helped orchestrate the global plea in 2017.
The disappearance of the two girls — daughters of former WMAL broadcaster John Lyon and his wife, Mary — during Easter vacation in March 1975 sparked fear in the region and marked a turning point in attitudes about child abduction and safety.
FILE – Undated photos of Sheila and Katherine Lyon, released by the FBI. (AP Photo/FBI)
The girls’ bodies have never been found.
{snip}
Neal Augenstein
Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.
naugenstein@wtop.com
@AugensteinWTOP
Wed Dec 11, 2024: On this day, March 25, 1975, the Lyon sisters went to see the Easter exhibits at the Wheaton Plaza shopping mall.
Wed Oct 30, 2024: Investigators return to Virginia land linked to Lyon sisters case
Sat Mar 25, 2023: On Tuesday, March 25, 1975, the Lyon sisters went to the Wheaton Plaza shopping mall.
Fri Mar 25, 2022: On March 25, 1975, the Lyon sisters went to the Wheaton Plaza shopping mall.
Thu Mar 25, 2021: On March 25, 1975, the Lyon sisters went to the Wheaton Plaza shopping mall.
Fri Mar 27, 2020: On March 25, 1975, the Lyon sisters went to the Wheaton Plaza shopping mall.
Tue Apr 2, 2019: The Lyon sisters vanished four decades ago. This team didn't give up on the case.
Mon Mar 25, 2019: On this day in 1975, the Lyon sisters went to the Wheaton Plaza shopping mall.
Sat Feb 21, 2015: Maryland cops reveal new leads in 1975 cold case of missing sisters Sheila and Katherine Lyon
In 2021 I had a thread about William Bradford Bishop. That case too came out of Montgomery County.
Tue Mar 23, 2021: DNA Test Surprise Reveals Woman's Father Was Maryland Killer William Bradford Bishop
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Nearly 50 years after Lyon sisters disappeared, Lloyd Lee Welch begins serving time for their murders
Neal Augenstein | naugenstein@wtop.com
January 8, 2025, 8:40 AM
FILE - Undated photos of Sheila and Katherine Lyon, released by the FBI. (AP Photo/FBI)
Almost 50 years after 12-year-old Sheila and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon were last seen at Wheaton Plaza, in Wheaton, Maryland, the man convicted of killing them has started serving prison time for their murders. ... WTOP has learned Lloyd Lee Welch has been transferred to Virginia’s Department of Corrections from a Delaware prison, where he served 33 years for child sex crimes, to begin his prison sentence for killing the Lyon sisters.
The now 68-year-old Welch was sentenced in 2017 to 48 years in prison for the Lyon sisters’ first-degree felony murders, in Bedford County, Virginia, and a series of 1996 sex crimes against two young girls in Prince William County. ... Welch was transferred Tuesday, according to Delaware corrections officials.
On Wednesday, Welch “arrived at Nottoway Correctional Center to begin serving his Virginia sentence. Nottaway serves in part as a reception center for inmates, which is why (he) is there now. The inmate will be evaluated and then assigned to a permanent facility,” said Kyle Gibson, director of communications for Virginia Department of Corrections. ... “It was a very long time coming, but justice, in some form, was finally served against Mr. Welch,” Bedford County prosecutor Wes Nance told WTOP in December 2024.
The disappearance of the two girls — daughters of former WMAL broadcaster John Lyon and his wife, Mary — during Easter vacation in March 1975 sparked fear in the region and marked a turning point in attitudes about child abduction and safety. ... The girls’ bodies have never been found. ... “Our working theory was that the Lyon sisters’ bodies came to rest in Bedford County,” Nance said. Prosecutors alleged Welch burned at least one of the sisters’ bodies in a fire on the property of his family members on Taylor’s Mountain in nearby Thaxton, Virginia.
{snip}
Editor’s note: Updates that Nottaway prison is where Welch is being evaluated for a permanent assignment.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Neal Augenstein
Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.
naugenstein@wtop.com
@AugensteinWTOP
Neal Augenstein | naugenstein@wtop.com
January 8, 2025, 8:40 AM
FILE - Undated photos of Sheila and Katherine Lyon, released by the FBI. (AP Photo/FBI)
Almost 50 years after 12-year-old Sheila and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon were last seen at Wheaton Plaza, in Wheaton, Maryland, the man convicted of killing them has started serving prison time for their murders. ... WTOP has learned Lloyd Lee Welch has been transferred to Virginia’s Department of Corrections from a Delaware prison, where he served 33 years for child sex crimes, to begin his prison sentence for killing the Lyon sisters.
The now 68-year-old Welch was sentenced in 2017 to 48 years in prison for the Lyon sisters’ first-degree felony murders, in Bedford County, Virginia, and a series of 1996 sex crimes against two young girls in Prince William County. ... Welch was transferred Tuesday, according to Delaware corrections officials.
On Wednesday, Welch “arrived at Nottoway Correctional Center to begin serving his Virginia sentence. Nottaway serves in part as a reception center for inmates, which is why (he) is there now. The inmate will be evaluated and then assigned to a permanent facility,” said Kyle Gibson, director of communications for Virginia Department of Corrections. ... “It was a very long time coming, but justice, in some form, was finally served against Mr. Welch,” Bedford County prosecutor Wes Nance told WTOP in December 2024.
The disappearance of the two girls — daughters of former WMAL broadcaster John Lyon and his wife, Mary — during Easter vacation in March 1975 sparked fear in the region and marked a turning point in attitudes about child abduction and safety. ... The girls’ bodies have never been found. ... “Our working theory was that the Lyon sisters’ bodies came to rest in Bedford County,” Nance said. Prosecutors alleged Welch burned at least one of the sisters’ bodies in a fire on the property of his family members on Taylor’s Mountain in nearby Thaxton, Virginia.
{snip}
Editor’s note: Updates that Nottaway prison is where Welch is being evaluated for a permanent assignment.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Neal Augenstein
Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.
naugenstein@wtop.com
@AugensteinWTOP