On the crisp morning of October 8, 2022, the tranquil town of Bellevue, Iowa—a close-knit community of about 2,500 residents—was shattered by a shocking tragedy. The sun began to rise over the Mississippi River, casting a hopeful glow, but this day brought haunting news: Angela Prichard, 55, was found dead at her own workplace, the Mississippi Ridge Boarding Kennels. This marked the town’s first apparent homicide in nearly a decade.
- Angela Prichard shot in kennel homicide.
- Chris Prichard suspected spouse and assailant.
- Domestic abuse documented in Angela's diary.
- 911 call provided crucial evidence.
- Prichard's arrest followed extensive manhunt.
- Jury found Chris guilty of murder.
As authorities arrived at the scene, a flurry of investigation began. Swarmed by dozens of officers from six different law enforcement agencies, the crime scene was meticulously examined, with body cameras documenting every step. Among the investigators was Ryan Kedley, a special agent from Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigation. “This appeared to be an assailant that knew her very well,” he later stated, emphasizing the troubling familiarity behind the attack.
Angela ran the kennels, a business she was deeply passionate about, but her life outside of work was plagued by fear surrounding her estranged husband, Chris Prichard. Her sister, Wendy Budde, firmly believed she knew who was responsible for the terrifying turn of events. “He knew how to get in the front door,” she said with a tremor of emotion during one of the investigative interviews. Wendy was convinced that Chris was the killer, and her conviction became a pivotal point in the investigation.
Adding weight to the family’s suspicions was a chilling 911 call Angela made moments before her death. The frantic audio captured a desperate plea: “Please … get out of here … I have customers coming in.” Just before the phone line went silent, the unmistakable sound of a gunshot shattered the air. “Chris!” Angela cried, seemingly naming her attacker. This brief but powerful exchange became the first significant clue for investigators.
While family members were resolute in their belief that Chris was responsible, the investigators pressed on to build a comprehensive case. They discovered that Angela had been trying to leave Chris for months, living in fear that he would eventually kill her. The relationship had deteriorated significantly after Chris lost his job and faced a felony charge for theft. As Wendy Budde conveyed, “She was just beside herself, what are we going to do now? We need that income.”
Angela had documented her growing fears in a series of diary entries and sticky notes, reflecting the mounting tension that permeated her life. The crumpled notes recounted threats and episodes of stalking, painting a vivid picture of escalating domestic abuse. “I think Chris is capable of anything,” one note read, underscoring her sense of urgency and dread as she faced the reality of living with a man who was spiraling into violence and substance abuse.
On that fateful morning, after preparing for a typical workday, Angela walked into her kennel space, unknowingly entering the final moments of her life. At approximately 7:39 a.m.—just minutes after she arrived—gunfire erupted. Investigators later determined that Chris had likely entered the kennel and waited for her arrival for nearly four hours, a reflection of premeditated intent. “At very close range,” Ryan Kedley noted, observing the large gunshot wound in Angela’s chest.
Following the harrowing incident, a manhunt for Chris Prichard unfolded rapidly. Law enforcement officials were on high alert, knowing they had a potentially armed fugitive in the dense Iowa wilderness where Chris was familiar. “You’ve got a fugitive out there on the run, potentially armed,” Kedley stated, ramping up the urgency for his capture.
After a tense search, he was eventually located at the home of friends on the evening of October 9, 2022, where he was apprehended without incident. Inside their living room, Chris was recorded in a casual conversation, alleging he had been “running all day from the cops.” He displayed no remorse, a stark contrast to the devastation he had left behind.
As the investigation continued, the evidence stacked against him painted a troubling picture. Prosecutors argued that Chris’s actions were premeditated, underlined by chilling details such as the borrowed vehicle found near the crime scene and his attempts to set up alibis. In the days leading to Angela’s death, Chris had been violating the terms of a protective order, with police failures to act further compounding the tragedy.
Fast forward to February 2024, three months after Angela’s death, and the courthouse buzzed with anticipation as the trial commenced. Family members hoped for justice, knowing that the system’s previous inaction had failed their beloved Angela. On the witness stand, they spoke of her vibrant life as a mother and grandmother, a stark contrast to the harrowing circumstances that ultimately led to her murder.
The jury reached a verdict after only a few days of deliberation, convicting Chris Prichard of first-degree murder and robbery. Sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, he would remain locked away—a decision that brought some solace to Angela’s grieving family. Wendy Budde remarked, “It will never bring her back, but he is going to spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
However, the questions lingered regarding the role of law enforcement in preventing this tragic outcome. Angela’s family filed a federal lawsuit against the Bellevue Police Department, claiming that their inaction contributed to the violence that ultimately cost her life. “They didn’t do their job, and it’s that simple,” stated their attorney, highlighting systemic issues that could potentially endanger others in similar situations.
As the community reflects on this heartbreaking loss, Angela Prichard’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dire consequences of domestic violence and the importance of enforcing protective measures. The painful echoes of her final moments may still resonate, but her family remains committed to raising awareness of such issues, urging others to seek help and support in the face of danger. The struggle against domestic violence continues, as many face the same fears Angela did—but with proper intervention, her fate might inspire change for others still in the shadow of fear.
