Bio

Frank Duane Welch was born on June 26, 1961. He grew up in Oklahoma, where he faced many challenges during his early life. As a child, he was exposed to a difficult environment, which affected his upbringing and the choices he would later make in life.

Welch had a troubled adolescence. He encountered various legal problems and began to show signs of rebellious behavior. By the time he reached adulthood, he was involved in a series of criminal activities. He struggled to find stable employment and maintain a regular life. This led him to a pattern of criminal behavior that included theft, assault, and other offenses.

Throughout his early life, Welch had interactions with law enforcement, as he was frequently in and out of the legal system. His criminal record expanded over the years, which affected his relationships with family and friends. Despite these challenges, there were some glimpses of potential, as he attempted various jobs, though they often did not last. His most notable job was as a cable television repairman, but he was fired shortly before significant events in his life would take place.

In 1987, Welch's life took a darker turn. He became involved in serious criminal offenses that would lead to tragic outcomes. By the time these events occurred, he had already established a pattern of behavior that indicated his struggles with controlling his impulses and aggression.

Welch's life thus unfolded against a backdrop of crime and instability, which ultimately shaped his path in ways that would have dire consequences for others.

Murder Story

On February 25, 1987, Jo Talley Cooper was found dead in her home in Norman, Oklahoma. She was 28 years old and four months pregnant. Her body was discovered by her husband, Tracy Cooper, who returned home around 1:00 p.m. Jo had been bound with leather straps, and duct tape covered her mouth. A child's toy was found inserted in her body. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.

Frank Duane Welch, a cable television employee, gained access to the Cooper home by posing as a technician. After the murder, the case went cold for almost ten years. It was not until 1997 that Welch’s DNA was linked to Jo's murder following his arrest for other criminal activities, including attempted murder and kidnapping. Detectives connected him to another unsolved murder from 1987, that of Debra Ann Stevens, who was found dead in her Tuttle, Oklahoma, home just three months after Jo Cooper's murder.

Evidence from both murder scenes showed similar patterns. Both women had been raped and strangled, and their bodies were found in undressed states. After the link was established, Welch was charged with both murders.

During his trial in March 1998, the prosecution presented significant evidence, including DNA analysis that matched Welch to the sperm found at Jo Cooper's home. The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, and the prosecution highlighted that his actions were especially heinous and cruel.

Welch was sentenced to death on April 3, 1998. He was executed by lethal injection on August 21, 2007. In his final words, Welch expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged that nothing could change the pain he caused to the victims' families.