Peggy Welty

Peggy Welty was known by loved ones as a loving mother and grandmother who was considered a "mom to the whole community." A 47-year-old resident of Groveport, Ohio, Peggy was an enthusiastic fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Detroit Red Wings, NASCAR, and Elvis Presley. She was a member of the East Columbus Community Church, where she shared her love of music by singing in the choir and often performed with the Lighthouse Ministries choir. Her warm smile and loving spirit were cherished by her family, including her three daughters, Crystal, Lisa, and Kimberly, and her two grandsons, Johnathan and James.

On the night of Thursday, May 15, 2008, a devastating fire broke out at the Lockwood Park Apartments on Smith Court on the South Side of Columbus. Investigators quickly determined the fire was an act of arson; someone had intentionally set a sofa ablaze in a ground-floor hallway. The fire grew with such intense heat that it melted shutters and burned through the roof of the second story. The building was the only one in the complex that was occupied, with about 10 of the 24 apartments inhabited at the time. Peggy's son also lived in one of the units.

As thick smoke filled the hallways, residents scrambled to escape the flames. Some tenants, including five children ranging from four months to four years old, were saved by jumping or being dropped from second-story windows into the arms of firefighters and neighbors below. Peggy’s daughter, Lisa Coey, crawled through the smoke to her mother's apartment to warn her to get out. According to her daughters, Peggy was deeply concerned about her six-year-old grandson and may have gone back into the building to find him, not knowing he was already safely outside.

In her attempt to escape, Peggy Welty collapsed in an upstairs hallway. She was rescued from the building and rushed to Grant Medical Center in life-threatening condition, having suffered severe burns. Another resident, 41-year-old Becky Peck, was also hospitalized in serious condition. Five days after the fire, on May 20, 2008, Peggy succumbed to her injuries. Her death was officially classified as a homicide.

The investigation into the arson and Peggy’s death was launched by the Columbus Police Department. The case drew attention from the Ohio Attorney General's office, which features her story in its Unsolved Homicides database. Despite the passage of years, no arrests have been made, and the person or persons responsible for setting the fire that claimed Peggy's life have not been brought to justice. The motive behind the arson remains unknown to the public.

Peggy was survived by her fiancé, David Parker, her three daughters, two grandsons, her parents, and numerous siblings, extended family members, and friends. Her funeral service was held at the East Columbus Community Church, where she had so often shared her voice in song. She was laid to rest at Asbury Cemetery.

The case of Peggy Welty’s murder remains open and is an active investigation. Law enforcement officials continue to ask for the public's assistance in solving this crime. Anyone with information regarding the fire at the Lockwood Park Apartments on May 15, 2008, is urged to contact the Columbus Police Department or the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at 855-224-6446.