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Foley Murder Victim Cremation

By Debbie Williams Reporter

Published: Tue, July 01, 2008 - 5:04 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/15498/

Debbie Williams

She was murdered more than two weeks ago on Father's Day but the body of Terri Welch could not be cremated until her accused killer and husband, David Mumford, gave his permission. That all changed Tuesday.
For Mike Ross, This is a good day. "I believe we got what we were hoping to accomplish I mean we wanted to try and get my Mom cremated that was her wishes."
His mother, Terri Welch was shot to death in her Foley home on Father's Day weekend. Her husband, David Mumford is charged with her murder.
"He tried to call me one time I don't really have much to say to him," says Ross.
At 22, Ross is both Father and Mother to his two brothers. "Just take it one day at a time just trying to get through it."
Not a lot has changed at the house where the murder took place, crime scene tape still circles the property. But one thing did change Tuesday, something that the family has waited for for two weeks.
"I came here to the Baldwin County Corrections facility to ask Mr. Mumford to sign some necessary papers for the cremation of his wife," says Baldwin County Coroner Jim Small. In a meeting that took just a few minutes, he did. "There is a specific priority system for cremation, who can authorize the cremation and the spouse, at the time of the death of that person, is top on that list and until we got that issue settled we couldn't go on to anybody else to have her permitted to cremate."
It's a small victory for Ross and his brothers and one that allows them to fulfill their mother's last wish and try and move on with their lives.