On the morning of October 8, 2022, the peaceful town of Bellevue, Iowa, situated along the Mississippi River and home to approximately 2,500 residents, was rattled by tragic news – the discovery of an apparent homicide, marking the first such incident in nearly a decade. Law enforcement officials from six different agencies converged at the Mississippi Ridge Boarding Kennels, where owner Angela Prichard, 55, had been fatally shot. Angela’s sister, Wendy Budde, pointed to Angela’s husband, Chris Prichard, as the prime suspect, alleging that he had the means to enter the kennels that fateful morning.
Angela Prichard’s untimely death at her workplace sent shockwaves through the community. Budde revealed that Angela had been planning to leave Chris for months, living in constant fear for her life. Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigation agents Ryan Kedley and Dustin Henningsen were called in to lead the investigation due to Bellevue’s limited police force. While Angela’s family was convinced of Chris Prichard’s guilt, the agents diligently worked to piece together the evidence.
In her final moments, Angela identified her assailant in a chilling 911 call. The call captured the distressing scene as Angela pleaded for help before uttering the name “Chris” followed by a gunshot, which became a crucial lead for investigators. The agents described the crime scene as a harrowing sight, with Angela found face down in a pool of blood in the kennel’s washroom, where she had bathed the dogs. The evidence pointed to a close-range gunshot wound to her chest, indicating a crime of intense passion and violence.
The tragic events that unfolded that morning left the tight-knit community of Bellevue reeling as investigators worked tirelessly to uncover the truth behind Angela Prichard’s senseless death.
The search for Christopher Prichard, a person of interest who seemed to have disappeared, raised questions on how to locate him. Special agents discovered a faint blood trail leading from a room to the dog kennel area, hinting at the path the assailant might have taken. Investigating Prichard’s background revealed a troubled history with Angela, marked by violence and breaches of a restraining order, pointing towards him as the primary suspect. Surveillance footage indicated Prichard’s presence at the kennels, where he waited for hours before fatally shooting Angela. The search extended into the dense woods of northeastern Iowa, an area known as “The Wilderness,” where Prichard was believed to be hiding. Law enforcement deployed various resources, including canines, airplanes, and drones, in a relentless manhunt to locate Prichard and bring him to justice.
Chris Prichard was on the run. Ryan Kedley mentioned there was a fugitive out there, possibly armed and dangerous. The search was challenging due to the vast farmland and woods in the vicinity, along with the nearby Mississippi River. Officers, armed and ready, spread out from the kennels, meticulously searching nearby areas. Angela Prichard, a devoted mother and grandmother, dedicated her life to her family, especially her two sons and six grandchildren. She adored her children and grandchildren, as well as her five beloved Huskies. Her sons, Joshua Close and CJ Hancock, spoke fondly of their mother, highlighting her kind and loving nature. Angela’s world revolved around her family until her husband, Chris Prichard, the very man authorities were pursuing, disrupted their peaceful life. Wendy Budde, a close family friend, shared that Prichard was once a trusted figure, but things changed after he lost his job and faced legal trouble. The situation escalated when Angela discovered Prichard’s substance abuse issues. Tensions reached a breaking point on April 18, 2022, when Angela revealed that Prichard had become violent. The police were called, and the situation unfolded dramatically.
In her kitchen, Angela Prichard was speaking with a responding officer and her sister, Wendy Budde, after her family contacted the police on April 18, 2022, to report that she had been assaulted by her husband, Christopher Prichard. Angela explained to the officer that she had been hit by her husband and was visibly shaken with a mark on her face, expressing her fear. The police swiftly located Chris Prichard in the garage and informed him that he would be taken into custody due to the visible mark on Angela’s face. Chris was arrested and charged with domestic assault.
Wendy Budde, speaking from the kitchen, described Chris as being heavily under the influence of drugs and expressed concerns about his behavior. Despite Angela’s initial request for a no-contact order, she later withdrew it as she hoped to salvage their marriage. However, promises made by Chris to change his ways were not kept, leading Angela to feel scared and betrayed.
The situation escalated when Angela discovered a tracking device in her car and hidden cameras in their home, prompting Wendy to advise her sister to seek a divorce. As tensions rose, Chris went on the run, evading capture for several hours despite local law enforcement efforts and community assistance.
The search for Chris led authorities to enlist the help of locals, including farmers and hunters, to track his movements. Eventually, a tip-off from neighbors led to Chris seeking refuge with former friends Jeff Junk and Kim Klein, who were shocked to discover the gravity of the situation.
The unfolding events underscored the cycle of domestic abuse and the complexities that arise when seeking to break free from an abusive relationship. Angela’s story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by individuals in such situations and the importance of seeking support and safety.
Standing in the dim light with a shotgun in hand, Kim Klein instructed Jeff to hand over the gun, which he did without any issue. Aware that they needed to contact the police, Junk and Klein played along until they could do so safely. Chris Prichard, who claimed he had been evading the authorities and their dogs all day, showed no remorse when informed that he had shot his wife. Angela had tragically passed away, but Prichard showed no concern. He spent the night laughing and drinking, reminiscing about old times without mentioning his late wife. Klein felt the situation was so surreal that she took a photo to capture Prichard’s lack of remorse. When the opportunity arose, Junk texted the chief deputy to alert them of Prichard’s whereabouts, leading to his arrest when police arrived at midnight to find him passed out in a recliner. Prichard was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and robbery after 16 hours on the run. Angela’s sister, Wendy Budde, revealed that Angela had documented months of escalating abuse and erratic behavior in a journal filled with sticky notes. These notes served as Angela’s diary of domestic abuse, detailing Prichard’s increasing rage and threatening behavior towards her. Budde shared some of the chilling entries from Angela’s notes, showing the fear and desperation she had expressed before her tragic death.
Budde invited her sister to live with her, and Angela accepted gratefully. Wendy Budde remarked, “You have a shadow now because I’m not leaving. You’re stuck with me.” The following day, Angela requested a second temporary no-contact order, granted on September 1, 2022. A no-contact order prohibits any interaction with the protected person, and in Iowa, even a single violation requires a mandatory arrest. Despite this, Chris continued to defy the order, causing things to worsen significantly.
When Angela returned to the house she once shared with Chris Prichard to collect some belongings, the situation escalated. The house was in disarray, with ink and paint splattered everywhere, furniture destroyed, and even the mattress soiled with dog feces. Picture frames were shattered, and guns were intentionally placed around the house to intimidate her. Chris’s actions left Angela and her sister in tears.
Despite the clear violations of the restraining order, the police claimed they couldn’t intervene as the house belonged to Chris as well. Although the law required the police to confiscate Chris’s guns with the no-contact order in place, they failed to do so for unknown reasons. Throughout September, the violations persisted, causing psychological distress to Angela and her family.
Chris Prichard was arrested only once, on September 15, for sending Angela a text message, but he was released on bail after one night and continued his harassment the next day. The police’s lack of action and excuses left Angela and her family feeling terrified and helpless.
The escalating fear and lack of police intervention led Wendy Budde and Angela’s sons to feel hopeless and desperate for assistance. Despite reaching out to the police, no effective measures were taken to protect Angela, even though she feared for her safety and life. The relentless harassment eventually culminated in the tragic death of Angela Prichard.
Special agents Dustin Henningsen and Ryan Kedley from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation conducted an interview with Christopher Prichard at the Jackson County Jail. During the interview, Prichard recounted an incident where he was asked to leave, leading to a physical altercation that resulted in a gun going off. He admitted to accidentally shooting Angela, but investigators remained skeptical of his account.
Prichard pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and robbery charges, with prosecutors alleging that he had meticulously planned the crime. They believed that Prichard’s actions were premeditated, as evidenced by his behaviors leading up to the shooting and attempts to create an alibi. Prichard borrowed a white pickup truck to avoid detection and left a note implying he was out hunting, all while maintaining a facade of concern for his wife.
Key witnesses in the case included Lori and Mike Blaser, who discovered the truck and note left by Prichard. They quickly alerted authorities, suspecting that the vehicle was connected to the shooting at a local dog kennel. Surveillance footage from the Blasers’ property showed Prichard entering their barn and spending time inside their horse trailer, further implicating him in the crime.
The trial against Chris Prichard began on February 7, 2024, with prosecutors Nicole Leonard and John Kies presenting evidence to support the charges of premeditated murder. Despite Prichard’s attempts to cover his tracks, investigators and prosecutors remained determined to hold him accountable for Angela’s death.
During the night, Leonard mentions hiking through the dense woods to the kennels. Nicole Leonard mentions that they expect him to appear around 4:00 a.m. on October 8th at the dog kennels, where the dogs start to act erratically. Jonathan Vigliotti asks if they believe he enters the kennel from that point onward. Nicole confirms this. John Kies speculates that he had planned to harm her. Prosecutors play audio clips from Prichard’s police interviews for the jury, highlighting Special Agent Kedley’s words. Dustin Henningsen questions why Prichard didn’t seek help if it was an accident. Special agents note Prichard’s evolving story about the shooting as the trial progresses. The medical examiner testifies that the gunshot had a downward trajectory, indicating that Prichard was standing when he fired. Prichard’s own statements during a police interview conflict with the evidence presented. Prosecutors argue that Prichard’s last words on the 911 call show premeditation. The defense maintains the shooting was accidental. After four days of testimonies, the jury deliberates. Chris Prichard is found guilty of first-degree murder and robbery in March 2024, receiving a life sentence.
Prichard was sentenced to life in prison without parole in March. Wendy Budde expressed that while this will not bring her loved one back, the perpetrator will spend the rest of his life behind bars. She also delivered a victim impact statement, expressing her hope that he will always feel scared and look over his shoulder for what he did. Civil rights attorney Dave O’Brien, representing Angela Prichard’s family, stated that if the Bellevue Police Department had enforced a judge’s protection order, Angela would still be alive. O’Brien filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Bellevue and three officers for not doing their job properly, leading to a “state-created danger” that increased the threat to Angela. He emphasized that only a judge can decide not to enforce a restraining order in Iowa. Despite numerous violations of the protection order by Chris Prichard after Angela’s second protection order in September 2022, the Bellevue Police Department failed to take action. O’Brien accused the officers of showing favoritism towards Prichard due to their alleged friendship with him. The lawsuit was dismissed in October 2024 by the Chief Federal Judge C.J. Williams, citing insufficient evidence of police misconduct. O’Brien was granted a hearing in December 2024 after discovering that the officers had withheld evidence and made false statements. He argued that the police were aware of the threat Prichard posed to Angela, as indicated by a warning from the Jackson County attorney. The attorney had informed the police that Prichard needed to turn himself in, but he failed to do so. Bodycam footage from seven days before the murder also confirmed that the police were aware of the danger Angela was in.
Bodycam footage from the Bellevue Police Department shows a Bellevue police officer talking with Wendy Budde and Angela outside her home following the murder of Angela Prichard. Attorney Dave O’Brien states that the footage confirms that the police were aware of the danger Angela was in. Chief Schroeder is heard on the bodycam expressing concern about Angela’s safety and stating that his job is to protect her at all costs. O’Brien criticizes the Bellevue police for not taking action to find and arrest Chris Prichard during the final week of Angela’s life. He believes that if the arrest warrant had been executed, Angela would still be alive today. Despite defense attorneys’ objections, O’Brien presents new information in court, seeking a reversal of the judge’s decision. In response, Bellevue Police Chief Dennis Schroeder expresses satisfaction with the court’s decision and highlights the department’s efforts to prevent domestic violence. Wendy Budde shares her feelings of guilt and pride regarding Angela’s strength and bravery. She believes that speaking out about the case can help prevent similar tragedies in the future. Chris Prichard’s life sentence provides some comfort to Angela’s family and inspires them to advocate for stricter enforcement of domestic violence measures. The documentary also includes information on domestic violence statistics and resources for those in need.
