Mother of St. Jacob crash victim says family is ‘ecstatic’ driver now faces murder charge
A Madison County grand jury has issued an indictment on first-degree murder and reckless homicide charges against 39-year-old Ronnell L. Welch, who is accused of fleeing from Granite City police and causing the crash that ended Devyn Trampe’s life.
Devyn Trampe, 32, of St. Jacob suffered severe brain injuries in the crash on Nov. 14, 2022, and he died in September.
Kelly Trampe, the mother of Devyn Trampe, said Friday her son’s family is “ecstatic” about the grand jury’s decision on Thursday.
“Unfortunately we hate to see his life being impacted in this way,” Kelly Trampe said of Welch. “But we are happy that there are advanced charges being placed.”
She said that she doesn’t wish “ill will” on anyone.
“We are looking forward to our day in court, that’s for sure,” she said.
Welch previously was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, aggravated reckless driving, possession of stolen vehicle and residential burglary.
Moments before the crash at the intersection of Illinois 3 and Rock Road, Devyn Trampe had just left an oil terminal where he expected to get a new job. His wife and two children had moved into a new home on Halloween 2022.
Charging documents allege Welch was driving at “excessive speeds” and failed to yield to a red light before striking the U.S. Army veteran’s Dodge Ram pickup truck.
“Mr. Trampe served his country and had a promising future with his young family,” Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine said in a news release. “I can’t begin to imagine the suffering and loss they’ve experienced. I’m grateful that he had a loving family beside him.
“We have seen, time and again, that fleeing from police is a bad choice.”
The charges allege Welch broke into a Granite City woman’s home and stole her pickup truck shortly before the crash.
Welch is being represented by the Madison County Public Defender’s Office. A representative of the office could not be reached for comment Friday.
Since Welch’s original charges were filed before Illinois ended the cash bail system on Sept. 18, prosecutors asked that his bail amount be modified, according to the news release. Circuit Judge Kyle Napp raised Welch’s bail to $1 million, and he was being held in the Madison County Jail on Friday.
This story was originally published December 22, 2023 at 11:17 AM.
