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Motel fight led to man's death

Stafford man convicted in motel-fight-related death

Date published: 12/13/2008

BY KEITH EPPS

A Stafford man who beat up another county man about a week before he died was convicted of involuntary manslaughter yesterday in Stafford Circuit Court.

Stephan Rodney-Tyler, 19, entered an Alford plea to involuntary manslaughter and pleaded guilty to two counts each of credit card theft and credit card forgery.

He had been charged in connection with the April 11 death of 22-year-old Casey Welborn, who died as the result of a blow to the head.

In exchange for Rodney-Tyler's pleas, a murder charge was reduced and several other charges were dropped. He will be sentenced Feb. 10.

According to evidence presented by prosecutor Amy Casey at a preliminary hearing, Rodney-Tyler, Welborn and others were at the Super 8 Motel on Warrenton Road late April 5 for a party that featured underage drinking and snorting Adderall, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

One witness said Welborn was particularly aggressive and talked loudly about wanting to fight.

In the statement made to Stafford Detective John Hughes, Rodney-Tyler said he woke up at 4:37 a.m. on April 6 and was incensed to learn that Welborn had struck a woman at the party.

He told Hughes that he "flipped out, saw red and was going to kill" Welborn, Hughes said.

Hughes said Rodney-Tyler told him he pushed Welborn, knocking him onto his head. According to the statement, Welborn then either jumped or fell off a third-floor balcony at the southern Stafford motel.

Hughes said police found no evidence of the reported 21-foot fall onto the pavement.

Welborn was found the next day sleeping in the back of a car outside Porter Library in North Stafford, where Rodney-Tyler told police he drove him. Deputies said he was intoxicated but didn't appear to be in need of immediate medical attention.

Evonne Welborn, the victim's mother, testified that her son was unsteady when police brought him home that morning and had trouble remembering things.

Welborn decided against going to the hospital, but family members spent the next several days tending to him. She said he slept much of the time.

By the day before he died, Welborn said, Casey Welborn appeared to be getting better and was planning to return to work on the day he died.

Welborn's credit card was found in Rodney-Tyler's wallet.

Police also recovered text messages from Rodney-Tyler's cell phone, one of which read, "maybe I should have pulled that punch a little bit."

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com



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Date published: 12/13/2008


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This story (posted by lifeisbeautiful , Dec. 13, 2008 11:56 pm)   
just doesn't seem to fit. Too many pieces missing?

Bull (posted by Rose_Savage , Dec. 13, 2008 8:32 pm)   
Casey's body was not straight downl on the side walk like he had fallen. It was out between the parked cars like he was thrown off. And no evidence is also bull they found his shoes where he laid. Tlyer thought he was dead when he carried him to the car.

Mom, get real (posted by Heartbreaker , Dec. 13, 2008 12:38 pm)   
Involuntary manslaughter is the least you can possibly get. There was a fight, a man died as the result of the fight. What other charge do you think might be appropriate ? A man died !!!

if you knew the details... (posted by Mooseman , Dec. 13, 2008 8:30 am)   
You wouldn't think so. There's a lot more to this story that isn't in here and as usual the FLS has it screwed up. I won't comment further on it, but the story is wrong and the "witness" was caught in several discrepencies..I was in court and heard it.

Invol Manslaughter sounds a bit tough (posted by momto3 , Dec. 13, 2008 6:41 am)   
to me. Sounds like a stupid let's get high and drunk man-fight. Stupid yes, invol. manslaughter, no. It's a shame his family didn't take him to the hosp to at least be checked out. Sorry for the family's loss.

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