Help Catch A Crook

Bixby police need your help To Catch A Crook tonight who used fire as a murder weapon.<br><br>Investigators say someone set fire to a man's business, knowing he was inside. Officer Andy Phillips of

Sunday, December 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Bixby police need your help To Catch A Crook tonight who used fire as a murder weapon.

Investigators say someone set fire to a man's business, knowing he was inside. Officer Andy Phillips of Tulsa Police says, " This murder happened on June 16th at this strip center."

Police say the victim, Richard Welcher, owned a business and lived at the location.

Phillips says, "We think it was arson because the victim had a gun in his hand when he was found and because he had a pet that was burned really bad. We learned it was killed before the fires started."

Welcher died from smoke inhalation but, detectives clearly believe he felt threatened before he died.

"We're wondering of course, what the motive was, we and the fire department, but, it was clearly an arson and he was the target."

Police believe someone knows something about this most unusual homicide and officers hope those people will talk.

If you have information about this arson-murder, you can call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

You don't have to give your name and if your tip leads to an arrest, the Citizens Crime Commission will pay you a cash reward of up to $2,000.