Stewart Weldon

Overview

Stewart Rudolph Weldon, born on June 24, 1977, is an American serial killer and kidnapper. Between 2017 and 2018, he murdered three women, hiding their bodies on his property in Springfield, Massachusetts. His nefarious activities came to light after he was arrested for the kidnapping of a would-be fourth victim. When police searched his home, they made a chilling discovery: the remains of his victims. In a turn of events that would send shockwaves through the community, Weldon pled guilty to the murders in 2021 and received three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Quick Facts

• Born: June 24, 1977 (Age 48)
• Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
• Convictions:
  • First-degree murder (3 counts)
  • Kidnapping
  • Rape
  • Indecent assault
  • Battery
• Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
• Details of Victims: 3
• Span of Crimes: 2017–2018
• Country: United States
• State: Massachusetts
• Date Apprehended: May 27, 2018
• Imprisoned at: Old Colony Correctional Center, Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Early Life

Stewart Weldon was born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York City, an area notorious for its high rates of drug sales. Early on, his family moved from the bustling streets of New York to the more affluent Montclair, New Jersey. The change in environment came with challenges; in 1996, Weldon experienced the sudden death of his father, a tragedy that profoundly impacted him. Friends later claimed that Weldon’s mother, perhaps in an effort to compensate for the loss, began to spoil him, which may have contributed to his later behavioral issues.

Criminal History

Weldon's criminal history began ominously at the age of 19. In 1996, he and a friend, Dwight Pottinger, encountered three young women at a mall. After offering to drive them home, they forced one of the girls to stay in the car at gunpoint. Pottinger sexually assaulted her before they dropped her off. Both men were later arrested, convicted of sexual assault, and faced the consequences of their actions.

After serving time, Weldon found himself in legal trouble once again in East Orange, New Jersey, where he was arrested on weapons charges and kidnapping. He pled guilty and received a three-year probation sentence. In 2006, he was implicated in a burglary and arson case involving an auto dealership in Maywood, for which he received a one-year prison sentence.

In 2010, Weldon relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts. He was arrested again after attempting to break into a liquor store, leading police on a chase that ended with his capture. This pattern of escalating violence continued, as he was later arrested for threatening to shoot up a bar and attacking a security guard.

By October 2017, shortly after the birth of his child, Weldon was wanted for allegedly assaulting a woman. Instead of complying with law enforcement, he led officers on a high-speed chase, attempting to ram his vehicle into a police car. Eventually apprehended, Weldon was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

2018 Arrest

The pivotal moment in Weldon's horrific saga came on May 27, 2018. While waiting at a red light, Springfield police pulled him over for a broken taillight. As officers approached his vehicle, they made a shocking discovery: a woman bound and calling for help in the backseat. Weldon was swiftly arrested.

The woman revealed that she had been held captive for over a month, subjected to horrific abuse, including being struck with a hammer and raped repeatedly. She suffered from multiple injuries that required extensive medical treatment, including a fractured jaw and stab wounds.

Discovery of the Victims

Following Weldon’s arrest, his mother reached out to the police, expressing concern over a foul odor emanating from their home. On June 1, authorities obtained a warrant to search Weldon’s property at 1333 Page Boulevard. What they found was nothing short of horrifying: the decomposing remains of three women.

The victims were identified as follows:

• America Lyden, 34, a Springfield native who was reported missing on December 1, 2017.
• Ernestine Ryans, 47, also a Springfield native, reported missing on March 18, 2018.
• Kayla Escalante, 26, from Ludlow, Massachusetts, who had not yet been reported missing, with her family last hearing from her in December.

Authorities later connected Weldon to a series of rapes that had plagued Springfield since June 2017, indicating that he was likely responsible for at least eight assaults during that period.

Legal Proceedings

Weldon's legal troubles escalated dramatically after his arrest. He faced an astonishing 52 charges, which included three counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of strangulation, and nine counts of aggravated rape. Initially pleading not guilty, Weldon was denied bail, which was set at an astronomical $2 million.

His trial was set for April 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, a judge ordered mental health evaluations to determine his competency to stand trial. In September 2021, he was deemed competent to proceed. However, just before jury selection was to begin, Weldon changed his plea to guilty on September 28, 2021.

On September 30, 2021, he was sentenced to three life terms, to run consecutively, effectively ensuring he would never see the outside of prison walls again.

Conclusion

The case of Stewart Weldon serves as a grim reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind closed doors, hidden beneath the surface of everyday life. His heinous acts of violence left a lasting impact on the victims' families and the Springfield community, ensuring that his name would forever be associated with unimaginable tragedy.

Sources

• "Kidnapping suspect Stewart Weldon has long criminal history." WWLP. June 1, 2018.
• "Stewart Weldon To Serve 3 Consecutive Life Sentences." News413. September 30, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022.
• Michelle Williams (June 5, 2018). "Who is Stewart Weldon? A closer look at the man who had bodies of missing persons at his home." The Republican.
• Napoliello, Alex (June 2, 2018). "3 bodies found at ex-N.J. man's home." The Star-Ledger.
• Tsai, Jason (September 15, 2006). "Fire was burglary coverup, police say." The Record.
• "Stewart Weldon: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know." Heavy. June 1, 2018.
• Jerome Campbell, Travis Anderson, & Danny McDonald (June 1, 2018). "Three bodies found at Springfield home." The Boston Globe.
• Lauren del Valle (June 1, 2018). "After Massachusetts man is accused of kidnapping, three bodies are found at his home." CNN.
• McDonald, Danny (June 9, 2017). "Police explain their delay in searching Springfield home." The Boston Globe.
• Travis Anderson & Michael Levenson (June 5, 2018). "Remains of three women identified." The Boston Globe.
• Laura Crimaldi (August 17, 2018). "Charges mount against Springfield suspect." The Boston Globe.
• Madison Park (August 17, 2018). "Massachusetts man indicted on 52 charges after 3 bodies found at his home." CNN.
• Tony Fay (October 20, 2020). "Alleged serial killer Stewart Weldon to undergo mental health evaluations." WWLP.
• Nick DeGray (September 10, 2021). "Stewart Weldon in court Friday for final pre-trial hearing." WWLP.
• Tony Fay & Taylor Knight (September 28, 2021). "Serial killer Stewart Weldon pleads guilty to raping, killing 3 women in Springfield area." WWLP.
• "Prosecutor after serial killer sentenced: Weldon will never be free to hunt in Springfield again." WWLP. September 30, 2021.

For more information, please visit the Wikipedia page.