Ryan Camacho, who faces charges in Wake County for the murder of Ravenscroft teacher Zoe Welsh, has a lengthy criminal history.
Camacho was involved in several cases in Durham, including one where a woman said Camacho broke into her home twice. She believes the Durham court did not take the situation seriously at the time and now fears Wales might still be alive if Camacho had been jailed earlier.
Michelle Pochak still feels the lingering effects of a shattered sense of peace in her home.
“You can still see the fingerprint dust on the windows from when the police dusted them years ago,” she said.
She still has a hard time talking about Ryan Camacho, a man she says has haunted her for five years.
“I can no longer sit back and say nothing. The justice system has failed Ms. Wales,” Pochak said.
In 2021, she was out of town when Camacho broke into her home through a window. Her brother stopped by her house to check on her and came face to face with him.
“Ryan just walked in the back door, took one look at (her brother) and then rushed out the other way,” Pochak said.
Armed with a knife, Camacho searched her house and began stacking valuables and electronics, appearing to prepare to pack suitcases and drive away in her car – an action that was interrupted by an unexpected visit from her brother.
Despite Raleigh’s history of violence, including an incident several years ago involving Wes Phillips – who lived next door to Camacho and moved after claiming his car was vandalized and his family was terrorized – Camacho was able to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge.
Zoe Welsh was still on the 911 call when she was attacked inside the house.
Pochak said she even raised the issue with prosecutors in Durham.
“I said, ‘Do you know this guy has a significant record, including gun charges?'” she recalled. “And (they) said, ‘What?'”
Still, Camacho ended up in jail for other cases.
Still, Pochak was so scared that she monitored the victim information portal, fearing Camacho would return if released.
“I always had a feeling he would,” she said.
In 2024, days after his release, he returned to her home—another stone, the same window. This time, however, she had surveillance footage.
Ryan Camachoroli Police Department
Camacho was also suspected of being involved in other burglaries in the nearby area, including their clubhouse. But he was again allowed to plead to a misdemeanor instead of facing felony charges.
Even more chilling was what he said about the Pochaks.
“He thought it was his house. That’s what he told his attorney to tell the judge,” Pochak said. “I spoke in court. I said, ‘Listen, a lot of homeowners don’t have to deal with this in their lifetime of owning their home. Now I have to go through intimidation from the same person twice. I have no trust.'”
Now, after hearing what happened to Zoe Wells, Pochak wonders if more had been done, would Wells still be alive?
“It really hurts, it really breaks my heart,” Pochak said. “I can’t believe it has escalated to this. It almost makes me think that maybe it would be better for him to break into this home again instead of killing an innocent woman.”
ABC11 reached out to the Durham District Attorney’s Office for comment and is awaiting a response.
See also: ‘She should still be with us’: Zoe Wales’ former colleagues remember her as ‘a great friend’
After Wales was reportedly killed at his home during a burglary, an outpouring of support began to emerge online.
