NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — 27-year-old Brock Welch of North Little Rock went out to grab dinner on December 29, 2022, but never came home.
Weeks later, on January 2, 2023, Brock Welch was found dead, and North Little Rock police took then-19-year-old Emil McCoy into custody for allegedly killing him.
Since then, Brock's mother, Marcy Welch, has been hoping for justice, which came this week.
The family accepted a plea deal to avoid trial. McCoy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and will spend 33 years behind bars.
"Everyone says I did right by Brock," Marcy Welch said. "I feel like I've let him down in a way because I feel like it should have been a life for a life. The murderer should have had to spend his life in jail."
Despite seeing her son's killer answer to his crime, she still doesn't know why McCoy did it.
"I say that three people know what happened," Marcy Welch said. "Two of them are in heaven: God, Brock and the one that did this."
Now, Marcy Welch is reflecting on her cherished memories with her only son. She continues Brock Welch's legacy and love for math with a memorial scholarship at the University of Central Arkansas, where he graduated.
"Hopefully, it will help another Brock somewhere down the road who may be struggling a little bit to get all of their college paid for," Marcy Welch said.