03/17/2026
Press Release: Jethro Welter’s Murder Conviction Upheld on Appeal
This month the Washington Supreme Court denied review of the Court of Appeals’ decision affirming Jethro Welter’s conviction for Murder in the First Degree.
On July 15th, 2022, Welter and his accomplice shot and killed Alan Neilsen at 2106 Holcomb Road. Later, by shooting Tannerite placed near Neilsen’s body, Welter created an explosion intending to detonate Neilsen’s remains. Welter pled guilty to several charges as part of a plea agreement, including murder in the first degree, unlawful possession of an explosive device, and unlawful disposal of human remains, along with other firearm and drug-related charges.
Before he was sentenced, Welter sought to withdraw his guilty plea. Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Marilyn Haan denied Welter’s motion and sentenced him to 46 years in prison on the murder. The court ran the sentences on his other crimes concurrent with the murder, meaning he would serve these sentences at the same time as he served his lengthier murder sentence.
Welter filed an appeal, arguing that due to a miscalculation on his guilty plea form involving his other crimes, the court should have permitted him to withdraw his guilty plea. The Court of Appeals held that because the miscalculation did not impact Welter’s punishment, Judge Haan did not abuse her discretion in refusing to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea.
Welter petitioned the Washington Supreme Court for a review of the Court of Appeals’ decision. On March 4th, 2026, the Washington Supreme Court entered an order denying Welter’s petition.
The State was represented on appeal by Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Bentson. We appreciate the work of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office detectives who investigated this case.
