Man Accused in Boise Triple Homicide Enters Guilty Plea

BOISE, Idaho (KTVB) -- Adams Dees, the man accused of killing three members of a Boise family, struck a deal with prosecutors and has pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the state said it will not seek the death penalty.

The 22-year-old Nampa man appeared in an Ada County courtroom this morning for a status conference where the plea deal was announced.

Dees is charged with 12 counts in connection to the murders of Ted, 80, Elaine, 77, and Tom Welp, 52.

According to the indictment, Dees killed Ted and Elaine Welp by beating them in the head with a baseball bat and shooting them in the head with a 9mm handgun. Their son, Tom, was beaten, shot and stabbed with a knife. Their bodies were found inside their foothills home on Cartwright Road on March 10, 2015.

Prosecutor says Dees used several credit cards belonging to the victims at local merchants and was in possession of those cards when he was arrested. Police also found a 9mm handgun on him.

In addition to murder and robbery, Dees was charged with burglary, forgery of a financial card, use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony and concealment of a dangerous weapon without a license.

The plea deal means that the other eight counts against Dees will be dismissed.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors plan to recommend Dees serve three consecutive fixed-life sentences for the murders, plus 25 years for robbery. If the judge agrees to the plea, Dees would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Before today's status conference, Dees' father told KTVB "our hearts go out to the Welp family."

During today's court proceedings more gruesome details about the murders were released.

Prosecutors said on March 8, Dees bought a wooden bat, black gloves and zip ties. Evidence found at the scene of the crime shows Ted and Elaine Welp tried to fight back, before being hit with the bat and shot to death. The bodies of all three victims were found in bed.

The day after the murders, prosecutors say that Dees told an online gaming friend that he committed the murders and that it "got physical" when they would not give him the PIN numbers to their credit cards.

Dees also threw away luggage with a broken, bloody bat into a dumpster at the Barbacoa restaurant in Boise. Investigators found the blood of Thomas Welp on the bat.

Dees is said to have acted alone in these crimes and did not know the victims beforehand.

George Welp, the son of Ted and Elaine and brother of Tom, read a statement to the media. He said it has been very difficult for the family to understand what happened to their loved ones, but they will continue to celebrate their lives every day.

"Our family needs to heal, and our family needs time together, living our lives in order to heal wholly," said George Welp.

He said they are thankful that that time healing will not be in a courtroom enduring a trial and appeals that could span years. He added there is no punishment that can bring back their parents and brother.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Fourth District Judge Samuel Hoagland accepted Dees' plea and set sentencing for Aug. 28 at 9 a.m.