BEDFORD COUNTY (WSLS 10) - A Maryland woman was in court in Bedford County Monday for a preliminary hearing in connection with the disappearance of Sheila and Katherine Lyon.
Patricia Welch faced a perjury charge. Welch waived her right to a hearing, sending the case to circuit court. It will go before a grand jury on July 7.
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According to the Commonwealth's attorney, this will speed up the process of her case. Welch and her lawyer asked the media to "get away" several times after she left the hearing.
However, the Commonwsalth's Attorney Randy Krantz said he was ready to present evidence that would show Welch falsely testified before a grand jury investigating the disappearance of the Lyon sisters. He also said Welch did not receive any incentives for waiving her right to a hearing today.
"There were no inducements for that waiver made to her no pleas have been entered in consultation with her for counsel, for whatever reason, thought was proper she made the decision not to have that evidence presented in open court and exercised her right to waive that hearing," Krantz said.
Welch's husband Richard Welch and his nephew Lloyd Welch have been named persons of interest in the case. The Welch's previously owned land in Bedford County during the time the sisters disappeared. No charges have been filed against Richard or Lloyd Welch.