The man accused of murdering a Ravenscroft teacher had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to court documents obtained by WRAL News on Tuesday.
Ryan Camacho, 36, is charged with the murder of Zoe Welsh. He is accused of killing her on Jan. 3 inside her home on Clay Street in Raleigh. Camacho is also facing a felony burglary charge.
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Camacho had an extensive arrest history and history of mental health challenges.
In documents dating back to 2019, Camacho is described as being "previously diagnosed with schizophrenia."
The court document was a motion to determine if Camacho had the capacity to proceed in the criminal case against him at the time. He had been charged with multiple counts of shooting a weapon into an occupied property.
Camacho had been refusing to meet with his attorney and mental health personnel, according to the document. Camacho was also refusing medication and "experiencing intermittent auditory hallucinations and paranoia."
The motion noted that Camacho was "previously found to be incapable to proceed in 2017 and treated at Central Regional Hospital" and had a "history of involuntary commitments."
Following an evaluation, a judge found Camacho capable to proceed in the 2019 case. He later pleaded guilty, court records show.
A search warrant connected to those 2019 charges indicated Camacho's mother contacted police because she believed her son brought the gun used in the shootings into their home. "(She) wants her house searched and her son's bedroom searched to recover the handgun."
Camacho's arrest spanned two decades with assault with a deadly weapon charges filed as far back at 2006. See a timeline of Camacho's arrest history.